A Practical Guide to Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
This guidance document supports European, national, and local policymakers, waste managers, and businesses in implementing the Waste Framework Directive for bio-waste sustainably. It provides structured, practical guidance for selecting the most environmentally sound management options using Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The guidance covers strategies such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and incineration, and helps compare their environmental performance.
Bio-waste, including garden, food, and comparable waste from households, restaurants, and food processing, is still often landfilled, contrary to the waste hierarchy principles, which prioritize prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery over disposal. The document emphasizes using LCT to ensure the best overall environmental outcomes while aligning with the waste hierarchy.
The guidance builds on established LCA results, offering practical advice for common scenarios and guidance on conducting new assessments when needed. It focuses on environmental impacts, providing policymakers and managers with tools to identify and implement preferable bio-waste management solutions in diverse contexts.
Publication year: 2011
Language: EN
Published by: Joint Research Centre
Keywords: bio-waste, Waste Framework Directive, sustainable waste management, Life Cycle Thinking, LCT, Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, environmental performance, waste hierarchy
