Comparative evaluation of life cycle assessment software programs: a case study for biodiesel and diesel fuel

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software programs are presumably to support users to facilitate the complex work of compiling an inventory and assessing impacts. However, not all computer programs provide tools to support the interpretation phase. This phase is the final of a LCA study, which should be conclusions and recommendations, especially when a third-party report from comparative studies is made, or when a weak-point analysis is aimed at. The objective of this paper is to verify the feasibility of performing the three main quality checks – completeness, sensitivity and consistency – to elaborate the conclusions and recommendations. A comparison was made among three software programs employing LCAs between Brazilian sunflower biodiesel and diesel fuel, as case study. The expectation in relation to the evaluation of the three software programs was not completely attended. In spite of the fact that is possible to access and to view most necessary data to carry out the checks, the use of software program do not exclude further data process and the expert’s critic point of view.