Important impact assessment developments of 2021
At the end of each year we review the most important developments in LCA and LCIA methodologies. Read on to learn more about the breakthroughs and improvements made this year.
Laura Golsteijn
As a Senior Consultant at PRé, Laura works on life-cycle-related projects for SMEs and the European Commission, among other things. She was involved in many types of LCA studies, from simple screening LCAs to full ISO-compliant assessments, resulting in publication of EPDs and several long-term monitoring studies. Additionally, Laura is one of the teachers of PRé’s LCA and SimaPro training.
Before joining PRé, Laura did a PhD, investigating how to enhance toxic impact modelling in life cycle assessment and researching the suitability of methods that can predict values for missing data in LCA. She also focused on commonly neglected impact pathways in LCA that are potentially relevant, such as terrestrial toxicity and indoor exposure to chemicals.
Laura holds a PhD in Toxic Impact Modelling and an MSc in Biomedical Sciences, both from the Radboud University of Nijmegen. She is involved in the development of sustainability metrics and LCA and impact assessment methodologies. Laura authored multiple scientific publications in the areas of toxicity and environmental impact.
Her areas of expertise include environmental product performance, sustainability metrics, product environmental footprinting, LCA and life cycle thinking, impact assessment methodology (particularly assessing the toxic impact of chemicals on people and ecosystems), modelling fate and exposure of chemicals in multimedia, chemical risk assessment, and uncertainty analysis.
Articles by Laura Golsteijn
“So what happens now?” Getting the most out of your LCA
Once you’ve got the results of your LCA, you might find yourself asking “So what happens now?” Six pointers for businesses looking to get the most out of the results of their LCA.
Important impact assessment developments of 2020
Every year, we highlight the most important developments in impact assessment methodology. The 2020 overview contains many gems worth reading up on.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) explained
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the factual analysis of a product’s entire life cycle in terms of sustainability. With it, you can reliably evaluate the environmental impacts of your product or service from cradle to grave.
SimaPro Circular economy Life cycle assessment
The impacts of the Magic Eraser and how it compares with other cleaning products
For Procter & Gamble, PRé did a cradle-to-grave study of their Mr. Clean Magic Eraser product, including how it holds up against other products in a variety of usage scenarios.
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The best impact assessment developments of 2019: other topics
The science of LCA is continuously progressing. In the final part of a 4-part series, we share with you the highlights of new LCA methodology of 2019. Today’s topic: other developments.
The best impact assessment developments of 2019: agricultural modelling
The science of LCA is continuously progressing. In part 3 of a 4-part series, we share with you the highlights of new LCA methodology of 2019. Today’s topic: agricultural modelling.
The best impact assessment developments of 2019: impact pathways
The science of LCA is continuously progressing. In part 2 of a 4-part series, we share with you the highlights of new impact assessment methodology of 2019. Today’s topic: impact pathways.
The best impact assessment developments of 2019: spatial differentiation
The science of LCA is continuously progressing. In part 1 of a 4-part series, we share with you the highlights of new impact assessment methodology of 2019. Today’s topic: spatial differentiation.
LCM 2019: collaborating to solve pressing environmental issues
The Life Cycle Management conference is a leading LCA technology event. PRé’s Laura Golsteijn recounts the themes, issues and solutions discussed at the recent LCM 2019, which was held in Poznań.
SimaPro Life cycle assessment Product environmental footprint (PEF)
Promoting environmental footprinting in the Southern Mediterranean region
The EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method may also have benefits for non-EU countries. For UNIDO, PRé helped build PEF capacity in countries in the Southern Mediterranean region.
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Is our SimaPro training something for (people like) you?
Interested in our training courses? Our SimaPro trainer Laura Golsteijn talks about the people who participate, their choices and their origins, to make you feel like home and help you decide.
Highlights of developments in impact assessment in 2018
Researchers around the world are constantly working on new methodologies for LCA. In this first article of our bi-annual update series, you can read more about the most exciting projects of 2018.
97% of collected e-waste recycled for useful applications
Electronic waste has a high potential for recycling. A large Dutch organisation has specialised in its collection and recycling for years. PRé, a long-standing partner, calculated their 2017 results.
Review and verification Portfolio sustainability assessment
Critical review of an LCA approach to efficiently assess a large product portfolio
For global manufacturer Corbion, PRé reviewed a portfolio LCA approach that allows Corbion to efficiently assess every product in their large portfolio without having to start from scratch.
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Expert review of an assessment tool for e-waste recycling in Europe
Electronics waste, or e-waste, is growing fast. For WEEE Forum, PRé completed databases and did an expert review of their e-waste recycling assessment tool, comparing various recycling scenarios.
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Recycling e-waste in the Netherlands: New publication on circular economy of e-waste
Among the strategies for creating a circular economy, the recycling of electronic waste or e-waste has an important role to play. Laura Golsteijn and Elsa Valencia present a brief outline of their extended publication on the topic.
LCM 2017 outcomes – life cycle management is the mindset to embrace circular economy
LCM 2017 had a strong focus on the implementation and assessment of circular economy trough Life Cycle Management: From science to innovation. In this piece, Laura Golsteijn talks about innovation and what that has to do with LCM and CE.
Combating desertification and drought: PRé’s work and LCA
Naturally occurring droughts are made more severe by climate change and human action. If we're not careful, desertification will result. Read on to find out how LCA and PRé's work help forward-looking companies combat desertification.
PRé and the University of Wageningen unravel the value of sustainable food waste streams
Applying circular economy and life cycle assessment principles, PRé and the University of Wageningen collaborated in the Infinity Foods program, building the value business case for food waste streams.
Agrofair bananas towards integral sustainable label with pesticide footprint tool
For AgroFair, a large banana importer looking to differentiate its products, PRé developed the easy-to-use Pesticide Footprint tool to quantify the toxic impacts of pesticides on human health and freshwater ecosystems.
Updated method ReCiPe2016 improves accuracy in quantifying impacts on human health and environment
The updated method enhances accuracy in quantifying life cycle impacts on human health, ecosystem services and natural resources. Laura Golsteijn explains the applications and shares experiences.
SimaPro Life cycle assessment
Uncovering toxicity impacts to improve regional banana production
For AgroFair, a large banana importer looking to differentiate its products, PRé developed the easy-to-use Pesticide Footprint tool to quantify the toxic impacts of pesticides on human health and freshwater ecosystems.
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SimaPro Circular economy Life cycle assessment
Unlocking the value of food waste streams
For Infinity Foods, PRé and the Wageningen University assessed the environmental impacts of 3 production methods of dietary fibres and beta-carotene. The assessment uncovers the business case for using residual carrots from vegetable food waste streams.
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The cost of fraud: health consequences of fraudulent emissions tests
INTERVIEW | In 2015, a study uncovered that Volkswagen Group had been cheating with their emissions test. In this interview with Rik Oldenkamp, we talk about how robust metrics contributed to explain the impacts of the fraud on human health damage.
Guidance for modeling the use stage in the PEF approach
PEF SERIES | The use stage of products is a challenge for LCA: the impact can be high, and the underlying assumptions uncertain. PEF provides guidance to PEFCR developers on how to deal with use-stage modeling and reporting.
Global guidance for life cycle impact assessment indicators and methods: on track
Standardization of LCIA methods was the focus of this year's SETAC Pellston Workshop. The results: big steps towards consensus on recommended indicators, which will make doing, interpreting and communicating LCA results easier and more efficient.
Carbon modeling in the PEF initiative
PEF SERIES | The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) approach is game-changing when it comes to comparing products. This time, we talk about the state of the art of carbon modelling in the PEF approach.
Growing biofuels causes food shortages: myth or not?
Crops used for biofuels can also be used for food or animal feed. And even if other crops are more interesting as food, biofuels take up agricultural land. Does that mean that biofuels cause food shortages? This month's Sustainability Mythbusters.
5 roads to a circular economy – Part I: product life extension
The circular economy aims to produce no waste - by reusing, repairing and recycling materials in the highest possible quality. In this miniseries, we discuss five circular models and how LCA helps to reach that goal. Today: product life extension.
Why the success of the circular economy is owned by chemicals
The adage of “reduce, reuse, recycle” can contribute to a safe use of chemicals, and this is one of the key elements of a successful circular economy.
PRé collaborates with University of Zagreb | LCA of ECO-SANDWICH® wall panels
For a group of Croatian businesses and scientific institutes, PRé did an LCA to determine the environmental performance of innovative ECO-SANDWICH® wall panels, developed for fast construction of energy-efficient buildings on a large scale.
SimaPro Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Life cycle assessment
LCA of ECO-SANDWICH® wall panels
For a group of Croatian businesses and scientific institutes, PRé did an LCA to determine the environmental performance of innovative ECO-SANDWICH® wall panels, developed for fast construction of energy-efficient buildings on a large scale.
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Interpretation of metrics: DALYs and damage to human health
One reason to care about environmental impacts is that environmental pollution damages our health. But how do you quantify human health, or the lack of it, at different ages, and how do you apply that knowledge in your assessments?
Packaging is the bad guy: myth or not?
Packaging materials are often discarded the moment a product comes into your house, only to end up in incinerators or landfills. That makes packaging seem like the bad guy. But is it, really? Find out in this month's Sustainability Mythbusters.
How to unite the two viewpoints on toxicity?
Toxicity is often viewed from a risk management perspective (is it safe?) or from a best estimate perspective (which is safer?). Although experts mostly use only one of these methods, combining the two can lead to better sustainability decisions.
Laura’s favorite sustainability initiative: Dress for Success
Each month, one of PRé's people talks about their favorite sustainability initiative. This month, Laura Golsteijn talks about Dress for Success, an initiative that helps low-income people prepare to make a good impression at job interviews.
Behind the scenes at Monte Carlo simulations
The Monte Carlo simulation is a well-known way of dealing with the fact that most environmental data isn't confined to a single value but falls in a range of values with some sort of probability attached. But how does it actually work?
Improved pedigree matrix approach for ecoinvent
Interesting news for ecoinvent users: the pedigree matrix approach of deriving uncertainty factors has been refined. The method developed by Andreas Ciroth and colleagues replaces expert judgement with empirical values.
How to use USEtox® characterization factors in SimaPro
USEtox is a well-known model for characterizing the toxic impact of chemical emissions in life cycle assessments. This article explains how to use USEtox in SimaPro, and how to choose between the two sets of characterization factors.
Characterization: new developments for toxicity
This series of articles discusses the steps in an LCA, each explained by an expert consultant. Today, Laura Golsteijn tackles the characterization step and showcases some of the new ecotoxicity modeling developments from her PhD research.
SimaPro Life cycle assessment Portfolio sustainability assessment
Monitoring the impact of LED sign lighting systems
For UNETO-VNI, PRé conducted an LCA on the environmental performance of seven LED sign lighting systems. This helps them understand which performance indicators are important, and communicate to their member companies how to compare and improve products.
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Advanced sustainability profiles help promote sustainable cleaning
The cleaning industry is enormous, and there are thousands of cleaning products to choose from. PRé and A.I.S.E. developed sustainability profiles that help households and cleaning companies choose the most sustainable cleaning agents.
SimaPro Life cycle assessment Harmonizing LCA rules
Environmental impacts of waste disposal options
For a global footwear and apparel producer, PRé conducted a life cycle assessment on their waste disposal methods. The 138 individual life cycle models in this analysis help determine the best options and improve company approach.
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SimaPro Life cycle assessment
Understanding environmental impacts of plastics
As one of the largest suppliers of the plastics methylmethacrylate (MMA) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Lucite wanted to understand their environmental impacts. Life cycle analysis gave them this, and helped suggest improvements.
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SimaPro Review and verification
Verification of carbon footprint metrics system for a beverage company
For a large Dutch beverage company, PRé did an independent verification of their carbon footprint metrics system. This helped discover opportunities for improvement, and provided guidance to drive additional business value.
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SimaPro Carbon footprint
Monitoring recycling of electrical equipment
Dutch recycling company Wecycle wanted to understand the environmental benefits of their recycling activities. PRé measured the total environmental and climate change performance of recycling of electronics and energy efficient lighting.
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SimaPro Life cycle assessment
Quantifying environmental benefits of a production process
Viva Healthcare asked PRé to quantify the environmental benefits of its injection moulding process compared to the industry average. To do so, we did life cycle assessments of Viva's products and of a range of competing products.
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SimaPro Carbon footprint Life cycle assessment
Carbon footprint analysis of bottled water
PRé reviewed supply chains for NIKA, a bottled water producer, to update its carbon footprint analyses and maintain a CarbonFree certification. This resulted in a benchmark for comparison, and successful application for the certificate.
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SimaPro Life cycle assessment Harmonizing LCA rules
Developing advanced sustainability profiles
For the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E), PRé helped develop a method to determine the hotspots in a product's life cycle. This helps determine key performance indicators.
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