Conducting LCA Without Product Category Rules
When no PCR exists for your product or service, you'll need to make and document methodological choices based on general LCA standards and guidance, while ensuring transparency and scientific validity.
Step 1: Review Related Standards
Start by consulting general standards and guidance:
- ISO 14040/14044 for LCA principles and requirements
- GHG Protocol Product Standard for carbon footprinting
- PAS 2050 for carbon footprinting
- Similar product category PCRs for analogous methodological approaches
- Industry association guidelines and best practices
Step 2: Develop a Methodological Framework
Define Functional Unit
Key Questions:
- What is the primary function of the product/service?
- What are the performance characteristics?
- What is the typical service life?
- What reference flow is needed?
Set System Boundaries
Consider:
- Which life cycle stages are relevant?
- What processes should be included?
- What cut-off criteria are appropriate?
- How should capital goods be treated?
Example: Novel Service Product
For a new digital service:
- Functional Unit: "Provision of service X to one user for one year"
- System Boundary: Include data center operations, network infrastructure, end-user device energy
- Cut-off: Exclude processes contributing <1% to total impact
Step 3: Document Key Decisions
Clearly document all methodological choices:
- Rationale for functional unit selection
- Justification for system boundaries
- Explanation of allocation decisions
- Data quality requirements
- Cut-off criteria and justification
- Treatment of specific processes
Step 4: Establish Allocation Rules
Follow this hierarchy:
- Avoid allocation through system subdivision when possible
- Use physical relationships when appropriate
- Use economic or other relationships when necessary
- Document rationale for chosen approach
Step 5: Define Data Requirements
Aspect | Requirement | Documentation |
Temporal Coverage | Most recent annual data | Source and reference year |
Geographic Coverage | Region-specific when possible | Data source location |
Technology Coverage | Representative of actual processes | Process description |
Completeness | ≥95% of impact covered | List of exclusions |
Step 6: Ensure Quality Control
- Perform sensitivity analysis on key assumptions
- Conduct uncertainty analysis where possible
- Have methodology reviewed by external experts
- Document limitations and assumptions
- Plan for regular updates as better data becomes available
Step 7: Consider Future PCR Development
Take steps to support future standardization:
- Engage with industry associations
- Document methodological challenges
- Share learnings with other practitioners
- Participate in standardization efforts
- Consider initiating PCR development
Key Success Factors:
- Thorough documentation of all decisions
- Conservative approach to uncertain aspects
- Regular methodology review and updates
- Stakeholder engagement throughout process
- Transparency in reporting and communication
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Making undocumented assumptions
- Inconsistent application of chosen methods
- Insufficient sensitivity analysis
- Inadequate documentation of decisions
- Overlooking important processes
Best Practices for Documentation
Your methodology documentation should include:
- Clear statement of study goals
- Detailed description of product/service
- Functional unit definition and justification
- System boundary diagram and description
- Allocation procedures and rationale
- Data quality requirements and sources
- Calculation methodologies
- Assumptions and limitations
- Review process description