Options
1997
Journal Article
Titel
ELA 1.0 - A framework for life-cycle impact assessment developed by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Part A. The conceptual framework
Abstract
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has sponsored the development of a conceptual and flexible, computer aided tool to perform the impact assessment within LCA (life cycle assessment) for technical products and processses. The developed general framework "Ela 1.0" (environmental loads analysis) consists of four elements the selection of appropriate impact categories, the categorization of emissions and wastes leaving the systems, as well as of resource and energy consumption, the characterization and an analysis of the results of the impact assessment. The latter compares the product-based emissions with the total of emissions of a region such as Germany, the EU or OECD countries. The framework Ela 1.0 considers the enviromnental categories: global warming, ozone depletion, resource and energy consumption, wastes, eutrophication (including COD and BOD as measured parameters), acidification, ecotoxicity, ozone formation and human toxicity. The latter categories are handled by listing of precurs ors for ozone formation, and by listing of emissions scored accrding to their human hazard potential. The options, possibilities and invitations of the conceptual framework are presented in part A of a series of publications.