LIFE-CYCLE-ANALYSIS - A METHODOLOGY TO ANALYZE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES WITHIN A TECHNOLOGY-ASSESSMENT STUDY

Technology Assessment studies try to find out and evaluate the differe nt impacts of the technologies assessed. Among these impacts the ecolo gical impact of certain production technologies or products play an im portant role. A methodological tool for an improved assessment of the ecological effects is Life-Cycle-Analysis. It identifies the ecologica l effects 'from cradle to grave' by including the analysis of the hori zontal and vertical process chains from mining of raw material through the production and use to the deposition. For each of the three parts of a Life-Cycle-Analysis - Inventory, Environmental Assessment, Valua tion - the paper describes state of the art, methodological problems a nd likely developments.