Life Cycle Impacts of Goods, Services, Activities (LC-IMPACT)

The LC-IMPACT project is developing methods to assess the environmental life cycle impact of a vast number of goods, services and activities. The assessments examine the environmental costs of such things as erosion caused by land use and threats from toxic substances used in production processes.

Overview

To develop better analytical tools to examine the life-cycle impacts of goods, services and activities, LC-IMPACT researchers are using case studies to compare new assessment tools they are developing with existing tools. The case studies use the new tools to analyze the production methods for fish, fresh tomatoes, and margarine. The researchers are also studying methods involved in paper production and printing, as well as auto manufacturing.

IIASA Research

Scientists from IIASA’s Ecosystems Services & Management program are developing better ways to characterize the effects of forest, cropland and livestock management practices. Several of IIASA’s models, including EPIC, G4M, and BEWHERE, are being modified to meet LC-IMPACT’s goal of creating better analytical tools.

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Last edited: 19 June 2012