Developing an LCA guide for decision support

The life cycle assessment (LCA) guide of Heijungs et al. has been renewed to the latest methodological developments, aiming to make the ISO 14040 series on life cycle assessment operational. For this, a closer look was taken at intended applications in relation to required and practicable modelling options. Applications determine the required theoretical model, but the theoretical model required often comes into conflict with the available practical models and the needed operationality for decision support. To ease the tension between these requirements, simplifications need to be made in a guide on LCA. Two levels of sophistication have been worked out in the new guide documents: a detailed LCA with some options for extensions, and a simplified version.