Critical Analysis of Life Cycles Analysis - Literature review Example

Critical Analysis of Life Cycles Analysis By Course: Professor: University: City/State Date: Critical Analysis of Life Cycles Analysis Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) refers to the process that scrutinizes the environmental influences of a product by considering the important production stages. These steps include the acquisition of raw materials, processing process, manufacturing, product life and end life of the product. The raw material acquirement includes gathering of material and transport to the construction location. Processing includes material handling and transference to the production locations. Manufacturing process refers to assemblage, packing, and conveyance to the final delivery. The merchandise life involves energy and discharges from the product; maintenance required, and reuse of the products. End life refers to the waste management and involves recycling process, landfills, liquid waste and gas emissions. LCA techniques include the definition and range, life-Cycle Inventory (LCI), life-cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) as well as the final reporting. This study critically reviews the LCA of an Italian Lager Beer and Fresh Pineapple from Costa Rica. The primary focus of the survey is the aims, goal and scope definitions, LCA and the conclusions of the report. Finally, the study recommendations about the LCAs reviewed. This report follows the ISO 14040 and 14044, 2006 guidelines. Fresh Pineapple from Costa Rica 1. Goal and Scope Ingwersen (2012, p. 153) describes the primary purpose of the LCA as to outline the impacts on ecological significance from the production of fresh pineapples. According to ISO (2006, p. 1), the scope of the LCA should focus on the definition of the scope and goal LCA, LCI phase, LCIA phase, interpretation of life cycle phase, as well as recording and critical evaluation of the of the report. Other sections include restrictions, the connection between the different chapters and the circumstances for the use of value selections and uncompelled components. From section 5.11 of the ISO 14044-1997, The objective of an LCA must state the purported application, the details for execution of the research and the target population. The intended audience refers to the person, group of people or even an organization, who are the audience who should receive the outcomes of the survey. The scope of the study should also consider and concisely describe the meanings of the product structure, practical unit, the requirements of the data and the boundaries. Section 5.11 further requires the scope to describe the assumptions, limitations, fundamental requirements of the data, and the type and format of the LCA report. The LCA for the "Fresh Pineapples from Costa Rica" has a clearly defined goal and scope. For example, the author clearly describes the formula to use to determine servings for every fresh fruit. The author then clearly explains the extent to which the method is applicable and the way it has been employed in the past. The author clearly states the limitation of the study. Ingwersen (2012, p. 153) assumes that the use of mass as the functional unit is valid even though consumers do not purchase pineapples in kilograms. Therefore, the scope of this report in accordance to some of the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. 2. Structure The structure of this report also contains other sections such as the LCI phase, interpretation of the results and limitations of the study. Ingwersen (2012, p. 153) presents the process for cultivating the pineapples, the process of packing the pineapples for export and the distribution of pineapples to the retailers. The chart on page 153 of the report also indicates the inputs and outputs for the pineapple. Therefore, the report has effectively communicated the life cycle of the product. However, the life cycle assessment report is not satisfactory since the author fails to report the potential environmental impact of the pineapples production system throughout the life cycle. Therefore, this violates Section 3.2 of the ISO 14040-2006 standards. The ISO standards require that the LCA quantify the enactment of a product system for use as a orientation unit. This report explicitly quantifies the performance of the pineapple production and uses a one-kilogram quantity of the pineapple as the reference cell. The report also clearly defines the input materials in all the pineapple production processes. For example, the data for the cultivation process of the pineapples are agrochemicals, fuels, machinery and water. In the packaging process, the inputs are electricity, chemicals, and water. Finally, the data for the distribution process to the retailers are electricity, fuels, and refrigerant. The manner in which this LCA reported to the data is easy to understand. Therefore, the report was in line with section 3.5 and 3.6 of (ISO,1997, p. 3). 3. Methodology Under the method section of this LCA, articles such as inventory modeling, inventory distribution, inventory unpredictability, impact evaluation and model unpredictability and sensitivity of the model are described in details. Therefore, the section provides a detailed inventory analysis. According to ISO (1997, p. 4), the phases of the LCA includes the period list. Therefore, the report is by section 4.2 of the ISO 14044-1997. 4. Results Ingwersen (2012, p. 158) presents a detailed presentation of the results of the data calculations carried out in the study. The results are presented in tables and charts, which are easy to understand and interpret. The results represent the estimates of the different forms of fuel consumed in the production process. This section is in line with section 5.33 of ISO 14040, 2006 (p. 13), which requires every LCA report to have validated data relating to the process and generated results of the inventory. 5. Interpretation The author of this LCA report interpreted the data investigated in a way that was in line with the objectives of the study. For example, from the results, the author developed a better approach to the assessment of the pineapple from Costa Rica. Unit 5.5 of the ISO 14040-2006 requires the clarification phase of LCA to be reliable with the distinct goal and the scope of the study. The findings would, therefore, lead to the conclusion of the survey, explain limitations and provide recommendations. However, the LCA for Fresh Pineapple from Costa Rica did not provide the recommendations from the study. LCA of and Italian Lager Beer 1. Objective and Range The central objective of this survey was to analyze the inputs and output streams of beer production and assess the impacts resulting from the life-cycle (Mauro, Gigliola, Santarelli, & Zangrando, 2008, p. 134). According to section 5.2.1.1 of ISO 14040 (2006, p. 11), the goal of the of an LCA must state the intended audience and whether the results should be disclosed to the public. However, this was not the case with the scope of this LCA. Its range is not sufficiently well defined. Therefore, it fails to ensure that the extensiveness, complexity, and specifics of the study are well-matched and adequate to address the intentions of the survey. The scope of this LCA report clearly defined the functional units and system boundary. However, it did not describe the functions of the product system. Another missing section in the scope of the study is the type and format of the report that was necessary for the study. The scope also failed to state the limitations, assumptions and the type of critical review of the research. Therefore, the goals and scope of this reports did not meet the requirements of ISO 14040-2006. 2. Functional units and boundaries The LCA clearly defined the functional groups with their possible functions. The functional groups described were in line with the goals of the scope of the LCA. Therefore, it was easy to identify the quantification of the functional groups. Therefore, the defined functional groups provided the reference to which the inputs and outputs have a relation. The system boundary of this LCA also established the product systems as the models that describe the essential elements of the study. Therefore, the study was in line with the section 5.2.3 of the ISO 14040-2006. 3. Data Collection The authors of the LCA were keen to describe the methods of collecting data within the systems boundary. The inputs were the energy inputs and raw materials. The outputs defined included waste and emissions to the atmosphere. The calculation of the data collected should include the calculation of energy flows in the form of different fuels and sources of electric power. However, the LCA analyzed the data gathered using scientific methods. Therefore, the LCA report did not violate section 5.3.3 of the ISO 14040-2006. The authors used the Monte Carlo analysis to compare the data collected. 4. Reporting and Recommendations Every LCA should provide a gather interpretation of the data collected as well as recommendations. The study interpreted the data collected correctly about the objectives and scope of the survey. The descriptions indicated possible ecological effects. However, they did not forecast the definite influences on category endpoints or the risks they pose. For example, Mauro, Gigliola, Santarelli, & Zangrando (2008, p. 139), notes that chemical emissions and fuel consumption had the greatest environmental impact in the life-cycle of the lager beer. This form of conclusion does not violate section 5.5 of the ISO 14040-2006. The LCA also provided recommendations from the finding. Conclusion From the above review, it is clear that the two LCA are very different. As noted by Meyhoff, Hartline, wallet, & Aumonier (2010, p. 9), LCAs are varied from one organization to the other. The primary factors that cause the difference in the LCAs includes the difference in the methods used, the problem addressed, and the method used among others. The two LCA did not meet all the ISO standards. For example, the two LCA failed to define their goals and scope accordingly. They missed some sections such as identification of the targeted audience and whether the results would be released to the targeted population or the general public. The other lost sections varied for the two reports. For example, Fresh Pineapple from Costa Rica LCA did not clearly define the functional units and boundaries while the second Beer Lager LCA clearly defined the two variables. Therefore, the two LCA reports are not up to the ISO standards. Recommendations 1. When carrying out the LCA, the researcher must use the ISO guide to ensure that all the sections are addressed as per the requirements. 2. All the sections should contain the necessary information to make the LCA valid. 3. The reporting should be transparent and address all the environmental aspects affect by the life-cycle of the item for consumption being assessed. 4. The presentation of inputs and outputs of any production process under analysis should be clear for easy identification and analysis. 5. Some important sections such as the definition of scope and goals should include all the aspects. This step will be imperative to communicate the purpose and the extent of the study to the reader clearly. References Read More