Land use refers to the occupation of a specific area of land for a defined purpose over a period of time during an Activity. In Life Cycle Assessment, land use represents the temporal aspect of how land is utilised, measuring both the area occupied and the duration of that occupation.
ISO 14040 addresses land use as an elementary flow, representing an exchange between human activities and the natural environment. The environmental significance of land use depends not only on the quantity of land occupied but also on the quality and type of land involved, such as agricultural land, forest land, urban land, or natural ecosystems.
Land use is typically quantified in area-time units, such as square metres per year (m²·year), reflecting both the spatial extent and temporal duration of occupation. This metric allows for the comparison of different activities that may occupy varying amounts of land for different periods.
The environmental impacts associated with land use are assessed through characterisation methods that consider factors such as biodiversity loss, ecosystem quality degradation, soil quality changes, and the opportunity cost of using land for one purpose rather than another. Different land use types have varying levels of impact on ecosystem services, carbon storage, water regulation, and habitat provision.
As Chief Operating Officer, Iris leads our organisational development and oversees day-to-day operations. Before joining 2-0, she worked in the biotechnology sector. As an LCA consultant, Iris has devoted her expertise primarily to the domains of sustainable agriculture and food production. She is dedicated to teaching LCA and is responsible for our educational efforts. Iris holds an M.Sc. in Biology – Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen.
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Glossary terms are clearer once you have seen them applied. Our guide to what LCA is and how it works walks through the complete methodology: goal and scope, inventory modelling, impact assessment, and interpretation.
If you are working on an LCA study and want it done properly, see how we approach life cycle assessment.
