Environmental Management — Life Cycle Assessment — Principles and Framework
ISO 14040 establishes the principles, framework, and methodology requirements for life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a technique for assessing the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle — from raw material extraction through production, use, and end-of-life. In the battery sector, LCA is used to quantify the carbon footprint and environmental impact of battery cells, packs, and energy storage systems (see Life Cycle Analysis).
Published by: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Current edition: ISO 14040:2006 (confirmed 2023)
Companion standard: ISO 14044 (requirements and guidelines for LCA)
Scope
ISO 14040 describes the general framework for conducting an LCA. It outlines the four phases of an LCA study and provides guidance on reporting and critical review. It is used alongside ISO 14044, which gives the detailed requirements for each phase. Battery LCAs are required under the EU Battery Regulation for carbon footprint declarations of EV, industrial, and LMT batteries.
LCA Framework Phases
Goal and Scope Definition
The intended application, reasons for the study, and intended audience must be defined. The functional unit — which provides a reference to which all inputs and outputs are normalised — must be clearly stated. For batteries, the functional unit might be 1 kWh of storage capacity delivered over the battery lifetime.
Inventory Analysis, Impact Assessment, and Interpretation
Life cycle inventory (LCI) compiles all material and energy flows. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) translates inventory data into environmental impact categories (global warming potential, resource depletion, etc.). Interpretation draws conclusions, identifies improvement opportunities, and reports limitations and uncertainties.
Disclaimer: This is not a definitive guide, just an indication and it is important that you always go back to the source for legislation.
References
- ISO 14040:2006, ISO