Abstract
This paper reviews actual sustainability assessments in the construction sector to define whether and how a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is applied and interpreted in this sector today. This industry has large shares in global energy (33%), raw material consumption (40%) and solid waste generation (40%). Simultaneously, it drives the economy and provides jobs. The LCSA is a method to identify environmental, social and economic impacts of products/services along their life cycles. The results of this study showed a mismatch between sectoral emissions and the number of LCSA-based impact evaluations. It was found that only 11% of papers reviewed assessed all three sustainability pillars. The economic and especially the social pillars were partly neglected. In Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), 100% made use of Global Warming Potential (GWP) but only 30% assessed more than five indicators in total. In Life Cycle Costing (LCC), there were a variety of costs assessed. Depreciation and lifetime were mainly neglected. We found that 42% made use of Net Present Value (NPV), while over 50% assessed individual indicators. For the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), the focus was on the production stage; even the system boundaries were defined as cradle-to-use and -grave. Future approaches are relevant but there is no need to innovate: a proposal for a LCSA approach is made.
Highlights
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for actual and future generations and an essential part of today’s decisions in all sectors [1]
For the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)), the focus was on the production stage; even the system boundaries were defined as cradle-to-use and -grave
A total of 171 publications were identified addressing Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment according to the title, abstract and key words
Summary
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for actual and future generations and an essential part of today’s decisions in all sectors [1]. The recommendations in the EU masterplan for energy-intensive industries (such as the construction industry) were to make use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to measure the emissions of products and materials [2]. The United Nations (UN) adopted a 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP) in 2012. One out of the five areas in the program dealt with sustainable buildings and construction approaches, in which the importance of sustainable social housing and energy, along with resource efficiency throughout the supply chain, were clearly mentioned [3]. Buildings are often considered an important and integrated part of sustainable development because of their crucial role in society, the economy and the environment [4]: The construction industry is responsible for about 10% of the global Gross Domestic
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