Professional Documents
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Lca - 05
Lca - 05
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Life Cycle Assessment worldsteel has been collecting life cycle inventory
data from its member companies worldwide
The procedures of LCA are part of the International since 1995, with the launch of the worldsteel life
Standards Organisation (ISO) 14040 series of cycle inventory (LCI) methodology and study. The
standards. LCA takes into account the environmental worldsteel methodology provides a common basis
impacts of the manufacturing processes of a product, of measurement of environmental and efficiency
the extraction of the raw materials used by these performance around the world. The LCI data
processes, the use and maintenance of the product quantifies cradle to gate inputs (resources use,
by the consumer, its endof-life (reuse, recycling or energy) and outputs (environmental emissions) of
disposal) as well as the various methods of transport steel production from:
occurring between every link of the chain.
extraction of resources and use of recycled
The use of LCA is becoming more widespread. materials,
There is an increasing number of national or regional
databases which cover major industrial sectors. Many production of steel products to the steelworks
manufacturing organisations have LCA departments gate and
and there are more and more LCA software
end-of-life recovery and recycling of steel.
packages on the market. It is also a subject taught at
universities. This data is used worldwide in LCA studies, not
only by industry, but also by universities (often
LCA in worldsteel commissioned by industry and governments to
inform their decisions and policy-making) to ensure
As the global body for steel, worldsteel is in a unique informed material selection decisions. The worldsteel
position to provide the most consistent and accurate programme helps to identify ways to improve the
information about LCA in the steel industry. eco-efficiency of steelmaking.
Steel is a major constituent material for a wide range The fourth worldsteel LCI data collection was
of market applications and products, such as in the completed in 2017. Its aims are:
automotive, construction and packaging sectors.
At a very early stage, the steel industry recognised to provide up-to-date and consistent LCI data for
the need to develop a sound methodology to steel products around the world,
collect worldwide LCI data, to support the markets
and customers. A thorough set of guidelines was to increase the coverage of steelmaking sites
developed for companies that carry out or use within the new datasets and
LCA, which recommended maintaining the highest to determine global LCIs for additional steel
standards in both the undertaking of LCA studies products.
and their disclosure. This is to prevent the reduction
of complex issues to simplistic and partial analysis, As the exercise is repeated and improved over time,
which is especially important when using LCA to the LCI framework can also be used as a powerful
compare alternative materials. tool for measuring progress by the steel industry.
Thirty-seven companies worldwide participated in the
data collection exercise for the 2017 data release.
worldsteels LCA methodology and LCI data help the demonstrate the benefits of steel by using LCA
industry to: which could lead to environmental improvements
and,
provide information to our customers, as well as
their customers promote good practice in the use of LCA.
understand the contribution of steel to the The expert group engages all stakeholders in the LCA
environmental performance of product systems in process, to make better use of LCA as a tool in inter-
different applications material competition and steel promotion.
increase public knowledge of the life cycle build the LCA Expert Groups position as the
environmental benefits of using steel in applications most authoritative source for steel LCI data and
and where it can be effective in improving LCA methodology.
environmental performance.
advocate for LCA to be used to promote life cycle
LCA also plays a vital role in companies thinking, to support policy and decision-making.
environmental and greenhouse gas reporting
requirements, marketing and sales support, and continue discussions and harmonisation with
ensuring compliance with regulations and voluntary other industries, particularly the metals industry,
initiatives such as environmental product declarations. to help improve the credibility of LCI data and LCA
methodology, whilst ensuring that elements that
Steels global approach truly reflect steels positive position are maintained.
The worldsteel LCA Expert Group was established provide our customers with accurate information
in 1998. It undertakes a work programme to improve as they analyse the environmental impacts of their
worldsteels methodologies and to align them with products that contain steel.
other regional initiatives. The forum also aims to: LCI data and all related documents are available via
collect and provide industry-wide LCI data for steel worldsteel.org. If you are carrying out an LCA study,
products, you can fill in the data request form at worldsteel.org.
worldsteel.org