Performance evaluation analysis for a Life Cycle Assessment Method based on Economic Input-Output Tables

Abstract

In this paper, the I/O (Input-Output) Analysis method of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is compared with the Process Analysis method, in order to analyze differences between their performances such as CO₂ emission intensities for iron steel products, plastics and energy. The new I/O Analysis method, where environmental loads of imported goods burdened in their export countries are added to environmental loads derived by I/O Analysis of the own country, is proposed. This I/O Analysis method derives values almost same or slightly different from values given by the Process Analysis method, for most materials on CO₂, emissions on every life cycle stages. There are some exceptionally large differences between the CO₂ emissions derived for some materials such as galvanized steel sheets by the two methods. The reasons, why the large and/or small differences would be occurred by the two methods, are also discussed.