ISO 14040-2006 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 14040-2006 — Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework. This International Standard establishes the principles and general framework for conducting life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies, including goal and scope definition, the LCI phase, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), interpretation, reporting and critical review, limitations and the relationship between LCA phases. It provides the conceptual basis for consistent, transparent LCA practice but does not prescribe detailed methodological rules for every phase.

Abstract

ISO 14040:2006 defines the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA) of products, services and systems. It describes the purpose and intended application of LCA and LCI studies, the four main LCA phases (goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation), requirements for reporting and critical review, handling of limitations and optional elements, and rules governing the use of value choices. The standard is intended to ensure LCA studies are systematic, transparent and robust while allowing methodological choices to be documented and justified.

General information

• Status: Published — current edition (confirmed following periodic review).
• Publication date: 2nd edition, July 2006 (ISO 14040:2006); Amendment 1 published September 2020.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.020.10 (Environmental management), 13.020.60 (Product life-cycles).
• Edition / version: 2nd edition (2006); includes Amendment 1:2020.
• Number of pages: 20 (main ISO publication).

Scope

Specifies the principles and framework for conducting LCA and LCI studies. Covers goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment, interpretation, reporting and critical review, limitations, and the relationships among LCA phases. Applies to both LCA and LCI studies but does not mandate detailed methodological procedures for individual phases; the standard does not itself prescribe specific impact assessment models or data formats. The use of LCA results (e.g., in policy or marketing) is considered during goal definition but the standard does not govern external application rules.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of goal and scope, including functional unit, system boundaries and assumptions.
• Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis: data collection, calculation procedures and data quality considerations.
• Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA): selection of impact categories and characterization (framework-level; detailed methods in companion standards).
• Interpretation: identification of significant issues, completeness, sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and drawing conclusions.
• Reporting and critical review: transparency, documentation requirements and third‑party review for comparative/public studies.
• Limitations and relationship between phases: consistency in modelling choices and treatment of value choices and optional elements.
• Recognition that ISO 14040 provides principles and framework while ISO 14044 and other documents provide detailed requirements and methods.

Typical use and users

Used by LCA practitioners and consultants, product and process designers, sustainability managers, environmental policy makers, program operators for environmental product declarations (EPDs), researchers and educators. Typical applications include product development and eco‑design, comparative environmental assessments, corporate footprinting, procurement support, regulatory and policy analysis, and preparation of EPDs and sustainability reports.

Related standards

Closely linked with ISO 14044 (Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines). Other related documents include ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations / EPDs), ISO 14067 (carbon footprint of products), ISO 14001 (environmental management systems), relevant national and regional implementations (EN ISO 14040), and guidance such as the ILCD/PEF-type methodologies which build on ISO 14040/14044 principles. ISO 14040:2006 is also maintained by ISO/TC 207/SC 5 (Life cycle assessment).

Keywords

ISO 14040, life cycle assessment, LCA, life cycle inventory (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), goal and scope, interpretation, environmental product declaration, EPD, LCA principles, environmental management.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 14040:2006 is the International Standard that defines the principles and framework for performing life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the conceptual framework and main phases of an LCA — goal and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation — plus rules for reporting, critical review, limitations and how phases interrelate. It does not prescribe detailed calculation methods; those are addressed in companion documents such as ISO 14044.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: LCA practitioners, environmental consultants, product designers, sustainability and corporate responsibility teams, policy makers, EPD program operators, researchers and educators.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2006 2nd edition remains the current edition; it was amended in 2020 (Amendment 1) and the publication has been subject to ISO periodic review. The original 1997 edition was superseded by the 2006 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 14040 is part of the ISO 14040 family addressing life cycle assessment. The most closely associated standard is ISO 14044 (Requirements and guidelines), and other related ISO standards address EPDs, carbon footprinting and EMS linkages.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle inventory (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), goal and scope, interpretation, environmental product declaration (EPD), ISO 14044, environmental management.