ITU-T L.1410 PDF

This Recommendation aims to provide a methodology for evaluating the environmental impact of ICTs objectively and transparently, and is based upon the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology standardized in [ISO 14040] and [ISO 14044].

This Recommendation can be read by anyone aiming for a better understanding of the specific conditions and requirements applicable to the LCA of ICT goods, networks and services (GNS). However, the Recommendation is especially intended for LCA practitioners with a prior knowledge of LCA standards, i.e., [ISO 14040] and [ISO14044].

The purpose of this Recommendation is to:

- provide ICT-specific requirements, in addition to those of [ISO 14040] and [ISO 14044], to ensure a minimum quality of LCA studies of ICT GNS;

- ensure the credibility of LCAs of ICT GNS;

- increase the transparency and facilitate the interpretation of LCA studies of ICT GNS;

- facilitate the communication of LCA studies of ICT GNS; and

- provide a methodology for telecommunication operators and service providers to assess the environmental load of one or more services carried by their ICT networks.

While recognizing [ISO 14040] and [ISO 14044], including Annex A of [ISO 14040] "Application of LCA", as normative references, this Recommendation will give generic requirements for the LCA of ICT GNS. The Recommendation is valid for all types of ICT goods including end-user equipment, and also for ICT networks and services. It focuses on environmental load and impact stemming from energy consumption and GHG emissions of ICT GNS. Practitioners are however encouraged to also consider other environmental aspects in accordance with [ISO 14040] and [ISO 14044].

Comparisons between environmental assessments of ICT GNS, assessments which have been performed by different organizations are beyond the scope of this Recommendation, as such comparisons would require that the assumptions and context of each study are exactly equivalent.