Life Cycle Analysis : International Organization for Standardization

Life Cycle Analysis
Memo
To: [Click here and type name]
From: [Click here and type name]
CC: [Click here and type name]
Date: August 17, 2022
Re: [Click here and type subject]
Introduction
The fundamental objective of the paper is to analyze the article against ISO 14040 along with
ISO 14044 standards. ISO (The International Organization for Standardization) is regarded
as a worldwide alliance of national standards bodies. It will evaluate the increased awareness
of the significance of environmental impacts and protection that are related to products. The
paper will help in identifying the functional units, and key reference flows along with key
unit processes. Furthermore, it will also provide evidence-based on the application of
sensitivity analysis that helps in giving recommendations and reaching to the appropriate
conclusion.
Analysis of the article against ISO 14040 and 14044 standards
The article determines that built environment comprises of a large number of infrastructures
like utilities and roads. It has been analyzed that metropolitan stretch has become an
experiment for the majority of advanced nations that creates an impact on its land, energy
and mobility use. While ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 determines that Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) assist in recognizing the opportunities to boost the environmental performance of
products at different levels within their life cycle (Trigaux, Wijnants, De Troyer & Allacker,
2017). It also states that as per LCA also helps in informing the decision-makers within non-
1

government, government organizations and industry regarding the purpose of the process or
product design, priority setting and the purpose of strategic planning. It also includes
adequate pointers of environmental performance such as measurement techniques. It has
been analyzing that LCA in infrastructure includes financial cost, investment costs, energy
costs, replacement, maintenance and cleaning. It determines that the initial life cycle
processes comprise of construction activities, transport to the construction site along with the
production of building materials (Liu, Wang & Su, 2016). According to ISO 14040 and ISO
14044 standards, LCA addresses the potential environmental impacts and aspects such as
environmental consequences of release and utilization of resources.
Identification of functional units and key reference flows
According to ISO 14040, a system may comprise of several potential functions which
determine the quantification of the recognized functions of the product. The primary aim of
the functional unit is to facilitate a reference in which the outputs and inputs are related. The
relative nature of LCA is because of the functional unit feature of the methodology (Avilova,
Krutilova & Peresypkina, 2017). Meanwhile, based on the ISO 14044 standard, the objective
of a functional unit is to serve reference to which the output and input data are regularized. In
such a case, the difference between the systems will be made by considering the similar
functions in the form of their reference flows. The systems related to the supply of such
function will be documented and demonstrated in the form of alternative (ISO 14040, 2006).
It helps in making the system more comparable, which includes the outcome of performance
measurement, definition and consistency with scope and goal. Whereas, the article
determines the analysis that is functioned at the level of road infrastructure at different
sections for bicycle and local roads paths that creates an impact on energy utilization and
adjacent services for road lightening.
Key unit processes that exhibit multi-functionality
ISO 14040 determines that the environmental mechanism that includes the system of
biological, chemical and physical processes based on life cycle inventory analysis leads to
category endpoints and indicators. The outcomes of LCA can be useful in various decision-
 Page 2