New research published in the International Journal of LCA: Review of weighting methods for life cycle impact assessment 

A new article titled "Review of weighting methods for life cycle impact assessment under GLAM" has recently been published in the International Journal of LCA. Dsolve researcher Cecilia Askham is the first author of this study, which is part of the UN's life cycle initiative work to update the methodology for assessing life cycle impacts in LCA. The article documents a comprehensive review of methods for weighting in life cycle assessment (LCA). Weighting is a process whereby environmental impacts are assessed in relation to each other, based on different value choices. This optional step is essential for the interpretation and communication of different environmental impacts. 

A total of 27 weighting methods have been analyzed, divided into four categories: Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), monetary methods, data-driven methods, and distance-to-target methods. Each method was evaluated based on defined criteria, and a colour coding system was used to indicate how each method performed. The results show that none of the methods reviewed fully met all evaluation criteria, but some criteria (like Scientific validity) are sufficiently met by almost all of the methods. The methods have different strengths and limitations, and the choice of method depends on the context. 

The authors have also developed a software tool that is useful for those conducting LCA studies, allowing them to identify the most appropriate weighting method for their specific LCA study. 

The weighting work is beneficial for Dsolve if the LCA work in WP5 shows results that diverge in different directions. This article, combined with the new weighting factors in the associated publication Weighting factors for LCA—a new set from a global survey | The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment | Springer Nature Link, can be directly applied in the WP5 work.