From Life Cycle Assessment of Space Systems to Environmental Communication and Reporting
- Paper number
IAC-21,D1,5,4,x65212
- Author
Dr. Andrew Ross Wilson, United Kingdom, University of Strathclyde
- Coauthor
Ms. Sara Morales Serrano, The Netherlands, ESA - European Space Agency
- Coauthor
Dr. Keith Baker, United Kingdom, Glasgow Caledonian University
- Coauthor
Mr. Haroon Oqab, Canada, Space Canada Corporation
- Coauthor
Mr. George B. Dietrich, Canada, Space Canada Corporation
- Coauthor
Prof. Massimiliano Vasile, United Kingdom, University of Strathclyde
- Coauthor
Mr. Tiago Soares, The Netherlands, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Coauthor
Mrs. Luisa Innocenti, France, ESA - European Space Agency
- Year
2021
- Abstract
Over the last decade, the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a method for assessing environmental impacts of space missions and technologies has been growing in importance amongst European industrial stakeholders and national agencies. To date, space-specific LCA studies have predominantly been used to scientifically quantify and reduce adverse impacts, rather than for comparative assertions. However, LCA results may eventually become part of external business communication within the sector. For this reason, it is important that an appropriate mechanism is put in place to promote accurate and verifiable impact quantification for regulatory and economic purposes, thereby avoiding greenwashing and other false environmental claims. To tackle this issue, the European Green Deal states that ``companies making `green claims' should substantiate these against a standard methodology''. In this regard, the European Commission product environmental footprint (PEF) and environmental product declarations (EPDs) provide standardised methods for declaring environmental impacts of products over their entire life cycle, based on LCA calculations. Their applicability towards space systems should, therefore, be properly investigated as a means for ensuring high standards of transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. At a minimum, this would require the production of a harmonised set of guidelines to regulate services and programmes in the context of the execution and preparation of space-specific PEFs or EPDs. As such, the purpose of this paper is to present a potential pathway for space-specific environmental communication and reporting. The paper outlines the results of a scoping exercise designed to map the specificities of the space sector against the ISO 14025:2006 standard on environmental labels and declarations. This was based on a literature review conducted to obtain the current state of knowledge within the space industry whilst drawing upon the procedures and experiences of other sectors, with particular consideration to Product Environmental Footprint Category Rule (PEFCR) development. The findings from this activity have been used to formulate a harmonised framework for environmental communication and reporting purposes in the context of the European space sector. The framework provides a comprehensive set of voluntary operating procedures which intend to act as preliminary guidance for European industrial stakeholders and national agencies. The paper goes on to discuss potential future framework refinements and provides a list of recommendations to advance sectoral practices further. This includes a call for the establishment of an industry-specific platform to enhance the harmonisation of LCA development and ensure rigorous verification and validation of environmental claims.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-21,D1,5,4,x65212.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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