Mineral resource dissipation in life cycle inventories

Abstract Purpose The assessment of potential environmental impacts associated to mineral resource use in LCA is a highly debated topic. Most current impact methods consider the extraction resources as issue concern, while their dissipation an emerging concept. This article proposes approach account for life cycle inventories (LCIs), with application case study. Methods definition first discussed considering both main practice and context dissipation. Secondly, described: short-term perspective (25 years), any flow (i) environment, (ii) final waste disposal facilities, (iii) products-in-use technosphere, not providing significant function anymore (including due non-functional recycling), suggested be reported dissipative at level unit processes. requires map flows into out processes under study (“resource analysis”), before identifying reporting them LCI datasets. Results discussion applied analyze direct along primary production copper, using Ecoinvent (v3.5) 1 kg copper cathode generates 0.88 (primarily calcium carbonate, lower extent iron), important contributions “tailings disposal,” “pyrometallurgy,” “mining concentration.” Moreover, this discusses how developed would change interpretation results regarding LCA, far some key methodological aspects (e.g., temporal perspective) can affect inventory long-term implies shift flows), finally new data requirements, terms availability adequacy. Conclusions As demonstrated study, existing datasets supporting documentation contain least part information required consistently compile process level, yet need complementary assessments. may particularly relevant better support development more resource-efficient techniques or product designs. It still open adapt characterization approaches induced by these flows.