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(08-01) The position of LCA in SETAC. Udo de Haes, Helias*,1, 1 CML - Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands ABSTRACT- Since 1989 LCA has a good home in SETAC. This has led to an increasing use of risk assessment methodology in Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), and, the other way around, LCA has helped to widen the scope of analytical tools in SETAC. This was understandably a slow process. Firstly, a substantial part of the LCA body of knowledge has no link with that of SETAC: Life Cycle Inventory Analysis (LCI) mainly needs an exchange with input/output types of analysis, connecting chains of processes in the economy. Secondly, LCIA aims to give equal attention to all types of environmental impact, whereas SETAC focuses on toxic substances. There is little exchange between LCIA and the rest of SETAC regarding resource depletion, noise, and even human health impacts. Thirdly, the technical structure of LCA is distinctly different from the structure of Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), LCA being a holistic tool integrating over space and time in order to cope with the full life cycle of products. But in addition, full integration into SETAC may also have side effects. One concern is that LCIA is allured to give priority to toxic impacts, whereas it can be doubted that these are the prime cause of damage to biodiversity or human health. And within the area of environmental toxicology and chemistry, LCA may be tempted to a too high degree of space and time specification, and a too high differentiation between media in fate modelling. It seems wise to stretch LCA not too far in the direction of ERA, and rather to use LCA in combination with a set of analytical tools. A second warning is that LCA, like ERA, can hardly contribute if there is a need for a precautionary approach. Although the cause is different, the effect is the same: a combination of tools should be used, rather than to develop LCA as a supertool. These considerations have a bearing on the future position of LCA in SETAC. Four possible scenarios will be discussed, in which also the new International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE) plays a role. The most desirable option is that LCA stays within SETAC. But this will only work in the long run if a structural co-operation with ISIE will be established, concerning the application of LCA in Life Cycle Management, and concerning the exchange of ideas about other analytical tools. Key words: LCA, analytical tools, SETAC, ERA |
