An impact assessment method dataset is a set of impact categories with documentation and rationale for this set. It provides a structured framework for conducting Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) by defining which environmental impact categories should be assessed and explaining the scientific and methodological justification for their inclusion.
ISO 14040 and 14044 provide the foundational framework for LCIA, but they do not prescribe specific impact categories or assessment methods. Instead, practitioners select from various established LCIA methods, each comprising a curated set of impact categories designed to address particular environmental concerns or decision contexts. An impact assessment method dataset packages these categories together as a coherent whole.
The documentation component of an impact assessment method dataset is essential for transparency and reproducibility. It typically includes the scientific basis for each included impact category, the geographical and temporal scope of applicability, assumptions and limitations, and the intended application context. This documentation enables LCA practitioners to evaluate whether a particular method is appropriate for their specific study goals and scope.
The rationale explains why particular impact categories were selected and others excluded, reflecting value choices about which environmental issues are most relevant to the assessment. For example, a method focused on climate change and resource depletion will differ substantially from one designed to assess a broader range of ecosystem impacts. Different impact assessment method datasets may emphasise global impacts, regional concerns, or endpoint damages to human health and ecosystem quality.
Common examples of impact assessment method datasets include ReCiPe, IMPACT World+, CML-IA, and TRACI, each offering different combinations of impact categories, characterisation models, and assessment approaches suited to different geographical contexts and assessment purposes.
