There is a renewed interest in the use of life cycle assessments (LCAs). Uses range from guiding environmental product improvement that reduces burdens from products throughout their life cycle, to policy decisions regarding environmental preferability and procurement. While the International Standards Organization (ISO) has helped in standardizing the LCA methodology with the ISO 14040 series of LCA standards, there is a recognition that more must also be done to increase the reproducibility, comparability and credibility of LCA results. This all points to achieving public and peer confidence in the way LCAs are done today – if they are going to stand the test of time.
In 1992, Richard Denison (Environmental Defense Fund, now Environmental Defense) authored a paper entitled, “Toward a Code of Ethical Conduct for Life Cycle Assessments”. In this paper, Denison offered views on, “… what should constitute ethical conduct for LCAs in four major areas: (1) the process of conceptualizing and conducting an LCA; (2) its scope and content; (3) the presentation and communication of the results of an LCA; and (4) its application or use. These areas overlap to some extent, and ethical considerations raise some of the same issues being addressed in the context of methodology and data problems. These overlaps only serve to reinforce the importance and the integral nature of issues concerning ethical conduct in the evolution of LCA…” Building on these observations as LCA has developed, the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment has developed such a code of ethics.
The process was informed not only by Denison’s observations (many of which have found their way into the ISO 14040 series standards), but also by the work of Chris MacDonald Guidance for Writing a Code of Ethics. We also searched for guidance in the Codes of ethics of other professional organizations, including
- American Library Association
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- National Association of Environmental Professionals
- National Association of Realtors
- Society of Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry
CODE OF ETHICS, AMERICAN CENTER FOR LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Preamble
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive yardstick of the environmental performance of goods and services. It is a powerful tool to influence human behavior and environmental outcomes through management and engineering decisions, public policy and purchasing decisions. The majority of those using the output of a life cycle assessment are not in a position to verify every element of the LCA. Life Cycle Assessment professionals, those performing, providing life cycle data, and developing life cycle tools and models therefore have great responsibility to provide unbiased, accurate and transparent data and analyses to the greatest extent possible. In doing so they use the work of their hands and minds to build a more sustainable world, and they support the strength and quality of the LCA profession.
Requirements
The American Center for Life Cycle Assessment supports adherence to this code of ethics regarding LCAs. All members of the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment therefore make the following commitments:
- To make maximum use of national and international standards, particularly the ISO 14040 series standards, and U.S. federal FTC guidelines for claims when conducting an LCA;
- To avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;
- To be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;
- To the greatest extent consistent with retaining confidential business information, to disclose data and estimates in a full and transparent manner;
- To clearly distinguish between professional extrapolations and value judgments when developing, performing and using life cycle assessments;
- To improve the understanding among LCA professionals, the general public and decision-makers of Life Cycle Assessment, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;
- To maintain and improve one's technical competence and to undertake tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;
- To seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;
- To treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender and sexual orientation, disability, age, or national origin; and
- To assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.
