A UNIVERSAL FOOTPRINT DEFINITION: A CRITICAL NEXT STEP TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD COMMUNICATION OF LCA DATA

Life cycle assessment has traditionally been used to support professional decision-making where an LCA expert usually assists with interpretation of the complex impact category indicator results, potential trade-offs and uncertainties. This has changed with the emergence of footprint-style indicators which are often communicated widely to an audience which is remote, largely non-technical, and unable to benefit from first hand support in interpretation. To support the emergence of coherent footprint indicators based on LCA, we argue the need for a universal footprint definition. Specifically, footprints should not be viewed as simply new names for existing impact category indicators based on the Area of Protection paradigm, but rather as indicators which address specific environmental concerns of broad community interest.