Survey on the international recognition of the EDIP Methodology for life cycle assessment
1. The EDIP Methodology for life cycle assessment
| 1.1 | The EDIP Methodology, comparison to other methodologies |
| 1.2 | Competitors to EDIP |
1.1 The EDIP Methodology, comparison to other methodologies
 | All experts know the EDIP methodology well, and many have used it. |
| All experts are positive or very positive towards EDIP. |
| A majority of the experts declare that EDIP is the most advanced, complete and consistent LCA methodology available today. |
| EDIP represents the state-of-the-art and is a well-documented reference method for LCA. |
| The EDIP books present the methodology thoroughly in both Danish and English. They are recommended as manuals for companies, consultants and universities. |
| EDIP is - contrary to other methodologies - in line with the ISO standards. |
| Many experts express great recognition of the Danish contribution to the international environmental product assessment work. |
| Some experts believe that EDIP will converge towards an international best practice for LCA. |
Danish experts further stress that:
| EDIP is suitable for interpretation and assessment in all phases. |
| EDIP stimulates considerations regarding quantity, quality and duration, and it guides the user through the process, thereby preventing errors. |
| Further development of EDIP is concentrated in Denmark. |
Criticism of EDIP is quite limited.
1.2 Competitors to EDIP
- A joint UNEP-SETAC project is being launched that will aim at some best practice for LCA. A reference method will be established and a revision of the ISO 14040 standard will be initiated. There is general agreement that Danish experts are important contributors to this work. Michael Hauschild participates.
- At a national level, LCA is an issue in Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and to some extent in the USA. There is no international co-ordination, and – compared to other methods - EDIP has a relatively strong position.
- A project about life cycle impact assessment is being carried out with contribution from The Netherlands, USA and Japan.
- SimaPro is the most important commercial competitor at the PC tool level with a good GUI, but with limited data. The methodology behind, EcoIndicator 99, is used by many users with limited knowledge.
- EDIP and the ISO 1404X standards were based on Nordic guidelines that were developed by The Nordic Council of Ministers.