Date: 2024-08-16 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00011887
GLOSSARY
Terms used in The Sustainability Coalition (TSC)
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| Adaptable (Flexible) |
'Ability to adapt, change, or replace specific unit processes in a life cycle inventory or product system to better reflect the product life cycle that the model is meant to represent'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Additional Issues |
Additional issues are dossier hotspots that do not meet the requirements for a category sustainability profile (CSP) hotspot. These
dossier hotspots are supported by i evidence, and, therefore, stakeholders should be aware of them. However, the evidence is not as i as it is for CSP hotspots, so these dossier hotpots are called 'additional issues' on the CSP. See CSP construction procedure for details.
Footnotes | |
| Aggregated Data Set (Accumulated System Data Set) |
'An activity dataset showing the aggregated environmental exchanges and impacts of the product system related to one
specific product from the activity'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Weidema, B. P., Bauer, C., Hischier, R., Mutel, C., Nemecek, T., Vadenbo, C. O., Wernet, G. (2011). Overview and methodology: Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. View Source | |
| Aggregation |
'The action of summing or bringing together information (e.g., data, indicator results) from smaller units into a larger unit
(e.g., from inventory indicator to subcategory)'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Benoit, C., Mazijn, B., (Eds.). (2009). Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products. Geneva, Switzerland: UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. | |
| ANSI Accredited Process |
The ANSI accredited process is a process developed according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Essential
requirements include due process, openness, balance, and consensus[1]
Footnotes 1. American National Standard Institute (2011). Glossary. View | |
| Attributional Approach |
'System modelling approach in which inputs and outputs are attributed to the functional unit of a product system by linking
and/or partitioning the unit processes of the system according to a normative rule'[1]
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Attributional Model |
An Attributional model is an LCI modeling framework that inventories the inputs and output flows of all processes of a system as they occur. If a model is built to follow the stages of supply chain, it is considered an attributional model.[1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006b). ISO 14044: Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Average LCI Data Set |
'LCI dataset obtained via averaging (producer) specific LCI datasets. Typically referring to horizontally averaged data of complete product systems (e.g., global average steel billet data), unit processes (e.g., EU air transport fleet mix), or partly terminated systems (e.g., Australian average wastewater treatment plant). Also used for so-called 'vertically averaged data,' i.e., LCI result datasets'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. View | |
| Average Technology |
'The average technology (mix) is represented by a technology (mix) used to cover the demand for a certain functional unit within
a specific area and a certain time period (e.g., a calendar year)'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. |
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| Background System |
'The background system consists of processes on which no or, at best, indirect influence may be exercised by the decision-maker for
which an LCA is carried out. Such processes are called 'background processes''[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Frischknecht, R. (1998). Life cycle inventory analysis for decision-making: Scope-dependent inventory system models and context-specific joint product allocation (Doctoral dissertation). (ISBN 3-9520661-3-3). | |
| Best Attainable Consensus |
Best attainable consensus is partial or full agreement of the involved parties, steered by a chair or manager towards the
broadest possible agreement on the issue at stake. Committees and Working Groups should strive to achieve best attainable consensus
when making decisions.
Footnotes | |
| By-product |
Ability to adapt, change, or replace specific unit processes in a life cycle of a marketable good or service that is not the
reference product[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2009). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook − Terminology. Initial draft. |
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| Capacity Building |
'A wide range of strategies and processes that contribute to a better understanding about the benefits of counting on
good-quality life cycle data, how to use it, and how to start up, run, maintain, document, and review life cycle databases'[1].
Footnotes 1.Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Carbon Footprint |
Carbon footprint is a measure of the exclusive total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is directly and indirectly caused
by an activity or is accumulated over the life stages of a product.[1]
Footnotes 1. Wiedmann, T. and Minx, J. (2008). A Definition of 'Carbon Footprint'. In: C. C. Pertsova, Ecological Economics Research Trends: Chapter 1, pp. 1-11, Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge NY, USA. | |
| Climate Change |
Climate change refers to any significant variation in measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. Changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind can result from external natural processes, natural processes within the climate system, or human activities that change the atmosphere's composition and the land surface. [1]
Footnotes 1. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Climate Change. View Source | |
| Category Sustainability Profile |
A summary of the best available, credible, and actionable knowledge about the sustainability aspects related to a product category over its entire life. Each CSP represents the culmination of a significant body of scientific research and expert opinion compiled into one user-friendly document. This document also contains key performance indicators.
Footnotes | |
| Comparative Assertion |
A comparative assertion is an environmental claim regarding the superiority or equivalence of one product versus a competing product that performs the same function. [1] [2]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006b). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006c). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Competence |
Competence is a demonstrated personal attributes and demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO 19011: Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Completeness Check |
'Process of verifying whether information from the phases of a life cycle assessment is sufficient for reaching conclusions in accordance with the goal and scope definition'[1] (paraphrased from this source [2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Composability of Data |
'Dimension of LCI data concerning its ability to combine data from one source with data from other sources to model or compose a larger system'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Consequential Approach |
'System modelling approach in which activities in a product system are linked so that activities are included in the product system to the extent that they are expected to change as a consequence of a change in demand for the functional unit'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Consistency Check |
'Process of verifying that the assumptions, methods, and data are consistently applied throughout the study and are in accordance with the goal and scope definition performed before conclusions are reached'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Consortium Working Group (CWG) |
A Consortium Working Group is a charted group consisting of Tier 1 TSC members, a TSC Manager, and other invited participants, which helps perform research relevant to supporting TSC mission and goals.
Footnotes | |
| Constrained Supplier |
'Supplier that is unable to increase production as a result of an increase in demand for its product. These constraints can be due to a number of factors such as regulation (e.g., quotas), shortage in raw materials or other production factors, and market failures. The use of the output of a constrained producer results in the output being unavailable to another potential user'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Weidema, B. P., Frees, N., Nielsen, A. M. (1999). Marginal production technologies for life cycle inventories. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 4(1):48-56. | |
| Consumer |
A Consumer is an individual member of the general public, who is purchasing or using goods, property, or services for private purposes.[1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006c). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Consumer Science |
Consumer Science is a field of inquiry from one of the Consortium Working Groups. This working group aims to better understand
the relationship between consumers and sustainable consumer products in terms of communication and consumer practices.
Footnotes | |
| Consumption Mix |
'The weighted average of the suppliers providing a specific product to a geographical area, equal to the production mix plus imports minus exports of products produced in the territory'[1]. Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Co-product |
'Any of two or more products coming from the same unit process or product system'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Cradle to Grave, Cradle to Gate, Gate to Gate |
Cradle to Grave, Cradle to Gate, and Gate to Gate are terms commonly used to identify the extent of a system boundary of a given LCI data set or LCA study. Cradle to Grave implies that the entire life cycle has been captured from raw material extraction to
end of life and all stages in between (e.g., LCA of a consumer product). Cradle to Gate suggests that all inventories and impacts
associated with the good are captured up to the point of sale or exchange. Therefore, a Cradle to Gate data set or study does not
include the use or disposal of that good or service (e.g., component that is used in another product). Lastly, Gate to Gate
suggests that the data set or study only covers the boundary of one company and nothing upstream or downstream of that organization
is considered.[1]
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| Critical Review |
'Process intended to ensure consistency between a life cycle assessment and the principles and requirements of the International Standards on Life Cycle Assessment'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Crowd Sourcing |
'The act of outsourcing tasks, traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, to an undefined, large group of people or
community (a 'crowd'), through an open call'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Cut-off Criteria |
'Specification of the amount of material or energy flow or the level of environmental significance associated with unit
processes or product system to be excluded from a study'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) |
Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) is a characterization method used to investigate the energy use throughout a life cycle of a good
or service. Also known as 'embedded energy', itwas first developed in the seventies [1] [2] and has spawned many variations since
then. CED is used to combine the energy potential of a wide variety of fossil and renewable resources. It is widely used to point
out the priorities of energy saving potentials in the complex relationship between different life cycle stages. It is based on
upper limit of material heating value and is reported in Mega Joules equivalent (MJeq).
Footnotes 1. Pimentel, D., L.E. Hurd, A.C. Bellotti, M.J. Forster, I.N. Oka et al. (1973). Food production and the energy crisis. Science, November, 182, 443-449. 2. Boustead, I. & Hancock, G.F. (1979). Handbook of industrial energy analysis. Horwood: Chichester. |
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| Data Commissioner |
'Persons or organizations which commission the data collection and documentation'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO/TS 14048:2002(E) Environmental Management - Life Cycle Assessment - Data Documentation Format. | |
| Data Documentation Format |
'Structure of documentation of data (NOTE: this includes data fields, sets of data fields, and their relationship)'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO/TS 14048:2002(E) Environmental Management - Life Cycle Assessment - Data Documentation Format. | |
| Data Field |
'Container for specified data with a specified data type'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO/TS 14048:2002(E) Environmental Management - Life Cycle Assessment - Data Documentation Format. | |
| Data Gaps |
'Data (elementary flows) that are missing in a dataset and that impair the data quality (completeness criteria) of the dataset required for the LCI database and/or the application of impact assessment for a certain impact category'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Data Management |
'Administrative process by which the required data is acquired, validated, stored, protected, and processed, and by which its accessibility, reliability, and timeliness is ensured to satisfy the needs of the data users'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Business Dictionary. (n.d.). Data management. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/ definition/data-management.html | |
| Data Mining |
'Generally, data mining [...] is the process of analyzing data from different perspectives and summarizing it into useful information [...]. Technically, data mining is the process of finding correlations or patterns among dozens of fields in large relational databases'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Palace, B. (1996). Data mining. Technology Note prepared for Management 274A: Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. View Source | |
| Data Quality |
'Characteristics of data that relate to their ability to satisfy stated requirements'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Database Developer |
'Database developers are the ones who build or develop databases and may not be only owners or the providers'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Data Set (LCI or LCIA data set) |
'A document or file with life cycle information of a specified product or other reference (e.g., site, process), covering descriptive metadata and quantitative life cycle inventory and/or life cycle impact assessment data, respectively'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2009). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - Terminology. Initial draft. | |
| Data Set Author |
'The person who enters the data into the dataset format and fields (this person may also be the dataset developer or dataset owner)'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Data Set Review |
'A manual, systematic, independent, and documented process for evaluating LCI datasets in the framework of the database against established validation and review criteria'[1]. Footnotes Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Decisional Approach |
'System modelling approach in which activities in a product system are linked to anticipated future suppliers with which one may establish financial and contractual relations even if the said suppliers are constrained'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Downstream |
The term 'downstream' is used to describe the general location of an entity or unit process in a supply chain. It is based on the concept of a production chain that extends from extraction of raw materials to the use and disposal of a good or service. Downstream refers to a later step in the products life cycle beyond the organization or unit process being discussed. For example, a final manufacturer would be downstream of an ingredient supplier in the production chain of a home care product.
Footnotes |
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| Ecoinvent |
Ecoinvent is a database developed by the Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories. The database accommodates approximately 4,000 databases for products, services, and processes often used in LCA case studies. [1]
Footnotes 1. Frischknecht, R. & Jungbluth, N. (2007). Overview and methodology. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, 77p. | |
| Ecolabel |
An ecolabel is a voluntary approach to environmental certification of products meeting specific criteria or standards. Ecolabels can be classified in single attribute or multi-attribute standards. According to the International Organization for Standardization[1] three main types of environmental labels exist, including product category based on life cycle, informative self-declaration claims, and third-party accredited labels based on quantified environmental data of a product.
Footnotes | |
| Ecosystem Quality |
Ecosystem quality includes measurable attributes from an ecosystem performance including biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecological resources.[1] Footnotes Footnotes 1. Koellner, T. (2002). Land use in product life cycles and its consequences for ecosystem quality. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 7(2), 130. | |
| Elementary Flow |
'Material or energy entering the system being studied that has been drawn from the environment without previous human transformation, or material or energy leaving the system being studied that is released into the environment without subsequent human transformation'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| End Point Indicators |
End point indicators are measurements of emission effects associated with defined protection targets such as natural
environment ecosystems, human health, and resource availability. [1]Several midpoint indicators can be aggregated into an end point indicator.
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2011). Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment Glossary. Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. View Source | |
| Energy Flow |
'Input to or output from a unit process or product system, quantified in energy units'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Environmental Aspect |
An environmental aspect is an element of an organization's activities, products or services that can interact with the environment[1].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040: Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Principles and framework. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Environmental Impact |
An environmental impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's environmental aspects. [1] Footnotes Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2004). ISO 14001: Environmental Management systems - Requirementes with guidance for use. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Environmental Label or Environmental Declaration |
An environmental label or declaration is a claim that indicates the environmental aspects of a product or service. An environmental label or declaration may take the form of a statement, symbol or graphic on a product or package label, in product literature, in technical bulletins, in advertising or in publicity, amongst other things. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization, (2000). ISO 14020: Environmental labels and declarations - General principles. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Environmentally Extended Input-Output Data |
'The data presented by national statistical agencies as supply-use tables (also known as 'make-use tables') and direct requirements tables. The environmental extension is an inventory of the elementary flows for each unit process in these tables'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| ESWG |
Acronym for Electronics Sector Working Group
Footnotes | |
| Eutrophication |
Eutrophication is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which refers to impact from excessive amount of nutrients available in an ecosystem. This metric tracks impacts in three systems: terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
Footnotes | |
| Environmental Declaration Program - Type III |
Type III Environmental Declaration Program is a voluntary program for the development and use of Type III environmental declarations based on a set of operating rules. [1] Footnotes Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006c). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) - Type III |
Type III Environmental Product Declaration provides quantified environmental data using predetermined parameters, and where relevant, additional environmental information.The predetermined parameters are based on the ISO 14040 series of standards, which is made up of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.The additional environmental information may be quantitative or qualitative.
Footnotes | |
| Evaluation |
'Element within the life cycle interpretation phase intended to establish confidence in the results of the Life Cycle Assessment'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]). Footnotes Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. |
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| FBA |
Acronym for Food, Beverage, and Agriculture Sector
Footnotes | |
| Footprint |
A footprint is a rough measure of resource use or impact on the planet. A Product Footprint is used to provide a unit-based
quantity of measure for total impact for a single product on the Earth's system. In the TSC Framework, it is equal to a
Product Category Baseline adjusted by Performance Drivers and characterized by an impact assessment method. Example Footprint Result = 1.7 MJ of Primary Energy per Dose = 30 MJ of Primary Energy per Sales Unit Footnotes | |
| Foreground System |
'The foreground system consists of processes which are under the control of the decision-maker for which an LCA is carried out'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Frischknecht, R. (1998). Life cycle inventory analysis for decision-making: Scope-dependent inventory system models and context-specific joint product allocation (Doctoral dissertation). (ISBN 3-9520661-3-3). | |
| Founding Universities |
TSC was founded in 2009 by the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University.
Footnotes | |
| Function |
LCA is always anchored in a precise, quantitative description of the function(s) provided by the analyzed system, e.g., 'covering an outdoor wall against the weather, etc.' [1]
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| Functional Unit |
The functional unit names and quantifies the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the function(s) along the questions of 'what', 'how much', 'how well', and 'for how long'. [1]
Footnotes 1. Functional Unit The functional unit names and quantifies the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the function(s) along the questions of 'what', 'how much', 'how well', and 'for how long' (European Commission, 2010). |
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| GaBi |
GaBi is a software and database developed by the Institute for Polymer Testing and Polymer Sciences (IKP) of the University of Stuttgart in collaboration with PE International, Leinfelden-Echterdingen. Both components encompass a tool to create life cycle balances. GaBi supports product life cycle modeling, large data set management, results analysis and interpretation. [1]
Footnotes 1. University of Stuttgart (IKP) & PE Europe GMBH. (2006). GaBi 4 Manual. Institute for Polymer Testing and Polymer Sciences, GaBi department, 18p. | |
| Generic Data |
'Data that is not site or enterprise specific'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Benoit, C., Mazijn, B., (Eds.). (2009). Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products. Geneva, Switzerland: UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative. | |
| Global Market Information Database (GMID) |
Passport GMID is a market research database covering most of the world's GDP. It contains data on economic indicators (health, lifestyle, environment, etc.), markets for consumer products (market size, retail sales, prices, etc.), market analysis (e.g., forecasts for retail products), and industries and individual companies. The database is maintained by Euromonitor International, a global market research consultancy[1].
Footnotes 1. Euromonitor International. (2011). Passport GMID. View Source | |
| Global Product Classification (GPC) |
Global Product Classification is a system that gives buyers and sellers a common language for grouping products in the same
way, everywhere in the world. As established by GS1, GPC is a component of the Global Data Synchronization Network™
(GDSN™), enabling effective category management. [1] The products in the SMRS are classified by the GPC scheme. The GPC system organizes consumer products by their relative characteristics into categories of increasing specificity, similar to the taxonomy of organisms. Typically, the product category will be at the brick level; however, depending on the product under assessment, the description can be further specified with attribute and value descriptions. Footnotes 1. GPC, (2011). Global Product Classification. View Source | |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) |
Global warming potential is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf. Based from the IPCC 100 year horizon GWP, it is measured in terms of mass of CO2 equivalents.
Footnotes | |
| Goal Definition |
Goal and scope definition is 'the first phase of an LCA; establishing the aim of the intended study, the functional unit, the reference flow, the product system(s) under study and the breadth and depth of the study in relation to this aim'[1]. In this stage, researchers also define the decision context and target audiences for the study[2].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| Governance |
In the case of a non-profit organization such as TSC, governance relates to consistent management, cohesive policies, processes and decision-rights for a given area of responsibility.
Footnotes | |
| Greenhouse Gases |
Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Some greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Main Global Warming Potential (GWP) gases are: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. [1]
Footnotes 1.Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Climate Change. View Source |
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| Horizontal Averaging |
'A type of aggregation in which multiple unit processes (or aggregated datasets) supplying a common reference flow are combined in order to produce an averaged dataset'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| HPC |
Acronym for Home and Personal Care Sector
Footnotes | |
| Hot Buttons |
Hot buttons are sustainability issues of high concern for consumers when they purchase a product (e.g., animal testing). Hot buttons are consumer identified issues, and they may or may not align with hotspots, which are expert identified issues.
Footnotes | |
| Hotspot |
A hotspot is a unit process or phase of a product life cycle that has a potentially significant environmental or social impact. Researchers may also associate social hotspots with geographic locations. While there are no quantitative criteria to determine a hotspot, a hotspot should contribute substantially to the total impact for a given impact category. Generally, the justification for a hotspot comes from LCA studies, but it may also come from experts' opinions when data are lacking or product systems are particularly complex (e.g., biodiversity loss due to forest destruction).
Footnotes | |
| Human Health |
Human health is the physical well-being of humans interacting with products and processes. Special emphasis is given to the continuous exposure to hazardous materials or substances throughout a product's life cycle.
Footnotes |
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| Impact Bookshelf |
The impact bookshelf is a list of methodologies for measuring a comprehensive suite of environmental impact categories for use by TSC Sector Working Groups. It provides consistent methodologies to measure and communicate environmental impacts across all consumer products and sectors and allows individual product categories to focus on the environmental issue most relevant to that product category.
Footnotes | |
| Impact Driver |
An impact driver is an attribute or characteristic of a unit process that has a direct influence on the magnitude of impact for a given environmental, social or economic aspect. If the unit process is a hotspot, the Impact Driver is the process characteristic that one would need to change to have the greatest reduction in impact. Performance Indicators and Performance Drivers should be linked to specific Impact Drivers for a given Reporting Category.
Example from Laundry Care: Aspect: energy Hotspot: laundry process Impact Driver: temperature of water used for washing Example from Wheat Based Products: Aspect: water Hotspot: wheat farming Impact Driver: amount of surface and/or ground water used in irrigation Footnotes | |
| Improvement Opportunity |
Performance Indicator (also referred to as SPI - Sustainability Performance Indicator) A performance indicator is a qualitative or quantitative piece of information about results or outcomes associated with the organization or product that is comparable and can demonstrate change over time. At the product level, performance indicators are used to demonstrate direction progress towards improved product performance but cannot easily be linked to quantifiable impacts. Due to the complex nature of product supply chains, Performance Indicators are used to show directional progress and relative performance towards organization goals. As supply chain reporting, traceability and measurement methods become more robust and accurate some Performance Indicators may evolve into Performance Drivers. Example Performance Indictors include the following: - Total annual direct energy consumption by primary energy source (Source: GRI) - Company has an energy management plan and has verifiable energy reduction goals - Company funds and actively supports research and education programs that teach low-impact practices to raw material suppliers - Product contains only FSC certified wood products It is important to note that there are several options for Performance Indicators, including a single value, an upper limit, a lower limit, a range of values, and a percentage of a specific quantity or value. Indicators can be compared to the same indicator but cannot be compared to different indicators. Multiple indicators can only be combined using a weighting algorithm. | |
| Indicator |
An indicator is a qualitative measure of the status of a chosen parameter,environmental or otherwise.[1]
Footnotes 1. Graedel, T.E. & Allenby, B.R. (2003). Industrial Ecology. Pearson Education, Inc.: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. | |
| Interested Party |
An interested party is a person or body interested in or affected by the development and use of a Type III environmental declaration.[1] Footnotes Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006c). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Information Module |
An information module is a compilation of data to be used as a basis for a Type III environmental declaration and covers a unit process or a combination of unit processes that are part of the life cycle of a product.[1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| IO (Input-Output) Modeling |
I/O modeling is a modeling method where product systems encompass multiple supply chains based on economic flow databases collected by statistical agencies of national governments.[1]. In the United States, the US Department of Commerce is responsible for publishing benchmark input/output tables every five years, with interim updates.[2] An input-output model provides an economic tool to quantify the relationships between various industries in the economy. A building block used to construct an economic IO matrix describes the relationships between sectors in the economy. The purchases and sales for each sector are arranged in a matrix so that the columns represent the sectors' purchases, and rows represent the sectors' sales to other sectors. The supply chain framework begins to emerge here by examining any of the first tier supply sectors to each purchasing sector. The tables that comprise an IO model, which typically are displayed in a matrix format, show the commodity inputs that are used by each industry to produce its output, the types of commodities produced by each industry, and the use of commodities by final consumers. Economic input-output analysis can be used to answer the following question: When a given dollar amount is spent on a particular good or service, how much total activity is generated in the economy, and how is that activity distributed among the various economic sectors? Economic input-output life cycle assessment is typically done in two stages. The first stage is the traditional economic input-output model, which describes all the purchases made in the economy by various economic agents. The IO model allows use of quantitative, supply chain models to be built as described above. To account for the resource use and emissions of each sector, the second stage consisting of a 'satellite matrix' is constructed. The satellite matrix provides estimates of the so-called elementary flows or resource requirements and emissions of certain substances from the activity of each sector in the economy. When one dollar is spent on the output of a particular industry, the resulting stimulation of economic activity can be translated into environmental impacts using the satellite matrix. These emission factors can be applied to the economic activity happening throughout the supply chain, and thus it is possible to calculate cradle-to-gate emissions.[3] Footnotes 1. Rebitzer, T. Ekvall, R. Frischknecht, D. Hunkeler, G. Norris, et al. (2004). Life cycle assessment: Part 1: Framework, goal, and scope definition, inventory analysis, and applications. Environmental International, 30(5), 701-720. 2. Karen J. Horowitz and Mark A. Planting. (September 2006, updated April 2009). Concepts and Methods of the Input-Output Accounts. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 3. Robert W. Cox. (2011) Open IO: Developing a Transparent, Fully Accessible Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment Database. Fayetteville, Arkansas: The Sustainability Consortium. View Source | |
| Input-Output Table |
'A means of presenting a detailed analysis of the process of production and the use of goods and services (products) and the income generated in that
production; they can be either in the form of (a) supply and use tables or (b) symmetric input-output tables'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. United Nations Statistics Division. (1993). Glossary of the system of national accounts 1993. View Source | |
| Intermediate Product |
'Output from a unit process that is input to other unit processes that require further transformation within the system'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Interpretability |
'The extent to which information or data can be easily translated into useful application, in the case of LCA to support decision-making'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Intrinsically Linked Database |
'Databases that are structured in such a way that it is possible for software to automatically create aggregated process datasets. These databases contain datasets for which one process input is linked, directly or through a set of rules contained in an algorithm, to another process output, and treats all multifunctional processes (through allocation or system expansion) such that fully terminated aggregated process datasets have only one reference flow'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Inventory Data Set |
'A set of input and output data of a process. All of them are related to the same reference of this process. Usually, an inventory dataset also contains metadata describing, for example, geography, time reference, and ownership of the dataset. The process can be a unit process or an aggregated process'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Ionizing Radiation |
Ionizing Radiation is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which refers to the effect of higher than normal levels of ionizing radiation. The unit of measurement is that of mass U-235 equivalents.
Footnotes | |
| ISO 14000 |
Commonly referred to as 'ISO 14000', there are actually two relevant standards: - ISO 14001: Environmental management systems -- Requirements with guidance for use[1] - ISO 14004: Environmental management systems -- General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques[2] ISO 14001 provides the baseline requirements to which an Environmental Management System (EMS) can be audited to, while ISO 14004 provides more detailed guidelines and suggestions concerning implementation. Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2004). ISO 14001: Environmental Management systems - Requirementes with guidance for use. ISO: Switzerland. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2004). ISO 14001: Environmental Management systems - Requirementes with guidance for use. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14020 |
ISO 14020 - Environmental labels and declarations - General principles,[1] has the following purpose: 'This International Standard establishes guiding principles for the development and use of environmental labels and declarations. It is intended that other applicable standards in the ISO 14020 series be used in conjunction with this International Standard.' Thus 14020 serves as a foundation, to be used in conjunction with either: - ISO 14024 for Type I environmental product declarations (EPD), - ISO 14021 for Type II EPDs, or - ISO 14025 for Type III EPDs. Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization, (2000). ISO 14020: Environmental labels and declarations - General principles. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14021 |
ISO 14021 − Environmental labels and declarations − Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling)[1] has the following purpose: 'This International Standard specifies requirements for self-declared environmental claims, including statements, symbols and graphics, regarding products. It further describes selected terms commonly used in environmental claims and gives qualifications for their use. This International Standard also describes a general evaluation and verification methodology for self-declared environmental claims and specific evaluation and verification methods for the selected claims in this standard.
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (1999). ISO 14021: Environmental labels and declarations − Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling). ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14024 |
ISO 14024 - Environmental labels and declarations - Type I environmental labeling - Principles and procedures [1] has the following purpose: 'This International Standard establishes the principles and procedures for developing Type I environmental labeling programs, including the selection of product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics; and for assessing and demonstrating compliance. This International Standard also establishes the certification procedures for awarding the label.
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (1999). ISO 14024: Environmental labels and declarations − Type I environmental labeling � Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14025 |
ISO 14025 − Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures[1] has the following purpose: 'This International Standard establishes the principles and specifies the procedures for developing Type III environmental declaration programs and Type III environmental declarations. It specifically establishes the use of the ISO14040 series of standards in the development of Type III environmental declaration programs and Type III environmental declarations.' Footnotes Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14040 |
ISO 14040 − Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Principles and framework [1] has the following purpose: 'This International Standard describes the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA).
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Principles and framework. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| ISO 14044 |
ISO 14044 − Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines.[1] ISO 14044 covers the same elements as ISO 14040. Whereas 14040 provides principles and a framework, ISO 14044 specifies requirements and guidelines.
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. |
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| Land Occupation |
Land occupation is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which tracks that amount of land occupied but does not estimate impacts form the occupation or the transformation of that land. The unit of measure is total amount of land occupied (m2).
Footnotes | |
| Life Cycle |
Life cycle is consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation from − spacing-natural resources to final disposal[1].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Principles and framework. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) |
A life cycle assessment (LCA, also known as life cycle analysis, ecobalance, and cradle-to-grave analysis) is the investigation and evaluation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service caused or necessitated by its existence[1].
Footnotes 1. Graedel, T.E. & Allenby, B.R. (2003). Industrial Ecology. Pearson Education, Inc.: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. | |
| Life Cycle Database Registry |
'A global database in which quality life cycle databases can be registered'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Life Cycle Data Set Library |
'A global database of registered and searchable life cycle datasets'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) |
Life Cycle Impact Assessment is the third step in a Life Cycle Assessment and is aimed at evaluating the contribution to impact categories such as global warming,
acidification, etc. The first step is termed characterization. Here, impact potentials are calculated based on the LCI results. The next steps are normalization and
weighting, but these are both voluntary according the ISO standard. Normalization provides a basis for comparing different types of environmental impact categories
(all impacts get the same unit). Weighting implies assigning a weighting factor to each impact category depending on the relative importance[1] [2].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Principles and framework. ISO: Switzerland. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Life Cycle Interpretation |
'Phase of Life Cycle Assessment in which the findings of either the inventory analysis or the impact assessment, or both, are evaluated in relation to the defined goal and scope in order to reach conclusions and recommendations'[1] (paraphrased rom this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) |
Life Cycle Inventory is the second step in conducting a Life Cycle Assessment and involves data collection and modeling of the product system, as well as description and verification of data. This encompasses all data related to environmental (e.g., CO2) and technical (e.g., intermediate chemicals) quantities for all relevant unit processes within the study boundaries that compose the product system. Examples of inputs and outputs quantities include inputs of materials, energy, and chemicals , while examples of outputs include air emissions, water emissions, and solid waste. Other types of exchanges or interventions, such as radiation or land use, can also be included.[1] [2]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Principles and framework. ISO: Switzerland. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Life Cycle Inventory Analysis |
'The data presented by national statistical agencies as supply-use tables (also known as 'make-use tables') and direct requirements tables. The environmental extension is an inventory of the elementary flows for each unit process in these tables'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Life Cycle Inventory Database |
'A system intended to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of digital LCI datasets easily. It consists of an organized collection of LCI datasets that
completely or partially conforms to a common set of criteria, including methodology, format, review, and nomenclature, and that allows for interconnection of individual
datasets that can be specified for use with identified impact assessment methods in application of life cycle assessments and life cycle impact assessments'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Dataset |
Data set with the inventory of a process or system.
Footnotes | |
| Long-term Changes |
'Changes are classified long-term if the factors of production are variable and one may choose between different technologies available. The performance of the technologies available is given. Long-term corresponds to the extension or downsizing of production capacities within a couple of years to a few decades to follow the predicted development of demand'[1]. Footnotes Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. |
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| Manufacturer |
Manufacturer refers to the entity that produces the consumer facing unit. In the case of detergent, the manufacturer does the formulation from different ingredients at a factory. Supplier refers to tier 1 companies (w.r.t. 'manufacturer') that manufactures and supplies the components, e.g., the detergent ingredients to the 'manufacturer'.
Footnotes | |
| Marginal Technology (production) |
'A marginal technology is represented by a technology or technology mix which is put in or out of operation next due to a short- or long-term change in demand'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Market Mix |
'The weighted average of the suppliers providing a specific product to a specific market. This can be equal to a consumption mix when the market boundaries and the geographic boundaries are equal. When the market is global, the market mix is equal to the global production mix'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Measurement Science |
Measurement Science is a field of inquiry from one of the Consortium Working Groups. This group focuses on establishing credible, accurate, and leading edge methods for characterizing the environmental and social impacts arising from the production of consumer goods.
Footnotes | |
| Metadata (descriptor) |
'Data that defines and describes other data and processes'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]). Footnotes Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2004). ISO/IEC 11179-1:2004 Information technology -- Metadata registries (MDR) -- Part 1: Framework. | |
| Midpoint Indicators |
Midpoint indicators are a measurement of traditional LCIA characterization and normalization methods located between emission and endpoint impacts. Modeling and
measurements beyond this point are associated with higher degrees of process uncertainty. [1]
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2011). Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment Glossary. Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. View Source | |
| Mobile Computing |
'A trend towards accessing data from mobile devices via wireless connections to the Internet or other network systems. This includes the use of smart phones, tablet
computing devices, and laptops but ultimately can also include devices not normally considered 'computers' but which have a need to access data'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| MSWG |
Acronym for Measurement Science Working Group
Footnotes |
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| National Statistical Data |
'Data collected on a regular basis (by survey from respondents, or from administrative sources) by survey statisticians in the national statistical system to be edited, imputed, aggregated and/or used in the compilation and production of official statistics'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange. (2008). Annex 4: Metadata common vocabulary. View Source | |
| Natural Resource Depletion |
Natural resource depletion is the measurable impacts of natural resources extracted from ecosystems in the form of materials for production activities. These impacts can be associated with current biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecological resources.[1]
Footnotes 1. Vincent, J.R., Panayoyou, T., & Hartwick, J.M. (1997). Resource depletion and sustainability in small open economies. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 33(1), 274-286. | |
| NGO - Non-Governmental Organization |
An NGO is an independent, voluntary association of people acting together on a continuous basis, for some common purpose, other than achieving government office,
profit generation, or illegal activities.[1]
Footnotes 1. Willetts, P. (2002). What is a non-governmental organization? Output from the Research Project on Civil Society, 12p. London. | |
| Nomenclature |
'Set of rules to name and classify data in a consistent and unique way'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO/TS 14048:2002(E) Environmental Management − Life Cycle Assessment − Data Documentation Format. | |
| North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) |
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.[1] NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. It was developed jointly by the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC), Statistics Canada, and Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia, to allow for a high level of comparability in business statistics among the North American countries.[2] Footnotes 1. U.S. Census Bureau (2011). North American Industry Classification System. Retrieved 08.03.2011, View Source 2. NAICS Association (2011). SIC to US NAICS Cross-Reference. Retrieved 08.03.2011, View Source |
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| Ozone Depletion Potential |
Ozone depletion potential is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which refers to the degradation of the earth's stratospheric ozone layer by the release of certain harmful pollutants. Based from The World Meteorological Organization it is measured in mass of CFC-11 equivalents.
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| Performance Driver (also referred to as SPD - Sustainability Performance Driver) |
A performance driver is an accepted product or product supply chain attribute that has verifiable influence on a given aspect result greater than the noise of uncertainty. Ideally, Performance Drivers are used to reduce the magnitude of a product's hotspot. Due to the complex nature of supply chains and immaturity of measurement methods, some Performance Drivers must begin as Performance Indicators. Once Performance Indicators have statistically verifiable results on total impact, they can be considered Performance Drivers. Performance Drivers also enable product differentiation in a quantitative Footprint (e.g. Energy Footprint). The Baseline Model is adjusted using Performance Drivers to achieve a unique Product Footprint.
Example Performance Drivers include the following: Cold Formulated Laundry Detergent (see other example Performance Drivers Computer Example: More than one disc drive (adds to manufacturing energy) Shelf stable milk (adjusts energy in distribution and retail baseline) Footnotes | |
| Performance Driver Protocol |
A Performance Driver Protocol provides a detailed description, intention, magnitude of influence, example calculation, guidance, and other information to ensure consistency in the interpretationof the Performance Driver.
Footnotes | |
| Performance Indicator (also referred to as SPI - Sustainability Performance Indicator) |
A performance indicator is a qualitative or quantitative piece of information about results or outcomes associated with the organization or product that is comparable and can demonstrate change over time. At the product level, performance indicators are used to demonstrate direction progress towards improved product performance but cannot easily be linked to quantifiable impacts. Due to the complex nature of product supply chains, Performance Indicators are used to show directional progress and relative performance towards organization goals. As supply chain reporting, traceability and measurement methods become more robust and accurate some Performance Indicators may evolve into Performance Drivers.
Example Performance Indictors include the following: Total annual direct energy consumption by primary energy source (Source: GRI) Company has an energy management plan and has verifiable energy reduction goals Company funds and actively supports research and education programs that teach low-impact practices to raw material suppliers Product contains only FSC certified wood products It is important to note that there are several options for Performance Indicators, including a single value, an upper limit, a lower limit, a range of values, and a percentage of a specific quantity or value. Indicators can be compared to the same indicator but cannot be compared to different indicators. Multiple indicators can only be combined using a weighting algorithm. Footnotes | |
| Photochemical Ozone Formation |
Photochemical ozone formation is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which measures the potential contribution a substance has on the formation of ground level ozone. The unit of measured is Non-methane Volatile Organic Compound (NMVOC) equivalents.
Footnotes | |
| Environmentally Extended Input-Output Data |
'The data presented by national statistical agencies as supply-use tables (also known as 'make-use tables') and direct requirements tables. The environmental extension is an inventory of the elementary flows for each unit process in these tables'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Primary Cumulative Energy Demand |
Primary cumulative energy demand is an impact category found on TSCs Impact Bookshelf which tracks total amount of energy demand but does not refer to the damage that this demand causes. The unit of measure is megajoules (MJ) of energy consumed.
Footnotes | |
| Primary Data |
'Data determined by direct measurement, estimation or calculation from the original source'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Weidema, B. P., Cappellaro, F., Carlson, R., Notten, P., Pálsson, A.-C., Patyk, A., Regalini, E., Sacchetto, F., Scalbi, S. (2003). Procedural guideline for collection, treatment, and quality documentation of LCA data. View Source | |
| Primary Packaging |
First-level product packaging, such as a bottle, can, jar, tube, box, etc., contains the item being sold. It first envelops the product and is in direct contact with the contents. This usually is the smallest unit of distribution and is the last packaging material to be disposed of by the consumer.
Footnotes | |
| Process |
'Set of interrelated or interacting activities that transforms inputs into outputs'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2005). ISO 9000:2005 Quality management systems -- Fundamentals and vocabulary. | |
| Product |
A product is any good or service[1].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (1999). ISO 14024: Environmental labels and declarations − Type I environmental labeling − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Product Category |
A product category is a group of products that can fulfill equivalent functions. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Product Flow |
'Products entering from or leaving to another product system'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Product Category Rules (PCR) |
Product category rules are a set of specific rules, requirements, and guidelines for developing Type III environmental declarations for one or more product categories. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Product System |
'Collection of unit processes with elementary and product flows, performing one or more defined functions, and which models the life cycle of a product'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Production Mix |
'The production-volume-weighted average of the suppliers of a specific product within a geographical area'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Weidema, B. P., Bauer, C., Hischier, R., Mutel, C., Nemecek, T., Vadenbo, C. O., Wernet, G. (2011). Overview and methodology: Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. View Source | |
| PCR Review |
PCR review is a process whereby a third party panel verifies the product category rules. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Program Operator |
A program operator is a body or are bodies that conduct a Type III environmental declaration program. A program operator can be a company or a group of companies, industrial sector or trade association, public authorities or agencies, or an independent scientific body or other organization. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. |
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| Raw Data |
'Data used in unit process inventory modelling to deliver inventory data at the end, which are extracted from various data sources, such as bookkeeping of a plant, national statistics, or journal literature'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Raw Material |
'Primary or secondary material that is used to produce a product'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Recycling |
'The use of a by-product output of one product system as input to another product system'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Reference Flow |
A reference flow realizes the functional unit flow (or flows in case of multifunctional processes) to which all other input and output flows (i.e., all elementary flows and non-reference product and waste flows) quantitatively relate. The reference flow can be expressed in direct relation to the functional unit (e.g., �Complete coverage of 1 m2 primed outdoor wall for 10 years at 99.9 % opacity with paint A�) or in a more product-oriented way (e.g. �0.67 l paint A�).[1] An example for laundry detergent reference flow would be dose size as recommended by the manufacturer on the label.
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook − General guide for Life Cycle Assessment − Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| Reference Product |
'Product of an activity for which a change in demand will affect the production volume of the activity (also known as the determining products in consequential modelling)'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Weidema, B. P., Bauer, C., Hischier, R., Mutel, C., Nemecek, T., Vadenbo, C. O., Wernet, G. (2011). Overview and methodology: Data quality guideline for the ecoinvent database version 3. View Source | |
| Releases |
'Emissions to air and discharges to water and soil'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Relevant |
In a LCI data set, relevant data have a significant influence on or contribution to the overall environmental impact of the analyzed process or system, resulting in a different quality level.
Footnotes | |
| Reporting Categories or Aspects |
Reporting Categories (also known as Aspects) are the general types of information that are related to a specific indicator group (e.g., energy, emissions, solid waste, water, child labor, etc). Each Performance Indicator and Performance Driver can be linked to one or more Reporting Categories/Aspects.
Footnotes | |
| Representativeness |
'Qualitative assessment of degree to which the data reflect the true population of interest (Note: considerations could include, e.g., geographical, time period and technology coverages'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2002). ISO/TS 14048:2002(E) Environmental Management − Life Cycle Assessment − Data Documentation Format. | |
| Review Criteria |
'Criteria to ensure the correctness of the dataset. This might be published in the database protocol document'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Reviewer |
Reviewer: 'A competent and independent person or persons with responsibility for performing and reporting on the results of a dataset review'[1]. Independent external reviewer: 'A reviewer recognized by the database manager, who was not involved in the definition or development of the reviewed case and is therefore independent. The reviewer has no affiliation with dataset provider or the study commissioner. This includes both the reviewer as a person and their employer as an organization' [2] (paraphrased from this source[3]). Independent internal reviewer: 'A reviewer recognized by the database manager, who is not involved in the study to be reviewed, or quantitatively relevant parts (e.g., background data) but can be part of the organization that performed or commissioned the LCI work'[4] (paraphrased from this source[5]). Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 3. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2009). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook � Terminology. Initial draft. 4. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 5. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2009). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook � Terminology. Initial draft. | |
| RSWG |
Acronym for Retail Sector Working Group
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| Scaling |
'Adjusting process input and output flows in relation to the functional unit'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Scope |
Scope involves the decision of what to analyze and how to analyze it in a LCA. During the scope definition phase, the object of the LCI/LCA study (i.e., the exact product or other system(s) to be analyzed) is identified and defined in detail. This shall be done in line with the goal definition. The next and main part of the scope definition is to derive the requirements on methodology, quality, reporting, and review in accordance with the goal of the study, i.e., based on the reasons for the study, the decision-context, the intended applications, and the addressees of the results. [1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Secondary Packaging |
Secondary packaging encloses the primary packaging, such as a box surrounding a toothpaste tube, or is used to group primary packages together.
Footnotes | |
| Sector Working Group (SWG) |
A Sector Working Group is a charted group consisting of TSC members, a TSC Manager, and other invited participants, which helps creates SMRSs for product categories within the Sector.
Footnotes | |
| Semantic Web Technologies |
'A collection of technologies (including, e.g., formal ontologies, and the Resource Description Framework mark-up language) which are being used to allow data to be represented in ways which make their meaning (their underlying semantics) explicit and machine readable. A specific example is the inclusion of geotagging information on photographs; by presenting the location that the photograph was made in a semantic web�enabled format, that information is available to other applications such as mapping tools'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Sensitivity Analysis |
'Systematic procedures for estimating the effects of the choices made regarding methods and data on the outcome of a study'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Sensitivity Check |
'Process of verifying that the information obtained from a sensitivity analysis is relevant for reaching the conclusions and giving recommendations'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Service-oriented Architecture |
'An approach to software design that presents software functionality via a web-based interface, called a �web service.� This allows the underlying functions of the software (e.g., a query utility) to be accessed by other programs using common Internet protocols. Service-oriented architectures can, if desired, facilitate the development of third-party applications that extend a data provider�s tools without compromising the integrity of the data or software'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Short-term Changes |
'Changes are classified short-term if the factors of production and the technology available are fixed. Short-term corresponds to a one time only change in demand and helps to better use existing production capacities'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| SimaPro |
SimaPro is a computer software tool for performing professional life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. It comes with a large database and a number of impact assessment methods. PR� Consultants is the tool developer. PR� is at the forefront of life cycle thinking for more than twenty years, with state of the art methods, consultancy and software tools.
Footnotes | |
| SMRS - Sustainability Measurement and Report System |
SMRS is the framework developed by TSC to the enable the creation, analysis, and communication of comparable and standardized information about the life cycle of a
product. The SMRS framework consists of five components: (1) Product Category Life Cycle Assessment, (2) Product Category Baseline Models, (3) Product Category Rules,
(4) Product Declarations, and (5) Computational Reporting Tools and Databases.
Footnotes | |
| Social Computing |
'A pervasive trend towards the construction of web-based applications that link together users in extended social networks and harness the data that are generated by their use of the application. For instance, social recommendation tools found on many e-commerce sites (�customers who bought this book also enjoyed...�) are a form of social computing, as is the �tagging� (addition of textual metadata to photos) by users of popular social sites such as Flickr or Facebook'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Stakeholder |
Stakeholders are defined broadly as those groups or individuals, (a) that can reasonably be expected to be significantly affected by the organization�s activities, products, and/or services, or (b) whose actions can reasonably be expected to affect the ability of the organization to successfully implement its strategies and achieve its objectives. [1]
Footnotes 1. Global Reporting Initiative. (2011). Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The Netherlands. | |
| Stakeholder Group |
Stakeholder groups shall be defined by the Code of Federal Registry (40 CFR 25.7): private citizens, representatives of public interest groups, public officials, and citizens/representatives of organizations with substantial economic interests (i.e., manufacturers, companies, industry trade groups).
Footnotes | |
| Stakeholder Concerns |
Stakeholder concerns are dossier hotspots that are based on expert opinion, popular press or stakeholder opinions. Since these dossier hotspots are not supported by i enough evidence to be category sustainability profile (CSP) hotspots, they are included on CSPs as stakeholder concerns. See CSP construction procedure for details.
Footnotes | |
| Standard |
A standard is a recognized unit of comparison by which the correctness and accuracy of others can be determined. It is a set of characteristics or qualities that describes features of a product, process or service.[1]
Footnotes 1. American National Standard Institute (2011). Glossary. View Source | |
| Substitution |
'Solving multi-functionality of processes by expanding the system boundaries and substituting the non-reference products with an alternative way of providing them, i.e., the processes or products that the non-reference product supersedes. Effectively the non-reference products are moved from being outputs of the multi-functional process to be negative inputs of this process, so that the life cycle inventory of the superseded processes or products is subtracted from the system, i.e., it is 'credited.' Substitution is a special (subtractive) case of applying the system expansion principle'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Institute for Environment and Sustainability. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. View Source | |
| Sustainability |
Sustainability is the overarching concept of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.[1] [2]
Footnotes 1. World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press: Oxford, GB. 2. European Commission. (2011). Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment Glossary. Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. View Source | |
| Sustainable Products |
Sustainable products are consumer goods designed, manufactured, and sourced under process guidelines, based on the efficient use of natural resources, the minimization of all kinds of waste, and the reduction of negative impact in surrounding communities along their life cycle.
Footnotes | |
| System Boundary |
The system boundary in an LCA is a 'set of criteria specifying which unit processes are part of a product system'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]). A precise definition of the system boundaries is important to ensure that all processes are actually included in the modeled system and that all relevant potential impacts on the environment are appropriately covered[3].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management - Life Cycle Assessment - Requirements and Guidelines. 3. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook � General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| System Boundary Diagram |
A system boundary diagram is a semi-schematic diagram that indicates which life cycle stages are included or excluded from the analysis. Each box is a separate process and the arrows indicate flow of the product or product components. The material emissions and resource inputs are not shown but can be assumed to be aggregated in the life cycle inventory.
Footnotes | |
| Systems Science |
Systems Science is a field of inquiry from one of the Consortium Working Groups. This working group aims to better understand the impact of the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry as a whole, rather than one particular product category, and examines the commonalities that exist within the life cycles of different consumer products.
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| Terminated Aggregated Process Data Sets |
'A fully terminated aggregated dataset is a dataset that comprises within its boundaries an entire product system, such that the only flows crossing the system
boundaries are the reference flows and elementary flows. All other intermediate exchanges are generated and consumed within the system boundaries and hence are not
represented in the terminated aggregated dataset. These datasets are equivalent to (cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave) LCIs'[1].
'A partly terminated aggregated process dataset, on the other hand, purposely does not link some of the intermediate flows to a dataset (in other words, the processes that produce these intermediate flows are outside the aggregation boundaries). As such, these partly terminated aggregated process datasets do not represent a life cycle inventory. In order to calculate a life cycle inventory, these intermediate flows must be linked to fully terminated aggregated process datasets or systems of linked unit processes that allow the calculation of life cycle inventories'[2]. Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Tertiary Packaging |
Packaging used for bulk handling, warehouse storage and shipping. The most common form is a palletized unit load that packs tightly into containers.
Footnotes | |
| Tier 1 Member |
A Tier 1 member is a TSC member who joined at the Tier 1 level, which enables them to participate in all Consortium and Sector Working Groups, be seated on the Steering Committee, and have special recognition in TSC marketing efforts.
Footnotes | |
| Tier 2 Member |
A Tier 2 member is a TSC member who joined at the Tier 2 level, which enables them to participate in all Sector Working Groups.
Footnotes | |
| Third Party |
Person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the issues in question. Parties involved are usually supplier, (first party) and purchaser (second party) interests.[1] Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Toxic Screen |
A toxic screen is a series of tests to determine the degree to which a chemical substance elicits a deleterious or adverse effect upon the biological system of an organism exposed to the substances over a designated time period.[1]
Footnotes 1. European Commission. (2011). Life Cycle Thinking and Assessment Glossary. Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. View Source | |
| Toxicity |
See 'Human Health'
Footnotes | |
| Transparency |
Transparency is a process attribute that clearly defines objectives, methods, results assessment, and dissemination of conclusions to process stakeholders. The
purpose being to preserve usability, auditability, accessibility, and informativeness of new knowledge.[1]
Footnotes 1. Cappelli, C., Albuquerque, A.P., & Samapio, J.C. (2007) Exploring business process transparency concepts. 15th IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference, 389-390. | |
| TSC |
Acronym for The Sustainability Consortium.
Footnotes | |
| TSC Co-Directors |
TSC Co-Directors are appointed by Arizona State University and University of Arkansas and manage the TSC activities on a daily basis.
Footnotes | |
| TSC Managers |
TSC Managers are staff members who manage CWGs or SWGs.
Footnotes | |
| TSC Invited External Participant |
A TSC invited external participant is an organization or individual that is not a member of TSC who has been invited by the members to participate in meetings. An external participant does not have voting rights on sector business issues, such as budgetary and governance decisions.
Footnotes | |
| TSC Member |
A TSC member is an organization or individual that is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 member of TSC. Members have voting rights, which includes one vote per organization on decisions relating to governance, budget, and overall sector strategy.
Footnotes | |
| TSWG |
Acronym for Toy Sector Working Group
Footnotes | |
| Type I, II, and III Ecolabels |
See 'Ecolabel'
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| UN Central Product Classification (CPC) |
The United Nations Statistics Division created the Central Product Classification (CPC) of products based on the physical characteristics of goods or on the nature
of the services rendered. CPC provides a framework for collection and international comparison of the various kinds of statistics dealing with goods and services. CPC
covers products that are an output of economic activities, including transportable goods, non-transportable goods and services.[1] Classification Structure Structure Level 1: Sections (N: one-digit code) Structure Level 2: Divisions (N: 2-digit code) Structure Level 3: Groups (N: 3-digit code) Structure Level 4: Classes (N: 4-digit code) Structure Level 5: Subclasses (N: 5-digit code) Remarks: Hierarchical structure of CPC Version 1.0 consists of 'Sections' (10), 'Divisions' (71), 'Groups' (294), 'Classes (1,162) and 'Subclasses' (2,093) Footnotes 1. UN CPC (2011): United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification, Ver. 2. Retrieved 08.02.2011, View Source | |
| UN Standards Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) |
The United Nations Standard Products and Services Code® (UNSPSC®) provides an open, global multi-sector standard for efficient, accurate classification of products and services.[1]
The UNSPSC began as a merger between the United Nation's Common Coding System (UNCCS), itself based on the United Nations Common Procurement Code (CPC), and Dun & Bradstreet's Standard Product and Service Codes (SPSC). To merge the two existing coding systems, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and the Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office (IAPSO) within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established a Code Transition Team.[2] Footnotes 1. UNSPSC (2011). United Nations Standard Products and Services Code. Retrieved 08.10.2011, View Source 2. Granada Research (2001). Using the UNSPSC. White Paper. Why Coding and Classifying Products is Critical to Sucess in Electronic Commerce. Retrieved 08.09.2011, View Source | |
| Uncertainty or Precision |
ISO 14044[1] defines precision as the ”measure of the variability of the data values for each data expressed (e.g. variance).“ ISO 14044 does not define uncertainty, but uses the term in the sense of expressing the quantitative degree of the lack of precision, i.e. its (negative) measure, i.e. for the error. In science and practice of engineering and statistics, precision is also used synonymously with reproducibility, i.e., the degree to which further measurements or calculations done by different experts show the same results[2].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental management − Life cycle assessment − Requirements and guidelines. ISO: Switzerland. 2. European Commission. (2010). International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook − General guide for Life Cycle Assessment − Detailed guidance. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg | |
| Uncertainty Analysis |
'Systematic procedure to quantify the uncertainty introduced in the results of a life cycle inventory analysis due to the cumulative effects of model imprecision, input uncertainty and data variability'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Unit Process |
A unit process is the 'smallest element considered in the life cycle inventory analysis for which input and output data are quantified'[1] (paraphrased from this
source[2]). A unit process can be as small or large as needed. For example, it can be as narrow as a single pump in a manufacturing facility, or as big as a facility, a
complete product supplier chain, a company, or an entire country. One unit process can also contain several sub unit processes. Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Unit Process Input |
'Product, material or energy flow that enters a unit process'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Unit Process Model |
'A group of mathematical relations that transforms raw data into a unit process dataset'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Unit Process Modeling |
'Procedures of defining mathematical relations and collecting raw data to obtain a unit process dataset'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Unit Process Output |
'Product, material or energy flow that leaves a unit process'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Upstream |
The term �upstream� can be applied to an entity or unit process and is based on the concept of a life cycle and supply chain that extends from extraction of raw
materials to final use and disposal. Upstream refers to those entities or unit processes that play a role or occur in an earlier step in the supply chain and life
cycle of a product than the organization or unit processing being discussed. For example, the ingredient supplier is upstream of the final product manufacturer in the
life cycle of a home care product.
Footnotes | |
| User |
'Person or organisation responsible to construct an LCA model from one or more unit process datasets and/or aggregated process datasets taken from databases and/or
personal or organizational investigations. The user is responsible for presentation and interpretation of the LCA results and the linked recommendations within a
decision process. The user is not necessarily the decision maker'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Utility (of data) |
'A summary term describing the value of a given data release as an analytical resource. This comprises the data's analytical completeness and its analytical
validity'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2]).
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. Statistical Disclosure Control. (2011). Glossary on statistical disclosure control. View Source |
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| Validation |
Validation is the third-party attestation related to products, processes, systems, or persons, which conveys assurance that specific requirements have been demonstrated[1].
Footnotes 1. American National Standard Institute (2011). Glossary. View Source |
| Verifier |
A verifier is a person or body that carries out verification.[1]
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14025: Environmental labels and declarations − Type III environmental declarations − Principles and procedures. ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Verification |
Verification is the confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been fulfilled[1].
Footnotes 1. International Organization for Standardization. (2005). ISO 9000: Quality management systems � Fundamentals and vocabulary . ISO: Switzerland. | |
| Vertical Aggregation |
'A type of aggregation involving the combination of unit processes that succeed each other in a product life cycle, connected with intermediary flows'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. |
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| Waste |
Substances or objects which the holder intends or is required to dispose of'[1] (paraphrased from this source[2])
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. 2. International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14044:2006(E) Environmental management − Life Cycle Assessment − Requirements and Guidelines. | |
| Water Footprint |
A water footprint is the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce goods and services. It is measured in cubic meters of water per year and can address
material, product, market, regional, and national levels of water use.[1]
Footnotes 1. Chapagain, A.K., Hoekstra, A.Y., Savenije, H.H.G., & Gautam, R. (2006). The water footprint of cotton consumption: An assessment of the impact of worldwide consumption of cotton products on the water resources in the cotton production countries. Ecological Economics, 60(1), 186-203. | |
| Web 2.0 |
'A collection of information technologies (primarily web-based) and a set of operating principles that build upon these technologies to change the way in which users
interact with web-based applications. The term was coined in the early 2000s by Tim O'Reilly, and has come to mean web-based applications that involve their users in an
active role, often by allowing them to easily add information in the form of comments, ratings, or other evaluations of data found online'[1].
Footnotes 1. Sonnemann, G., & Vigon, B. (Eds.). (2011). Global Guidance Principles for Life Cycle Assessment Databases: A basis for greener processes and products. UNEP. | |
| Weighted Average or Mean |
A weighted average/mean is a method of computing a kind of arithmetic mean of a set of numbers in which some elements of the set carry more importance. Footnotes |
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