Streamlining life cycle analysis: a method

Life cycle analysis (LCA) is often too expensive in terms of time that is required to carry out the analysis and in terms of the data required from a multitude of outside sources. Here it is shown that LCA data of assemblies, subassemblies, machine elements and other standard used parts and engineering materials can be represented in such a manner that subsequent LCAs on complex products can be carried out with a largely reduced effort and additional data acquisition. The method is based on analysing relationships (empirical and theoretical) between characteristics of the groups of assemblies and the life cycle inventory (LCI). The data is statistically analysed to test the significance of the relationships. The main feature of this method is the modelling of the life cycle inventory information as a function of the characteristics of the assembly. The LCI data can be then used as input data for the environmental impact analysis (EIA) according to existing methods (e.g. EDIP, EcoIndicator, etc.). The method is briefly illustrated with a case study on an electric motor.