LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Assessing environmental product performance from cradle to gate or cradle to grave by footprinting is a type of life cycle assessment. It is largely science based, but it also applies a kind of accounting technique for handling multi-functional processes such as co-production. Companies are mainly interested in the carbon/environmental footprints of their products for product development, monitoring and reducing impact. Research institutes, governmental organizations and NGOs often want to assess the product environmental impact at a higher level to support policy decisions. For example, they may want to know the impact of a change in diet or investment in alternative energy sources. Here, other types of life cycle assessment techniques can be applied.
DATABASE & SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
For life cycle assessment, you need background databases and software tools. I have worked intensively on the development and implementation of the Agri-footprint and Ecoinvent databases in the LCA software SimaPro. With this experience, thorough knowledge and efficient programming techniques I support companies, governmental organizations and research institutes with database and software solutions. This includes tools for converting data to SimaPro or other formats and tailored carbon/environmental footprint tools.
FOOTPRINTING METHODOLOGIES
Footprinting is about making methodological choices, such as which processes to include in the product system, which functional unit to use, how to handle multi-functional processes, which background datasets to use, how to calculate emissions that cannot be measured directly, and how to deal with data gaps. I have significantly contributed to the development of various footprinting standards/methodologies in collaboration with consultancies, research institutes, NGOs, companies, sector organization and governmental organizations.
