Journal article
Let's Be Clear(er) about Substitution A Reporting Framework to Account for Product Displacement in Life Cycle Assessment: A Framework to Account for Substitution in LCA : A Framework to Account for Substitution in LCA
The multifunctional character of resource recovery in waste management systems is commonly addressed through system expansion/substitution in life cycle assessment (LCA). Avoided burdens credited based on expected displacement of other product systems can dominate the overall results, making the underlying assumptions particularly important for the interpretation and recommendations.
Substitution modeling, however, is often poorly motivated or inadequately described, which limits the utility and comparability of such LCA studies. The aim of this study is therefore to provide a structure for the systematic reporting of information and assumptions expected to contribute to the substitution potential in order to make substitution modeling and the results thereof more transparent and interpretable.
We propose a reporting framework that can also support the systematic estimation of substitution potentials related to resource recovery. Key components of the framework include waste-specific (physical) resource potential, recovery efficiency, and displacement rate. End-use-specific displacement rates can be derived as the product of the relative functionality (substitutability) of the recovered resources compared to potentially displaced products and the expected change in consumption of competing products.
Substitutability can be determined based on technical functionality and can include additional constraints. The case of anaerobic digestion of organic household waste illustrates its application. The proposed framework enables well-motivated substitution potentials to be accounted for, regardless of the chosen approach, and improves the reproducibility of comparative LCA studies of resource recovery.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2017 |
Pages: | 1078-1089 |
ISSN: | 10881980 and 15309290 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1111/jiec.12519 |
ORCIDs: | Astrup, Thomas Fruergaard |
Anaerobic digestion Efficiency Environmental Science (all) Industrial ecology Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Life cycle Natural resources Organic household wastes Recovery Resource potentials Resource recovery SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy Social Sciences (all) Substitution models Substitution reactions Technical functionalities Waste management Waste management systems anaerobic digestion analytical framework displaced production domestic waste industrial ecology life cycle analysis life cycle assessment (LCA) recovery recycling resource management resource recovery substitution waste management