System Boundaries, Data Sources and Assessment Methods in the Ecological Evaluation of Complex Assembly Products
Funk F, Franke J (2025)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Conference contribution
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Publisher: Springer
Series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
City/Town: Cham
Pages Range: 419-428
Conference Proceedings Title: Sustainable Manufacturing as a Driver for Growth. Proceedings of the 19th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, December 4–6, 2023, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Event location: Buenos Aires
ISBN: 9783031774287
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-77429-4_46
Abstract
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become the most popular method for assessing the environmental impact of products. It is internationally standardized by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, which outline the general methodology, steps, and issues to be considered. While the standards ensure a consistent general understanding of the method, it does not provide explicit recommendations on the decisions to be made when conducting an LCA. These decisions include, in particular, the definition of system boundaries, the prioritization of data sources, and the selection of appropriate assessment methods. For some industries, particularly raw materials and process goods, the gap has mostly been filled by industry standards. The vast number of manufactured goods that are the result of complex assemblies originating from multi-tiered supply chains still lack such industry standards. This work addresses the issue by conducting a thorough literature review on the subject. As a result of the literature review, methodological gaps are identified and quasi-standards are derived from previous studies, thus providing general guidance for future LCA of complex assembly products.
Authors with CRIS profile
Felix Funk
Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik (FAPS)
Jörg Franke
Lehrstuhl für Fertigungsautomatisierung und Produktionssystematik (FAPS)
How to cite
APA:
Funk, F., & Franke, J. (2025). System Boundaries, Data Sources and Assessment Methods in the Ecological Evaluation of Complex Assembly Products. In Holger Kohl, Günther Seliger, Franz Dietrich, Sebastián Mur (Eds.), Sustainable Manufacturing as a Driver for Growth. Proceedings of the 19th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, December 4–6, 2023, Buenos Aires, Argentina (pp. 419-428). Buenos Aires, AR: Cham: Springer.
MLA:
Funk, Felix, and Jörg Franke. "System Boundaries, Data Sources and Assessment Methods in the Ecological Evaluation of Complex Assembly Products." Proceedings of the 19th Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing, GCSM 2023, Buenos Aires Ed. Holger Kohl, Günther Seliger, Franz Dietrich, Sebastián Mur, Cham: Springer, 2025. 419-428.
BibTeX: Download