ISO 14042-2000 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 14042:2000 — Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Life cycle impact assessment. This International Standard defines the framework, required elements and optional elements for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase of a life cycle assessment (LCA), and describes the relationship of LCIA to other LCA phases.

Abstract

ISO 14042:2000 provides guidance and requirements for conducting the LCIA phase of an LCA study: selection of impact categories and indicators, assignment of inventory results to categories (classification), calculation of category indicator results using characterization factors (characterization), and optional procedures such as normalization, grouping and weighting. The standard explains limitations of LCIA and reporting considerations to support interpretation and decision‑making.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / superseded (replaced by subsequent ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 revisions).
• Publication date: First edition published March 2000 (2000-03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.020.10 (Environmental management); 13.020.60 (Product life‑cycles).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2000).
• Number of pages: 16 pages (ISO bibliographic record).

Scope

Specifies the LCIA phase requirements within an LCA: how to select impact categories, category indicators and characterization models; how to assign life cycle inventory (LCI) results to impact categories (classification); how to calculate indicator results by applying characterization factors (characterization); and optional elements (normalization, grouping, weighting) that may be used to further analyse or present results. The scope also addresses reporting and limitations of LCIA and the relationship of LCIA outputs to the interpretation phase of LCA.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of LCIA purpose and required reporting to support interpretation and transparency.
• Selection and justification of impact categories, category indicators and characterization models.
• Mandatory elements: classification (assignment of LCI results to categories) and characterization (calculation using characterization factors).
• Optional elements: normalization (relative magnitude against reference information), grouping (sorting/ranking) and weighting (value‑based aggregation) — with requirements for justification and reporting.
• Data quality analysis and transparency requirements, especially important for comparative studies and public disclosure.
• Limitations and guidance on appropriate use of LCIA results in decision making.

Typical use and users

Used by LCA practitioners, environmental consultants, product designers, sustainability managers, researchers and standards bodies to conduct or review the LCIA phase of an LCA. Typical applications include product environmental profiling, design optimization, comparative assessment (with special reporting rules) and academic studies where transparent, standardized LCIA procedures are required.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 14040 series on LCA. Closely related to ISO 14040 (principles and framework) and ISO 14044 (requirements and guidelines); ISO 14042:2000 was later withdrawn and its content integrated/updated in ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 (and subsequent revisions). Other informative documents include ISO/TR 14047 (examples and guidance on LCIA) and methodological LCIA method standards and guidance documents.

Keywords

Life cycle assessment, LCIA, impact assessment, characterization, classification, normalization, weighting, environmental management, ISO 14040 series, product life‑cycle.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 14042:2000 is the ISO International Standard that defined requirements and guidance for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase of life cycle assessment (LCA).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers selection and justification of impact categories and indicators, assignment of inventory results to categories (classification), calculation of indicator results using characterization factors (characterization), optional steps such as normalization, grouping and weighting, and reporting and limits relevant to LCIA.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: LCA practitioners, environmental consultants, product designers, sustainability teams, academic researchers and national standards bodies use it when performing or reviewing LCIA within full LCA studies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 14042:2000 has been withdrawn and superseded by later consolidated revisions in the ISO 14040 series (notably ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 and their subsequent updates). For current requirements and public comparative‑assertion rules, consult the latest ISO 14040/14044 editions.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is (was) part of the ISO 14040 series on life cycle assessment (including ISO 14040, ISO 14041, ISO 14043 and related technical reports and method documents). Much of its content was incorporated into later ISO 14040/14044 revisions.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords include: life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), life cycle assessment (LCA), characterization, classification, normalization, weighting, impact categories, ISO 14040 series.