Market information in life cycle assessment

Table 4.1. Default assumptions on market conditions (applicable when specific data are not available) Item: Default assumption: Scale of change Small Time horizon Long-term Market ties None Market segment Narrow, i.e. not assuming substitution between very different products Geographical market Products with a low value to weight ratio: Local market Products with medium value to weight ratio: Continental market*   Products with a high value to weight ratio: Global market* Market trend Overall increasing production volume Production constraints Only for co-products with a low value relative to the remaining co-products from the same process Affected (most competitive) supplier/ technology Technology: Modern Geographical location (within the above defined geographical market): Depending on relative importance of labour costs and skills.   *Taking into account also possible toll barriers, trade patterns, and geographical differences in overall production volume.