There are key considerations that need to be addressed when designing life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies with the purpose of providing input into making environmental superiority or equivalence claims or public policy decisions. For example, studies intended to be used in support of a public claim, about the superiority or equivalence of one product system over another, should follow specific requirements to ensure comparability of data and systems.
The purpose of this paper is to describe methodological considerations, including critical review of an LCA study, which are key to the successful application of LCA for environmental superiority or equivalence claims and policy-making, and to present recommendations as to the appropriate use of LCA today.
The focus of LCA applications should be to provide companies with strategic information to focus its resources towards areas where reductions in energy and materials, or in environmental releases can be made, and guide in the development and evaluation of existing and new products.