The ISO 14040/44 framework

Two international standards define LCA:

• ISO 14040:2006, Principles and framework: the concepts and vocabulary.
• ISO 14044:2006, Requirements and guidelines: what a study must actually do and report.

Both have since been amended (ISO 14044 in 2017 and 2020, ISO 14040 in 2020). When a contract or PCR says “in accordance with ISO 14044”, it means the requirements in 14044.

The four phases

          ┌─────────────────────────┐
          │ 1. Goal and scope       │◄──┐
          └───────────┬─────────────┘   │
                      ▼                 │
          ┌─────────────────────────┐   │    ┌───────────────────┐
          │ 2. Inventory analysis   │◄──┼───►│ 4. Interpretation │
          │    (LCI)                │   │    │                   │
          └───────────┬─────────────┘   │    └───────────────────┘
                      ▼                 │
          ┌─────────────────────────┐   │
          │ 3. Impact assessment    │◄──┘
          │    (LCIA)               │
          └─────────────────────────┘

1. Goal and scope definition. Why the study is being done, for whom, what product function is studied (the functional unit), which processes are included (the system boundary), and the rules for data, allocation and impact methods.
2. Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI). Collecting and calculating every input and output of every process in the system, scaled to the functional unit.
3. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Translating the inventory into impact indicators, such as kg CO₂-eq for climate change.
4. Interpretation. Checking the results for completeness, sensitivity and consistency, and drawing conclusions, limitations and recommendations that follow from the goal.

Why it’s iterative

The arrows in the diagram run both ways on purpose. You set a scope, start collecting data, discover that one material dominates, and go back to refine the scope or collect better data for that material. Interpretation happens throughout, not only at the end.

In practice most time is spent in phase 2, but most errors that change conclusions are made in phase 1.

What ISO 14044 requires you to report

A study report must be transparent enough that a reader can understand the choices made. At minimum it covers the goal, the scope (functional unit, boundary, allocation, cut-off criteria, data quality requirements, impact categories and methods), the inventory, the LCIA results, interpretation and limitations. Studies intended to support comparative assertions disclosed to the public carry extra requirements, including a panel critical review.

Critical review

A critical review checks that a study is consistent with the standard, scientifically valid, and transparent, and that interpretation reflects the limitations. It is optional for most studies, and mandatory for public comparative assertions. EPD verification is a related but separate process defined by the EPD programme.

What you should now be able to do

• Name the four phases and what each produces.
• Explain why a study might revisit its scope after starting inventory work.
• Say which standard holds the requirements (14044) and which holds the principles (14040).