Choice of impact method
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Written by Team Makersite
Updated over a week ago

Next to the EF 3.0 Method, there are several other LCIA methods commonly used in the field of life cycle assessment. In the US there is TRACI in Europe there is CML or ReCiPe. Each method includes a number of impact categories such as climate change, acidification, eutrophication, toxicity.
For the widely applied impact categories โ€“ e.g. climate change, acidification potential, eutrophication, ozone depletion potential, and ozone formation potential - there is broad scientific consensus as to which emissions do cause an impact and how.
In the case of climate change or global warming, this is very prominent. Most method providers are actually using the impact model maintained by the IPCC. For other impact categories, the results are often comparable, but they may use a different reference emission as the base unit. This would exhibit different numbers from an impact category in one method or another. But the differences between to products assessed with these categories would stay the same, i.e. a 50% improvement in acidification, which will be shown in most methods, although the absolute numbers are different.
So technically there is no reason to choose the one or the other method, commonly assessed impact categories. This is less true for less common impacts like toxicity. The number of emissions included and weights may vary significantly from method to method.
Additionally, there are policies in the making to bind the PEF and the EF 3.0 method into a legal framework. It will likely require our customers to report using this method at some point in time. Also, it will lead to significant data development with regards to LCAs being conducted using the EF3.0 method.
Last but not least the EF3.0 method is located in a framework with the PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) for products and the OEF (Organizational Environmental Footprint). We at Makersite strive to integrate product stewardship and sustainable transformation of organizations. The EF3.0 method entails applies to organizations and products and is, therefore, a quite organic choice for us.

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