Life Cycle Interpretation

Abstract

The interpretation is the final phase of an LCA where the results of the other phases are considered together and analysed in the light of the uncertainties of the applied data and the assumptions that have been made and documented throughout the study. This chapter teaches how to perform an interpretation. The process of interpretation starts with identification of potentially significant issues in the previous stages of goal and scope definition, inventory analysis and impact assessment, and examples of potential significant issues are given for each phase. The significance is then determined by checking completeness, sensitivity and consistency for each of these identified issues. The outcome is used to inform previous phases on the needs for strengthening the data basis of the study, and where this is not possible to reconsider the goal and scope definition of the study. Finally, guidance is given on how to draw conclusions based on the previous steps of the interpretation, qualify the conclusions in terms of their robustness, and develop recommendations based on the results of the study.