Chalmers Conferences, LCM 2013

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND CRITICALITY OF RAW MATERIALS: RELATIONSHIP AND POTENTIAL SYNERGIES
Lucia Mancini, Serenella Sala, Malgorzata Góralczyk, Fulvio Ardente, David Pennington

Last modified: 2014-09-11

Abstract


The security of supply of raw materials is a policy priority for the European Union (EU). In this paper, different research activities undertaken by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), Sustainability Assessment Unit, and related to Critical Raw Materials (CRM) are briefly described. The potential of Life Cycle Assessment for supporting resource policy needs in business and governance is discussed.
Related research activities addressed in this paper include an analysis of impact assessment methods used for the assessment of resources; the Resource Life Cycle Indicators that provide insights into the total environmental pressures of the EU; the identification of potentially relevant requirements for product policies, and the results of the expert workshop “Security of supply and scarcity of raw materials”.

Keywords


Life Cycle Assessment; Critical Raw Materials; product policies; Life Cycle indicators; impact assessment methods

References


Ardente, F., Mathieux, F. (2012). Refined methods and Guidance documents for the calculation of indices concerning Reusability/Recyclability/Recoverability, Recycled content, Use of Priority Resources, Use of Hazardous substances, Durability. Joint Research Centre Technical Report. (http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/assessment/projects#d). Doi: 10.2788/42590

Ardente, F., Mathieux, F. (2012b). Application of the project’s methods to three product groups. Joint Research Centre. Technical Report. (http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/assessment/projects#d). Doi: 10.2788/75910

EC - European Commission (2010). Critical Raw Materials for the EU. Report of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Defining Critical Raw Materials. EC. Brussels.

EC - European Commission (2012). Life cycle indicators for resources: development of life cycle based macro-level monitoring indicators for resources, products and waste for the EU-27. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability

European Union – EU. (2009). Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of Ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast).

Klinglmaier M., Sala S., Brandao M. (2013) Assessing resource depletion in LCA: A review of methods and methodological issues accepted for publication in IJLCA

Mancini, L., De Camillis, C., Pennington, D. (eds.) (2013). Security of supply and scarcity of raw materials. A methodological framework for sustainability assessment. Joint Research Centre (in press)


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