Eco-efficiency indicator framework implemented in the metallurgical industry: part 1—a comprehensive view and benchmark

• Published in: The international journal of life cycle assessment 2016-10, Vol.21 (10), p.1473-1500
• Main Authors: Rönnlund, Ida, Reuter, Markus, Horn, Susanna, Aho, Jatta, Aho, Maija, Päällysaho, Minna, Ylimäki, Laura, Pursula, Tiina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benchmarking; Case studies; Criteria; Differentiation; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Economics; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Flowers; Indicators; Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment; Life cycles; Metal industry; Metallurgy; Methodology; Natural resource management; Sustainability; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 0948-3349; 1614-7502
• DOI: 10.1007/s11367-016-1122-9

Purpose The purpose of this work was to develop an indicator framework for the environmental sustainability benchmarking of products produced by the metallurgical industry. Sustainability differentiation has become an important issue for companies throughout the value chain. Differentiation is sometimes not attainable, due to the use of average data, lack of comparative data, certain issues being overshadowed by others, and a very narrow palette of indicators dominating the current sustainability assessments. There is a need for detailed and credible analyses, which show the current status and point out where improvements can be made. The indicator framework is developed to give a comprehensive picture of eco-efficiency, to provide methods that enable relevant comparisons as well as the tools for communicating the results. In this way, the methodology presented in this study aims to make differentiation easier and thus aid companies in driving the development toward more sustainable solutions. Methods The framework is based on the existing indicator framework Gaia Biorefiner, which is primarily intended for bio-based products. In this work, the framework was further developed for application in the metallurgical industry. The indicator framework is built by first looking at the issues, which are critical to the environment and global challenges seen today and which the activities of the metallurgical industry may have an impact on. Based on these issues, suitable indicators are chosen if they exist and built if they do not. The idea is that all indicators in a group form a whole, showing areas of innovation while refraining from aggregating and weighting, which often compromise a comprehensive and objective view. Both qualitative and quantitative indicators are included. The indicators are constructed following the criteria set by the EU and OECD for building indicators. Each indicator further has a benchmark. The rules for building the benchmark are connected to the indicators. Suitable data sources and criteria for the benchmark and the indicators are gathered from literature, publicly available databases, and commercial LCA software. The use of simulation tools for attaining more reliable data is also studied. Results and discussion The result is a visual framework consisting of ten indicator groups with one to five indicators each, totaling up to 31 indicators. These are visualized in a sustainability indicator “flower.” The flower can be further opene