Assignment: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Guidelines and Requirements | Môn Food technology - Trường Đại học Quốc tế, Đại học Quốc gia Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
Assignment: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) General Requirements
• Group Work: Students will work in the same groups as their presentation teams.
• Submission Format: The report should be written in English, well-structured, and
formatted professionally, including proper citations and references. • Deadline: 13/05/2025
• Submission Method: Via email to nnttien@hcmiu.edu.vn
• File Format: Submit as a PDF or Word document (.docx) Assignment Objective
• This assignment aims to provide students with hands-on experience in conducting a Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) for a selected product. Through this analysis, students will
develop skills in identifying environmental impacts and suggesting improvements for sustainability.
Assignment Tasks & Detailed Instructions
Each group is required to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on a selected product
following the guidelines below:
1. Product Selection and Process Mapping
• Select a product for analysis (e.g., food product, beverage, packaging material, consumer goods).
• Provide a detailed flowchart outlining all stages of the product’s life cycle, from raw
material extraction to disposal or recycling.
• Break down the process into key stages:
o Raw material extraction and processing o
Manufacturing and production o Packaging and
distribution o Usage phase (if applicable) o End-of-life
(waste management, recycling, disposal)
• Include process descriptions, detailing:
o Input: Raw materials, energy, water, transportation
o Output: Emissions, waste, by-products
• Visual Representation: Use diagrams, tables, or flowcharts to illustrate the process
• Reference: See example Figure below. lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
2. Goal and Scope Definition
• Clearly define the goal of the LCA, specifying why this assessment is being conducted
(e.g., environmental impact reduction, product comparison, sustainability evaluation).
• Define the scope, including:
o Functional unit (e.g., per kg of product, per unit of packaging) o System
boundaries (cradle-to-grave, cradle-to-gate, gate-to-gate, etc.) o Assumptions and limitations of the study lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
• Example reference: Figure 2.
• Clearly define the goal of the LCA, stating:
o What is the purpose of this study? (e.g., environmental impact reduction, product
comparison, sustainability evaluation)
o Who are the intended users of the results? (e.g., manufacturers, policymakers, consumers)
• Define the scope by specifying:
o Functional Unit: Define the unit of analysis (e.g., per kg of product, per unit of
packaging, per liter of beverage). o System Boundaries:
▪ Cradle-to-grave (entire life cycle)
▪ Cradle-to-gate (from raw materials to factory gate)
▪ Gate-to-gate (specific part of production) • Reference: See example Figure below.
3. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Analysis
• Collect and document all data on inputs and outputs throughout the product’s life cycle.
• Key parameters to consider: lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
o Raw material usage: Type, quantity, source (renewable/non-renewable) o
Energy consumption: Electricity, fossil fuels, renewable sources o Water
consumption: Usage per stage (e.g., processing, cleaning)
o Transportation: Distance, mode (truck, ship, plane)
o Emissions and Waste: CO₂, CH₄, NOₓ, SOₓ, waste disposal methods • Data Presentation:
o Organize in tables for clarity o Use process flowcharts for visualization •
Reference: See example Figure below.
4. Allocation Consideration
• Determine whether allocation is needed in your process (e.g., if a by-product is generated,
how should environmental burdens be distributed?). • Determine if allocation is needed in your process.
o Does your system generate multiple products or by-products?
o If yes, how should the environmental burden be
distributed? • Justify the allocation method chosen:
o Mass-based allocation (based on product weight) o
Economic allocation (based on market value) o Energy
allocation (based on energy content) lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
o Example: If a dairy production process yields both cheese
and whey, decide how to allocate the environmental impacts between them.
5. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
• Assess the environmental impact of your product based on inventory data.
• Follow these key LCIA steps:
o Selection: Choose an impact assessment method o Classification: Categorize
impacts into different environmental issues, such as:
▪ Global Warming Potential (GWP) – CO₂ emissions
▪ Eutrophication Potential (EP) – Nutrient pollution in water
▪ Acidification Potential (AP) – SO₂ and NOₓ emissions
▪ Water Footprint – Water consumption and stress ▪ Energy Demand – Fossil fuel vs. renewable energy use 6. Recommendation
• Suggest sustainability improvements:
o Alternative raw materials (e.g., plant-based vs. animal-based) o
Energy efficiency improvements (e.g., renewable energy use) o
Waste reduction strategies (e.g., recycling, circular economy)
• Discuss the feasibility of implementation in a real-world context.
Report Format and Submission Guidelines 1. Report Structure
• Cover Page o Course title, assignment title, group number
o Student names and IDs o Submission date • Table of Contents
• Main Sections o Introduction: Brief overview of the product and its relevance to sustainability.
o Product Life Cycle & Process
Mapping o Goal & Scope Definition o
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis o lOMoAR cPSD| 58562220
Allocation Consideration o Life Cycle
Impact Assessment o Interpretation and Recommendations
• References (if applicable) o Follow APA or IEEE citation style.
o Cite scientific articles, books, reports,
and LCA databases where necessary.
2. Formatting Guidelines
• Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt • Line Spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
• Figures & Tables: Properly labeled and referenced in the text
• Page Numbering: Bottom right corner
3. Submission Guidelines
• Submit as a single PDF or Word document.
• File Naming Convention: FS_LCA_X.pdf (replace “X” with your product).
• Email Subject Line: [Food Sustainability Assignment Submission] FS_LCA_X (replace “X” with your product)