Abstract
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a quantitative technique used to assess the environmental performance of products (including service systems) over the full life cycle. This chapter explores the history of LCA, the key principals of undertaking LCA, and methodological aspects of LCA with a focus on applications in the aviation sector. Key motivations for applying LCA include product differentiation (on environmental performance), identification of eco-efficiency cost savings throughout a supply chain, improved decision support (including for procurement), market and/or legislative compliance, and policy support. In response to the need for more prescriptive LCA approaches, a number of complimentary LCA standards have been developed, including greenhouse gas (‘carbon’) foot-printing standards PAS 2050: 2011 and ISO/TS 14067: 2013. The chapter concludes with a review of LCA trends and an outlook of how LCA can contribute to sustainability in the aviation sector.
| Original language | British English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Sustainable Aviation Technology and Operations |
| Subtitle of host publication | Research and Innovation Perspectives |
| Publisher | wiley |
| Pages | 113-143 |
| Number of pages | 31 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118932599 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118932582 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2023 |
Keywords
- aviation sector
- decision support
- environmental performance
- greenhouse gas foot-printing standards
- life cycle assessment
- supply chain
