2.1. Environmental impact categories#
The table below lists the environmental impact categories recognized by the EU and their weighting and normalization factors:
Impact Category Name |
Weight |
Weight (ex toxicity) |
Normalization Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
Climate change, total |
21.06 |
22.19 |
8100 |
Particulate matter |
8.96 |
9.54 |
0.000595 |
Water use |
8.51 |
9.03 |
11500 |
Resource use, fossils |
8.32 |
8.92 |
65000 |
Land use |
7.94 |
8.42 |
819000 |
Resource use, minerals and metals |
7.55 |
8.08 |
0.0636 |
Ozone depletion |
6.31 |
6.75 |
0.0536 |
Acidification |
6.2 |
6.64 |
55.6 |
Ionising radiation, human health |
5.01 |
5.37 |
4220 |
Photochemical ozone formation, human health |
4.78 |
5.1 |
40.6 |
Eutrophication, terrestrial |
3.71 |
3.91 |
177 |
Eutrophication, marine |
2.96 |
3.12 |
19.5 |
Eutrophication, freshwater |
2.8 |
2.95 |
1.61 |
Human toxicity, cancer |
2.13 |
0.0000169 |
|
Ecotoxicity, freshwater |
1.92 |
42700 |
|
Human toxicity, non-cancer |
1.84 |
0.00023 |
These categories are defined in [DFA+22], [SCP18], [FBD+19]. The sections below gives a bit more detail [verify the description]:
- Description
From [DFA+22]
- EF characterization model
How the category was arrived at, from [FBD+19]
- Model source
Literature source of the category model, from [FBD+19]
- Normalization Factor
Factor to apply to normalize with other categories, from [SCP18]
- Unit
Unit of measurement, from [DFA+22]
- Unit description
Description of the unit, from [DFA+22]
- Weight
Importance in percent of this category among the other categories, from [SCP18]
- Weight (ex toxicity)
Importance in percent of this category among the other categories when the toxicity categories are excluded, from [SCP18]
2.1.1. Climate change, total#
Increase in the average global temperature resulting from greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
- EF characterization model
Baseline model of 100 years of the IPCC (based on IPCC 2013)
- Model source
Intergovernamental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2013
- Normalization Factor
8100
- Unit
kg CO2 eq
- Unit description
Radiative forcing as global warming potential – GWP100
- Weight
21.06
- Weight (ex toxicity)
22.19
2.1.2. Particulate matter#
Impact on human health caused by particulate matter emissions and its precursors (e.g. sulfur and nitrogen oxides)
- EF characterization model
PM model
- Model source
Fantke et al., 2016 in UNEP 2016
- Normalization Factor
0.000595
- Unit
disease incidences
- Unit description
Impact on human health
- Weight
8.96
- Weight (ex toxicity)
9.54
2.1.3. Water use#
Depletion of available water depending on local water scarcity and water needs for human activities and ecosystem integrity
- EF characterization model
AWARE model
- Model source
Boulay et al., 2018; UNEP 2016
- Normalization Factor
11500
- Unit
m3 water eq of deprived water (Regionalised CFs)
- Unit description
Weighted user deprivation potential
- Weight
8.51
- Weight (ex toxicity)
9.03
2.1.4. Resource use, fossils#
Depletion of non-renewable resources and deprivation for future generations
- EF characterization model
CML 2002 model - Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP) fossil
- Model source
van Oers et al., 2002 as in CML 2002 method, v.4.8
- Normalization Factor
65000
- Unit
MJ
- Unit description
Abiotic resource depletion, fossil fuels – ADP-fossil
- Weight
8.32
- Weight (ex toxicity)
8.92
2.1.5. Land use#
Transformation and use of land for agriculture, roads, housing, mining or other purposes. The impact can include loss of species, organic matter, soil, filtration capacity, permeability
- EF characterization model
Soil quality index based on LANCA
- Model source
Soil quality index based on an updated LANCA model (De Laurentiis et al. 2019) and on the LANCA CF version 2.5 (Horn and Meier, 2018)
- Normalization Factor
819000
- Unit
pt (Regionalised CFs)
- Unit description
Soil quality index, representing the aggregated impact of land use on: Biotic production; Erosion resistance; Mechanical filtration; Groundwater replenishment
- Weight
7.94
- Weight (ex toxicity)
8.42
2.1.6. Resource use, minerals and metals#
Depletion of non-renewable resources and deprivation for future generations
- EF characterization model
ML2002 model - Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP) ultimate reserve
- Model source
van Oers et al., 2002 as in CML 2002 method, v.4.8
- Normalization Factor
0.0636
- Unit
kg Sb eq
- Unit description
Abiotic resource depletion – ADP ultimate reserves
- Weight
7.55
- Weight (ex toxicity)
8.08
2.1.7. Ozone depletion#
Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer protecting from hazardous ultraviolet radiation
- EF characterization model
EDIP model based on the ODPs of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) over an infinite time horizon
- Model source
World Metereological Organisation (WMO), 2014
- Normalization Factor
0.0536
- Unit
kg CFC-11 eq
- Unit description
Ozone Depletion Potential – ODP
- Weight
6.31
- Weight (ex toxicity)
6.75
2.1.8. Acidification#
Acidification from air, water, and soil emissions (primarily sulfur compounds) mainly due to combustion processes in electricity generation, heating, and transport
- EF characterization model
Accumulated Exceedance model
- Model source
Seppala et al., 2006; Posch et al., 2008
- Normalization Factor
55.6
- Unit
mol H+ eq
- Unit description
Accumulated Exceedance – AE
- Weight
6.2
- Weight (ex toxicity)
6.64
2.1.9. Ionising radiation, human health#
Impact of exposure to ionising radiations on human health
- EF characterization model
Human Health effect model
- Model source
Frischknecht et al, 2000 (as developed by Dreicer et al. 1995)
- Normalization Factor
4220
- Unit
kBq U-235 eq.
- Unit description
Human exposure efficiency relative to U-235
- Weight
5.01
- Weight (ex toxicity)
5.37
2.1.10. Photochemical ozone formation, human health#
Potential of harmful tropospheric ozone formation (“summer smog”) from air emissions
- EF characterization model
LOTOS-EUROS model
- Model source
Van Zelm et al., 2008, as applied in ReCiPe 2008
- Normalization Factor
40.6
- Unit
kg NMVOC eq.
- Unit description
Tropospheric ozone concentration increase
- Weight
4.78
- Weight (ex toxicity)
5.1
2.1.11. Eutrophication, terrestrial#
Eutrophication and potential impact on ecosystems caused by nitrogen and phosphorous emissions mainly due to fertilizers, combustion, sewage systems
- EF characterization model
Accumulated Exceedance model
- Model source
Seppala et al., 2006; Posch et al., 2008
- Normalization Factor
177
- Unit
mol N eq
- Unit description
Accumulated Exceedance – AE
- Weight
3.71
- Weight (ex toxicity)
3.91
2.1.12. Eutrophication, marine#
Eutrophication and potential impact on ecosystems caused by nitrogen and phosphorous emissions mainly due to fertilizers, combustion, sewage systems
- EF characterization model
EUTREND model
- Model source
Struijs et al., 2009 as applied in ReCiPe 2008
- Normalization Factor
19.5
- Unit
kg N eq
- Unit description
Fraction of nutrients reaching marine end compartment
- Weight
2.96
- Weight (ex toxicity)
3.12
2.1.13. Eutrophication, freshwater#
Eutrophication and potential impact on ecosystems caused by nitrogen and phosphorous emissions mainly due to fertilizers, combustion, sewage systems
- EF characterization model
EUTREND model
- Model source
Struijs et al., 2009 as applied in ReCiPe 2008
- Normalization Factor
1.61
- Unit
kg P eq
- Unit description
Fraction of nutrients reaching freshwater end compartment
- Weight
2.8
- Weight (ex toxicity)
2.95
2.1.14. Human toxicity, cancer#
Impact on human health caused by absorbing substances through the air, water, and soil. Direct effects of products on humans are not measured
- EF characterization model
USEtox model
- Model source
based on USEtox2.1 model (Fantke et al. 2017), adapted as in Saouter et al., 2018
- Normalization Factor
0.0000169
- Unit
CTUh
- Unit description
Comparative Toxic Unit for humans
- Weight
2.13
2.1.15. Ecotoxicity, freshwater#
Impact of toxic substances on freshwater ecosystems
- EF characterization model
USEtox model
- Model source
based on USEtox2.1 model (Fantke et al. 2017), adapted as in Saouter et al., 2018
- Normalization Factor
42700
- Unit
CTUe
- Unit description
Comparative Toxic Unit for ecosystems
- Weight
1.92
2.1.16. Human toxicity, non-cancer#
Impact on human health caused by absorbing substances through the air, water, and soil. Direct effects of products on humans are not measured
- EF characterization model
USEtox model
- Model source
based on USEtox2.1 model (Fantke et al. 2017), adapted as in Saouter et al., 2018
- Normalization Factor
0.00023
- Unit
CTUh
- Unit description
Comparative Toxic Unit for humans
- Weight
1.84