Issues and Challenges in Life Cycle Assessment in the Minerals and Metals Sector: A Chance to Improve Raw Materials Efficiency

摘要: A critical review was conducted on existing literature concerning life cycle assessment (LCA) and its application to the minerals metals sector. This extensive search uncovers many of issues that require immediate attention from scientific community involved with LCA. The methodological drawbacks, mainly problems inconsistencies in LCA results for same situation under different assumptions related data quality, are considered be current shortcomings In sector, it is important increase objectivity by way estimating reporting those uncertainties; example, whether land use has detail or at a rough level. regard abiotic resource characterisation, weight time scales become very issue judgement. How temporal spatial dimensions should incorporated into one biggest challenges ahead who concerned. Addressing these will enable used as policy tool environmental decision making. There been enormous unresolved debate respect impacts, depletion, allocation procedure open-loop recycling dimensions. An example case presented Australian iron ore using SimaPro software based published inventory demonstrate uniformity required. Discussions aimed bringing consensus amongst all stakeholders (i.e. industry, academia, consulting organisations government) have presented. addition, commentary points view provided. brings perspective some contentious widely debated researchers. Finally, authors conclude their views prospects future research endeavours.