Review of published LCA Studies in a Developing Country: Case of Cameroon

Abstract

Developed in the sixties, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) gained attention around the world as environmental impact methods calculation. It’s application in Cameroon has received significant attention from both industry and research communities since the mid-2010s. This paper, aims to assess the current status of LCA published research conducted in Cameroon. The methodology was conducted using Scientific research websites and scientific journals databases with keywords such as “Life Cycle Assessment”, “LCA”, “Cameroon”, “Life cycle analysis”; then, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method was followed for the selection and analysis of the found papers. 16 LCA related studies with applications in Cameroon were found between 2010 and 2023. These studies focused on various sectors: construction (18.8%), bio - energy (18.8%), electricity (12.5%), waste management (6.3%), agriculture (18.8%), forest management (12.5%), Energy (6.3%) and other sectors (6.3%). The majority of these studies were conducted at the Yaounde I University, involving researchers from the National Advanced School of Engineering. Furthermore, none of the studies addressed economic/social life cycle assessment or life cycle costing. These aspects of LCA, which examine economic and social dimensions, are essential for gaining a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, particularly in developing countries like Cameroon.