NDLI: Functional unit and product functionality—addressing increase in consumption and demand for functionality in sustainability assessment with LCA

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Kim, Seung Jin Kara, Sami Hauschild, Michael
Copyright Year	2016
Abstract	The static functional unit definition in the current LCA framework has limitations in addressing the changing product functionality and associated environmental impact of constantly evolving product technologies. As a result, it overlooks the changes in consumer behaviour of increased consumption of products in provided services as well as in growing volumes. This article aims to present a new framework in defining a dynamic functional unit of product technologies that caters for changes in consumer behaviour and growing market.A new approach to defining the functional unit is proposed that caters for changes in consumer behaviour and the use of technology from a technical performance perspective. A dynamic approach to definition of the functional unit is proposed that is based on Kano’s model of product function and satisfaction.The new approach is demonstrated on a case study in which the analysis of historical data for two TV product technologies—CRT and LCD—is used to show how the total environmental impact is increasing due to the increased functionality which triggers an increase in the volume of the market. Despite the efforts of improving product life cycle design, the society is still faced with increasing environmental impact from the product type overall.This article presents the challenges of using a static, single functional unit definition in an industrial culture with constant evolution of products that influences usage behaviour and demonstrates the vicious circle of improving product efficiency that leads to further consumption and environmental impact. To address this problem, a new framework of dynamic functional unit definition is put forward for performing comparative LCA to manage the development of product life cycle design that helps keep the total environmental impact of the company’s product portfolio within absolute boundaries.
Starting Page	1257
Ending Page	1265
Page Count	9
File Format	PDF
ISSN	09483349
Journal	The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
Volume Number	22
Issue Number	8
e-ISSN	16147502
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2016-11-23
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Comparative LCA Functional unit Market volume Product technology Sustainability Environment Environmental Economics Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology Environmental Chemistry
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Environmental Science

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