Advancing Life Cycle Assessment Group (ALCA)

The Advancing Life Cycle Assessment (ALCA) group is a globally leading research partner in advancing the life cycle assessment framework.

ALCA builds upon and continues Empa's long-lasting activities in the area of life cycle assessment (LCA). Core activity of ALCA is to broaden-up of the scope of the LCA framework and the better integration of the LCA framework into R&D procedures. In addition to this, ALCA tackles drawbacks of the current LCA methodology, establishes missing inventory data and/or assessment schemes in connection with ongoing R&D activities at Empa.

ALCA is using cases on emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, information and communication technologies, mobility and energy systems in order to meet the following challenges:

  • Extending the perspective of life cycle assessment to societal aspects;
  • Supporting sustainable technology development by combining the LCA framework with new, innovative approaches such as SbD (safe-by-design) or RRI (responsible research & innovation);
  • Improving impact assessment methods and LCI data availability.
Contact

Dr. Roland Hischier

Empa
Technology & Society Laboratory
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
CH-9014 St. Gallen
Tel.: +41 58 765 78 47

Personal Website