Identifying the Environmental Impact Drivers and Tradeoff Options in the Life Cycle of Automobiles - A Software Based Methodology for the Sound Restriction of System Boundaries

Life cycle assessments (LCA) require extensive quantities of data on processes as well as on material and energy flows. Therefore, simplifying methods that reduce the effort in modeling the product system do have the most potential to make reliable LCAs of complex products like automobiles more efficient. Methodological approaches allowing the LCA practitioner to conduct the scope definition and life cycle inventory (LCI) with minimal effort through “smart” software based support are introduced. The suggested methodology has been validated with a case study on material options for a front subframe system of a Ford passenger car.