Baggrund til håndbog i miljøvurdering af produkter
Summary and conclusions
This report is related to the book ‘Manual in Environmental Assessment – a Simplified Method’ which is a simplified LCA approach to product assessment primarily for small and medium sized companies. Here, the focus is on assumptions connected to the simplified methodology.
The simplifications are based on the EDIP-method (Environmental Development of Industrial Products). The main principle for the simplified method is a stepwise approach. The stepwise method includes the three steps:
 | MECO-matrix (Materials, Energy, Chemicals and Other) |
| LCA in a PC-tool |
| Focus LCA |
The first step shall ensure the width. The second and third steps will ensure that important aspects of the product system are treated with the necessary level of details. In the third step parts of the life cycle can be treated in more depth.
The scope definition is important for the simplified method. The main simplification in the first step is that you only focus on inputs. Other important simplifications are that losses during the life cycle are not accounted and that all materials are regarded as primary materials.
In the present report an evaluation of the simplifications in the first step, - the MECO-matrix, is included. This showed that in most situations, there was good correspondence between conclusions obtained from the MECO-matrix and the traditional LCA.A practical testing of the simplified method and the usability of the manual was carried out in 10 companies.
The practical test of the methodology showed that
| the MECO-matrix based on available data gives a good description of the products life cycle and the key issues with respect to the environment. |
| the MECO-matrix is unsuitable if the product mainly consists of chemicals. |
| if a more dynamic model is required a PC-tool is preferred. |
| An environmental assessment based on a MECO-matrix is not sufficient documentation for external use. |
The experiences from the practical test showed that all companies were able to set up an MECO-matrix according to the instructions in the manual by them selves. The companies recommended that an introduction to the principles of the life cycle approach would be a good help. The test also showed that the time consumption for carrying out the MECO-matrix for a simple product system is about 100 hours the first time.