169 2.2 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT LCA is an iterative method that involves four main phases: goal and scope definition, Life Cycle Inventory analysis, Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), and interpretation. LCA is a product-level environmental assessment method and is flexible enough to be applied to facilities as well (Bjørn et al., 2018). To implement LCA, this study has followed the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards to conduct LCA (ISO, 2006a, 2006b). GOAL AND SCOPE DEFINITION The goal of conducting an LCA is to quantify emissions and environmental impacts across the different operations involved in aggregate production. The scope definition involves defining the system boundary, choosing a functional unit, and the LCIA method to be used (Baumann & Tillman, 2004). LIFE CYCLE INVENTORY (LCI) ANALYSIS LCI analysis involves collecting, compiling, and estimating data on the inputs (i.e., resource consumption) and outputs (waste generation and emissions) from the different operations performed at the site to produce aggregates. At an aggregate production facility, resources such as diesel, electricity, explosives, rubber, plastic, metals, lubricants, water, AdBlue, flocculants, and plastics are consumed. For this study, data on resource consumption and waste were collected from the site for the year 2021. The LCI datasets used for modeling consumption of different resources and waste were developed using the GaBi database. The LCI datasets used for modeling resources and waste are limited to the EU-28 geographical boundary, except for electricity, which is modeled using data on the country-specific electricity grid mix where the quarry is located. LIFE CYCLE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (LCIA) The LCIA phase aims to translate the effects of inputs and outputs during the different operations in aggregate production into environmental impacts (Baumann & Tillman, 2004). In this study, LCIA was performed using the characterization models included in the Environmental Footprints (EF) 3.0 reference package, which aligns with the midpoint-oriented impact pathway1. The following impact indicators are quantified in this study: Global Warming Potential – fossil (GWP - fossil) in kg CO2eq., Depletion potential of the stratospheric ozone layer (ODP) in kg CFC-11eq., Acidification Potential (AP) in Mol H+eq., Eutrophication Potential - freshwater (EP-freshwater) in Kg Peq., Eutrophication Potential - marine (EPmarine) in kg Neq., Eutrophication Potential - terrestrial (EP-terrestrial) in mol Neq. Formation potential of tropospheric ozone (POCP) in kg NMVOCeq., Abiotic Depletion Potential for nonfossil resources (ADP- minerals & metals) in kg Sb eq., Abiotic depletion potential for fossil resources (ADP-fossil fuels) in MJ, net calorific value, and Particulate Matter (PM) in Disease incidence. All the indicators are quantified per tonne of aggregates produced at the site. 1 The midpoint indicators can be located anywhere along the impact pathway or cause-effect chain, which begins where the interaction with the environment occurs (emission).
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