C2 - Life cycle analysis
Technical action C2
Life cycle analysis
The life cycle analysis, LCA, studies the environmental aspects and potential impacts throughout the life cycle of a product or activity. A complete LCA attributes to products the environmental effects derived of:
- The consumption of raw materials and energy needed for its manufacture
- Emissions and waste generated in the production process
- The environmental effects from the end of the product's life when it is consumed or can no longer be used.
Therefore, LCA is a type of environmental accounting where the adverse environmental effects generated throughout their life cycle, properly quantified, are charged to the products.
The complexity of the LCA requires a protocol to which all LCA studies must conform. This Protocol is established in the regulations drawn up by International Standards Organisation, ISO 14040 (2006) and ISO 14044 (2006). In March 2010, these regulations have been complemented with the Guide by International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD). This Guide aims to standardise the different methodological options in order to obtain more precise results on ILCD (2010) quality and consistency.
Futur Agrari aims to carry out the environmental evaluation of three of the actions developed in the project related to the removal of nutrients:
- B6. Nitrogen catch crops
- B7. Agroforestry systems
- B8. Riparian buffers
Objectives C2 Life cycle analysis
- Carrying out the environmental evaluation of the nitrogen catch crops full cycle (oats, ryegrass and rapeseed) including subsequent use as co-substrates in biogas production processes.
- Carrying out the prospective environmental evaluation of agroforestry crops cycle, including the obtention of wood for furniture manufacturing.
- Carrying out the environmental evaluation of crops cycle which include riparian buffers, including the obtention of biomass for energy purposes.