Critical Methodological Choices for Using LCA in Eco-Design of Chemicals and Plastics

Main Presenter:    Mariana Ochodková 

Co-Authors:   Elisa Arteaga Prieto     Karel Van Acker                                          

Critical Methodological Choices for Using LCA in Eco-Design of Chemicals and Plastics
Mariana Ochodková 1
Elisa Arteaga Prieto1
Karel Van Acker 1,2,3

1. SAM Research Group, Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
2. Center for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (CEDON), KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, BE-1000 Brussels, Belgium
3. FlandersMake@KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

The chemicals and plastics industry is essential to modern society but remains among the most environmentally impactful sectors. Consequently, efforts to improve its sustainability and safety have intensified in recent years. However, these efforts need to be evaluated in a consistent, standardised way to prove their effectivity.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely recognised as a key tool for evaluating environmental performance and guiding eco-design. While numerous frameworks aim to embed LCA in product development, its practical application to chemicals and plastics is inconsistent, and current standards and guidelines leave room for potentially misleading interpretation. Given that methodological choices in LCA, such as system boundaries and assessment methods, can significantly influence results and conclusions, providing clear guidelines for LCA to support effective eco-design is critical.
This study investigates how LCA is applied in conjunction with eco-design, focusing on case studies of chemicals and plastics. The objective is to identify methodological choices that are most relevant for supporting sustainable innovation and allowing for easy and robust comparability across studies. A systematic literature review was conducted on LCA studies targeting intermediate chemical products, such as large-volume organics, petrochemicals, polymers, and plastics, to uncover trends, common practices, and links between LCA and design decisions. The review examined frequently adopted eco-design strategies, critical LCA parameters for identifying environmental hotspots, and the use of LCA results to inform sustainability conclusions and influence design outcomes.
Based on these insights, the study proposes recommendations for tailoring LCA to eco-design goals for chemicals and plastics, including guidance on goal and scope definition, impact assessment, and interpretation methods. These recommendations align LCA methodological choices with strategies such as design for safety and resource efficiency. By bridging the gap between methodological ambition and real-world practice, this work provides actionable guidelines to simplify LCA decision-making and enhance its role in the sustainable development of chemicals and plastics.

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