JP2005063252A - Environmental impact assessment method and environmental impact assessment program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environmental impact assessment method and an environmental impact assessment program, in which the impact of a product on the environment can be properly assessed. <P>SOLUTION: The environmental aspects of the product over all the life cycle are clarified, a category (resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming, emission of toxic chemical compounds, solid waste, etc.) is selected based on the result, and the impact of each environmental aspect on the environment is digitized by use of predetermined indexes for the respective categories. The environmental aspects are ranked with the numerical values calculated in the respective categories, and points are assigned in conformation to the ranks, respectively. The points are weighted and totaled in all the categories, and an environmental aspect with a remarkable total point is specified. According to this, since an aspect with a high numerical value in a predetermined category can be assessed to have a heavy impact on the environment, environmental impact assessment can be properly performed even if the numerical values are largely differed among the categories. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and program for evaluating the influence of a product on the environment.

  According to the guidelines of the Environment Agency (Ministry of the Environment) (reported in 2000), “Aiming for sustainable development, we will promote environmental conservation efforts efficiently and effectively while maintaining a good relationship with society. For that purpose, we will grasp (measure), analyze and publish the costs for environmental protection in corporate activities and the effects obtained through environmental protection efforts as quantitatively as possible (displayed in terms of money or quantity). Defined as environmental accounting, and the cost required for reducing the environmental burden caused by economic activities of corporations in society or for the conservation results of these is calculated and calculated quantitatively. It is advocated to improve the required mechanism, and “economical activities” such as companies are under consideration in the direction of creating this mechanism (for example, JP-A-2002-342563).

For example, with regard to the economic evaluation method for human health damage caused by harmful substances, for example, in the TCA (Total Cost Assessment Methodology) developed by AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), the health effects of harmful substances are uniformly converted into monetary amounts. , What is calculated by determining the unit price such as CO ₂ has been published. As an index of health damage, DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Years) has been developed as a method for obtaining health loss from life expectancy.
JP 2002-342563 A (pages 7-14, FIG. 6)

  However, in order to evaluate the impact on the environment caused by economic activities of corporations and the like, the above-described economic evaluation alone is insufficient, and it is necessary to evaluate various environmental aspects resulting from product components and use. Against this background, various methods (eco-indicator 95, EPS method, Nagata method, etc.) for integrating and evaluating the influence on the environment have been proposed. These evaluation methods aggregate environmental loads for each category and integrate them by weighting for each category, and the evaluation results can be expressed as numerical values. These methods are used to manufacture various products. It is difficult to apply to a company as it is.

  In other words, there are many environmental aspects that are subject to environmental impact assessment, and the categories are resource consumption, energy consumption, global warming, ozone layer destruction, acidification, lake eutrophication, and photochemical oxidant generation. , Human toxicity, ecosystem toxicity, solid waste materials, etc., it is not possible to uniquely determine in which category a product manufactured by a company should be evaluated, and it is evaluated if an appropriate category is not selected This is because the reliability of the result is lost.

  In addition, when the evaluation results are expressed in fine numerical values, the influence of each environmental aspect on the environment can be compared in a single category, but it is difficult to compare numerical values between different categories. Therefore, in the above method, weighting is performed between categories. However, if the numerical values calculated for each category differ greatly, even if weighting is performed, the integrated result may deviate from the actual state.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its main purpose is to provide an environmental impact assessment method and an environmental impact assessment program capable of appropriately evaluating the impact of a product on the environment. Is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the environmental impact assessment method of the present invention is a method for assessing the impact of a product on the environment, and identifies a plurality of categories affected by the environmental aspects in the entire life cycle of the product, For each of the categories, rank the environmental aspects using numerical values calculated according to a predetermined method, sum the points given in association with the rank according to a predetermined rule in all categories, The magnitude of the influence of the product on the environment is determined by referring to the summed points.

  The environmental impact assessment method of the present invention is a method for assessing the impact of a product on the environment, wherein the environmental aspects in the entire life cycle of the product are extracted, and the environmental aspects are affected based on the extracted results. A step of specifying a plurality of categories to be applied; a step of calculating an influence on the environment as a numerical value using a predetermined method for each of the categories; and a predetermined for each of the categories In accordance with the rules, the environmental aspects are ranked in descending order of the calculated numerical values, points are assigned in association with the rankings, and the given points are totaled for all the categories. The environmental aspects are ranked in descending order of the summed points, and the environmental aspects with the highest ranking are identified as significant environmental aspects. Tsu and up, the one having at least.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of categories include resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming, emission of harmful chemical substances, and solid waste.

  Further, in the present invention, the predetermined rule is to rank the 10 environmental aspects in descending order of the numerical values, and in order from the first order to the tenth environmental aspect. When 10 to 1 points are given and the category is discharge of harmful chemical substances, the points can be doubled.

  In the present invention, the predetermined method is obtained by multiplying the degree of influence of the environmental aspect calculated by referring to a predetermined characterization coefficient and the consumption or emission amount of the environmental aspect. In addition, the method for calculating the numerical value or the predetermined method is that, when the category is emission of hazardous chemical substances, the hazardous chemical substances are determined for each intensity for each of the preset evaluation items. A first step of allocating to the classified rank, a second step of allocating the toxic chemical substance to a category classified for each degree for each of the evaluation items related to the concentration, and the toxic chemical substance A third step of calculating the harmfulness of the hazardous chemical substance as a point from the usage amount of the hazardous chemical substance using a calculation formula associated with the assigned rank; and the third step A method of calculating using the fourth step of calculating a total point by multiplying the calculated hazard point by a weighting factor associated with the category to which the hazardous chemical substance is distributed. Can do.

  The environmental impact assessment program of the present invention is a program for evaluating the impact of a product on the environment. The computer identifies a plurality of categories in which the environmental aspects of the entire life cycle of the product affect, Functions as a means for ranking the environmental aspects using numerical values calculated according to a predetermined method for the category, and summing up the points given in association with the rank according to a predetermined rule in all categories It is something to be made.

  The environmental impact assessment program of the present invention is a program for evaluating the impact of a product on the environment, and extracts environmental aspects in the entire life cycle of the product, and the environmental aspects influence the results based on the extracted results. A first means for specifying a plurality of categories to be given; a second means for calculating the influence on the environment as a numerical value for each of the categories using a predetermined method; and for each of the categories , According to a predetermined rule, a third means for ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the calculated numerical values, and assigning points in association with the rankings, given to all the categories A fourth means for summing up the points, ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the summed points, and making the environmental aspect with the highest ranking a significant environmental aspect. It is intended to function fifth means for identifying as.

  As described above, the present invention identifies the environmental aspects over the entire life cycle of products manufactured by companies in the environmental impact assessment, and based on the results, the categories necessary for the environmental impact assessment (resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming). , Emissions of hazardous chemicals, solid waste, etc.) and quantifies the impact of each environmental aspect on the environment using a predetermined method for each category. Instead of simply adding the numerical values calculated in each category (or adding them by weighting), the environmental aspects are ranked numerically for each category, and points associated with the ranking are given. Then, the points are weighted and added together to calculate a total point, and those having a large total point are identified as significant environmental aspects. By ranking the environmental aspects using points instead of fine numerical values in this way, even if the numerical value is small as a whole, a large value in a given category is considered to have a large impact on the environment. Since the evaluation can be performed, even if the numerical value is greatly different for each category, it is possible to perform an environmental impact evaluation that more closely matches the actual situation.

  According to the environmental impact assessment method and the environmental impact assessment program of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  The first effect of the present invention is that the influence of the product on the environment can be properly evaluated.

  This is because, when selecting a category, the environmental aspects of the products manufactured by the company are identified over the entire life cycle, and the category is selected based on the results. In addition, when integrating the results of environmental impact assessments for each category, instead of adding (or adding by weighting) the numerical values calculated for each category, rank them according to numerical values. By assigning the associated points and adding the points with a predetermined weight, it is possible to evaluate all aspects of the environment that have a large impact on the environment for a given category even if the overall numerical value is small. It is. This is an extremely important factor in identifying the environmental conservation activities that should be prioritized for the obligation of companies to promote environmental conservation in all relevant categories.

  In addition, the second effect of the present invention is that, in particular, the influence on the environment can be accurately evaluated for the category relating to the emission of harmful chemical substances.

  This is because, in identifying hazards, not only carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity, but also evaluation items such as mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, sensitization, flammability, explosiveness, etc. This is because the hazard classification is calculated from the annual usage of hazardous substances according to the calculation formula associated with the rank, and in addition to the rank classification, This is because evaluation items related to enrichment such as long-distance movement and harmfulness are also evaluated, classified into categories according to the degree, and weighting coefficients are associated with each category.

  Further, the third effect of the present invention is that the environmental evaluation method of the present invention is expanded to a plurality of types of products possessed by a company and ranked as a whole, so that environmental aspects having a large impact can be comprehensively determined. It will be possible.

  As shown in the prior art, there are the eco-indicator 95, the EPS method, the Nagata method, etc. as a method for comprehensively evaluating the influence on the environment. By using these methods, the evaluation results in various categories are integrated. However, there are many categories that are affected by environmental aspects, and the evaluation results naturally vary depending on which category is selected.

  In addition, the conventional environmental impact assessment method adds the numerical values calculated in each category (or adds them by weighting) when integrating the evaluation results. In some cases, although the influence on the environment is large, the calculated numerical value is small as a whole, so it is not specified as an environmental aspect having a large influence, and the result may not match the actual situation. Here, it is often important for companies to identify all aspects of the environment that have a large impact on the environment rather than knowing detailed numerical values. For such purposes, conventional environmental impact assessment methods are not sufficient methods. I can not say.

  In addition, regarding the release of hazardous chemical substances, the development of methods for evaluating the economics of human health effects has been underway, but the conventional methods do not reflect the idea of risk assessment of life cycle due to exposure to hazardous chemical substances. It is insufficient as an evaluation method. Therefore, it cannot be said that the evaluation results obtained by the environmental impact assessment method are sufficiently taken into account with respect to the release of harmful chemical substances, and appropriate evaluation results are often not obtained.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in order to be able to properly evaluate the impact of the product on the environment, first, the category that is considered necessary for the environmental impact assessment is specified by selecting the environmental aspects throughout the product life cycle when selecting the category. ing. Then, the environmental impact evaluation result is calculated as a numerical value in each category. At that time, the hazardous chemical substance discharge category is accurately evaluated using the evaluation method described in the prior application of the applicant of the present application. Furthermore, the numerical values calculated in each category are not added (or weighted) as they are, but the environmental aspects are ranked numerically in each category, and points associated with the rankings are assigned. Are integrated with a predetermined weighting to integrate evaluations of all categories.

  In this way, selecting categories according to the above procedure enables evaluation suitable for products manufactured by companies, and using the method described in the earlier application regarding the release of hazardous chemical substances, life cycle risk assessment Can reflect the idea. In addition, by using points associated with ranks instead of detailed numerical values, the overall numerical values are small, but environmental aspects that have a large impact in a specific category can be identified as significant environmental aspects. A consistent and reliable environmental impact assessment result can be obtained. Then, by using a program for causing the computer to execute the above procedure, the influence on the environment can be easily and accurately evaluated.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, a product environmental impact assessment method and an environmental impact assessment program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an environmental impact evaluation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an environmental economic evaluation procedure of a prior application. 3 to 7 are diagrams showing the evaluation results in each category, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the results of integrating the evaluation results of the five categories.

  The environmental impact assessment method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the following five steps as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[First step]
First, we identify environmental aspects such as substances and energy that the product has in the entire life cycle, and identify the categories that each environmental aspect affects. Here, the environmental aspect means inputs and outputs to the environment, and means, for example, use and discharge of materials, use of energy, discharge of chemical substances and harmful chemical substances. The entire life cycle means all stages from raw material procurement, product manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal / recycling. When identifying categories, air and water pollution such as ozone depletion, generation of photochemical oxidants, acidification and eutrophication can be addressed by laws such as the Montreal Protocol, the Air Pollution Control Act and the Water Pollution Control Act. Therefore, it is not subject to evaluation.

For example, the category of global warming includes greenhouse gases (CO ₂ , CH ₄ , NO ₂ , CFC, HFC, PFC, CCl ₄ , SF _6, etc.), and energy consumption includes coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Such fuels and resource depletion are classified into mineral resources such as silver ore and iron ore and crude oil used as raw materials. In this way, by identifying the environmental aspects of the product over the entire life cycle, it is possible to properly evaluate the impact of the product manufactured by the company on the environment, and in this embodiment, the environmental depletion is based on the above procedure. , Energy consumption, global warming, hazardous chemical emissions, and solid waste.

[Second step]
Next, multiply the “characterizing coefficient” that expresses the degree of influence of each substance (environmental aspect) classified in the first step by the ratio with the reference substance and the consumption or emission of the substance. The evaluation result is calculated as a numerical value. This numerical value is called “category indicator”, and the larger the value, the higher the influence on the category.

For example, in the case of resource depletion, the amount of depletion resources of mineral resources (silver ore, iron ore, etc.) and fossil fuels (crude oil, charcoal, etc.) used as raw materials is evaluated in the category of resource depletion. To do. The magnitude of the impact is a numerical value obtained by setting the reciprocal (1 / R) × 10 ¹² of reserves (R) of exhaustible resources as a characterization factor and multiplying the consumption of each resource by the characterization factor Evaluate with. An example of the result evaluated by such a method is shown in FIG. In the case of FIG. 3, it can be seen that the influence on the resource depletion is the greatest because the amount of the special steel used for a certain product is large with respect to the reserve.

  In the case of energy consumption, fossil fuel consumed as fuel throughout the product life cycle is evaluated in the category of energy consumption. The magnitude of the effect is evaluated by setting the calorific value of each fossil fuel as a characterization coefficient based on the calorific value of crude oil, and multiplying the consumption amount of each fuel by the characterization coefficient and evaluating the result. An example of the result evaluated by such a method is shown in FIG.

  In the case of global warming, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the product life cycle is evaluated in the category of global warming. The magnitude of the influence is evaluated by setting the global warming potential (GWP) expressed using carbon dioxide as a reference as a characterization coefficient, and multiplying each gas emission amount by the characterization coefficient and summing them up. An example of the result evaluated by such a method is shown in FIG.

  In the case of solid waste, the amount of solid waste discharged over the entire life cycle of the product is evaluated in the category of solid waste. An example of the result evaluated by such a method is shown in FIG.

  In addition, about discharge | emission of a hazardous | toxic chemical substance, a numerical value is calculated and evaluated by the method described in the prior application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-153918) of the applicant of this application. The specific procedure will be described later.

[Third step]
Next, for each category, ten environmental aspects with high evaluation values are extracted from the top and 10 to 1 points are assigned in order from the top. Note that the above points are doubled for the release of hazardous chemical substances. This is because, unlike other categories, emissions of hazardous chemicals have a direct impact on the human body, and general LCA (resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming and solid waste) Life cycle assessment) is used to calculate numerical values, but for the release of hazardous chemical substances, the highly reliable method described in the applicant's prior application is used and the results are respected. It is because it thinks that it should. Furthermore, because of the importance of hazardous chemical substances, companies have built their own management systems, and it is necessary to regard them as environmental aspects that need improvement even if they are low overall values compared to other categories. is there. It is reasonable to double the above point in order to achieve consistency with it.

[Fourth step]
Next, for each environmental aspect, the points given in five categories are summed.

  Here, in the conventional environmental impact assessment method, the numerical value calculated in each category is used as it is (or weighted). However, when the numerical value itself is used as described above, the numerical value is not included in a specific category. An environmental aspect that is large but has a small numerical value for the entire category is judged as having a small influence on the environment as a whole. However, environmental aspects that have a large numerical value in a specific category are evaluated as having a large influence on the environment at least in that category, and should not be overlooked just because the numerical value is small for the entire category. Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of using the numerical value itself, the environmental aspects are ranked numerically in each category, points are associated with the rankings, and the points are added up in all categories. This solves the problem in the conventional method. An example of the result of totaling points in such a procedure is shown in FIG.

  For example, with regard to the use of special steel (SUS), the calculated value is the largest in the resource depletion category, but in the energy consumption category, the value is about 1/40 for the environmental aspect that ranks first, In the generalization category, the numerical value is about 1/20 for the environmental aspect with the highest ranking, and for the solid waste category, the numerical value is about 1/40 for the environmental aspect with the highest ranking. Even so, the ranking in all categories will be low, but if the environmental aspect that has the greatest impact on resource depletion is rated low overall, it cannot be said to be a proper evaluation. On the other hand, in the method of this embodiment, 10 points are assigned to special steel (SUS) in the resource depletion category, so the overall ranking is eighth, and the ranking in all categories is increased. Therefore, evaluation that matches the actual situation is possible.

  Similarly, for lead, the ranking is 3 in the resource depletion category and 7 points are given, but in the categories of energy consumption, global warming and solid waste, the numbers are small and no points are given. On the other hand, it is listed as the only influential substance in the category of hazardous scientific substance discharge. If lead that directly affects the human body is evaluated as low as a whole, it cannot be said to be a proper evaluation. On the other hand, in the method of the present embodiment, 20 points (10 points × 2 (weighting factor)) are assigned to lead in the category of hazardous chemical substance discharge, so the overall ranking is third. Since ranks in all categories can be raised, evaluation that matches the actual situation is possible.

[Fifth step]
Then, as shown in the right column of FIG. 8, 10 environmental aspects are extracted in descending order of the total points, and specified as marked environmental aspects (environmental aspects having a large influence on the environment). However, items with the same total points are treated as the same rank, and in that case, the environmental aspect to be extracted is 11 items or more.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when selecting a category, the environmental aspects of the product over the entire life cycle are identified, and based on the result, the category necessary for the environmental impact assessment of the product is selected, and calculated for each category. Rather than using the numerical values as they are, the points given in order from the highest numerical values and associated with the rankings are used, so that significant environmental aspects can be properly identified and more realistically matched. An evaluation result can be obtained.

  Each of the above steps may be executed manually, but the computer is a means for specifying a category, a means for calculating the result of evaluation for each category as a numerical value, a means for giving points based on the calculated numerical value, It is also possible to create an environmental impact assessment program that functions as a means for summing up the points of all categories and a means for identifying significant environmental aspects based on the summed points, and the program can be installed in a computer and executed. By using such a program, the environmental impact assessment can be realized more easily.

  Next, the evaluation method relating to the discharge of harmful chemical substances described in the prior application of the applicant of the present application will be outlined with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the evaluation method described in the prior application includes the following four steps.

  First, the first step (step S201) is identification of hazards of harmful substances to be evaluated. In this step, various evaluation items (carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, etc.) can be evaluated not only for VOC (volatile organic solvents) but also for various harmful chemical substances. (Irritation, sensitization, flammability, explosiveness, etc.) are investigated, hazards are identified for each evaluation item, and ranks are classified according to the degree of hazard.

  Specifically, regarding carcinogenicity, IARC-1 (International Agency for Research on Cancer (Group 1 of International Cancer Research Organization), which is carcinogenic to humans), NTP (National Toxicology Program Report) on Carcinogens (US / National Toxicology Program) NTP-K, a substance known to be carcinogenic to humans), ACGIH-A1 (American Conference of Govermental Industrial Hygienists) ) Group A1 and substances that have been confirmed to be carcinogenic to humans), NISSAN I-1 (the first group of the Japan Society for Occupational Health, which has been recognized as a substance that is carcinogenic to humans) ) As one rank, IARC-2A (probably recognized as carcinogenic to humans), NISSAN-2A (substantially carcinogenic to humans) However, it is another substance with sufficient evidence), Ango-Black (cancer) (a substance that is recognized as carcinogenic and has guidelines for preventing health problems under the Health and Safety Law). IARC-2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans), NTP-R (substance that is reasonably expected to be carcinogenic), ACGIH-A2 (carcinogenic to humans) ), NISSAN-E-2B (substance that is probably carcinogenic to humans and has relatively insufficient evidence) is classified as another rank. Similarly, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, sensitization, flammability, and explosiveness are also ranked according to the degree of hazard.

  The second step (step S202) is classification of harmful substances. In this step, in addition to the above rank classification, in order to assign a risk level according to the degree of enrichment (persistence, accumulation, long-distance movement, toxicity, etc.), hazardous chemical substances are classified into three categories ( POP, PBT, and other hazardous substances). The above-mentioned POP (Persistent Organic Pollutants) is a persistent organic pollutant, meaning that it is a persistent, bioaccumulative, and harmful chemical substance that travels over long distances, such as PCB. PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances) Means a harmful chemical substance that is hardly degradable and bioaccumulative like POP but does not travel long distances.

  Here, conventionally, there has been no concept of classifying harmful chemical substances from the viewpoint of concentration such as indegradability, accumulation, long-distance movement, and toxicity. Although the risk difference between chemical substances and non-accumulative hazardous chemical substances could not be evaluated, and only the effects of direct exposure could be evaluated, the method described in the earlier application classifies hazardous chemical substances into the above evaluation items. This makes it possible to evaluate enrichment and indirect exposure.

  The third step (step S203) is a hazard risk evaluation calculation. In this step, the hazard is calculated as a point using the annual usage amount of the hazardous chemical according to the hazard point calculation formula obtained empirically for each rank classified in the first step. Here, in the conventional evaluation, there is no method for converting the hazard into points, and quantitative evaluation is difficult, but in the method described in the prior application, the point of hazard is determined according to the point calculation formula associated with the rank. Quantitative evaluation is made possible by calculating

  The fourth step (step S204) is life cycle risk calculation. In this step, for each stage of the product life cycle (manufacturing, use by the user, disposal) in which hazardous chemical substances are used in manufacturing, the second step is the point of hazard obtained in the third step. The total points are calculated by multiplying the weighting coefficients associated with the categories classified in (1). This weighting factor is, for example, x100 for POP, x10 for PBT, and x1 for other hazardous substances. In this way, the life cycle is divided into, for example, at the time of manufacture, at the time of use by the user, and at the time of disposal (landfill or incineration), and the weighting coefficient is multiplied at the stage where the risk of concentration of harmful chemical substances appears. For example, highly concentrated heavy metals such as lead can be given a weighting coefficient at the stage of disposal, and a more accurate evaluation can be performed throughout the product life cycle.

  In this way, each evaluation item is classified according to its level, and separately from the above-mentioned rank classification, predetermined evaluation items are classified into categories according to their degree, and each stage of the product life cycle is determined. In addition to calculating the hazard as a point using the calculation formula associated with the rank, and calculating the total point by multiplying the weighting coefficient associated with the category, A solid product can be evaluated, and a comprehensive evaluation can be performed not only at the manufacturing stage but also at the time of use or disposal by the user. Furthermore, it is possible to evaluate differences in risk and indirect exposure between accumulative harmful chemical substances and non-accumulative harmful chemical substances, thereby realizing more accurate evaluation.

  Then, by performing the environmental impact assessment in the hazardous chemical substance emission category using the method described in the prior application, it is possible to appropriately evaluate the environmental impact of the hazardous chemical substance contained in the product. The utility value of the environmental impact assessment method can be further increased.

  In the above embodiment, five categories are specified in order to appropriately and easily perform environmental impact assessment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the number and types of categories are manufactured by companies. It can be set as appropriate according to the environmental aspects of the product. In addition, when assigning points, 10 to 1 points were assigned in descending order of the numerical values obtained by evaluation, and the points were doubled for the hazardous chemical substance emission category. Numbers, weights of points, etc. can be adjusted as appropriate according to the actual situation. Furthermore, although 10 items of remarkable environmental aspects are specified in descending order of points, the number of items to be specified can be adjusted as appropriate. For example, a point having a predetermined number or more can be specified as a significant environmental aspect. .

It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of the environmental influence evaluation method which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the procedure of the evaluation method of the harmful chemical substance which concerns on a prior application. It is a figure which shows the example of calculation of resource depletion. It is a figure which shows the example of calculation of energy consumption. It is a figure which shows the example of calculation of global warming. It is a figure which shows the calculation example of discharge | emission of a toxic chemical substance. It is a figure which shows the example of calculation of a solid waste. It is a figure which shows the example of point calculation of five categories, and the specific example of a remarkable environmental aspect.

Claims (16)

A method for evaluating the environmental impact of a product,
Identify multiple categories that are affected by the environmental aspects of the entire life cycle of the product
For each of the categories, rank the environmental aspects using numerical values calculated according to a predetermined method,
Sum the points given in association with the ranking according to a predetermined rule in all categories,
An environmental impact evaluation method characterized by determining the magnitude of an effect on the environment of the product by referring to the summed points. A method for evaluating the environmental impact of a product,
Extracting environmental aspects of the entire life cycle of the product, and identifying a plurality of categories affected by the environmental aspects based on the extracted results;
For each of the categories, using a predetermined method, calculating the impact on the environment as a numerical value;
For each of the categories, according to a predetermined rule, ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the calculated numerical values, and assigning points in association with the rankings;
Summing the given points for all the categories;
And ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the summed points, and specifying the environmental aspects with the highest ranking as significant environmental aspects.   The environmental impact assessment method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of categories include resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming, discharge of hazardous chemical substances, and solid waste.   The predetermined rule ranks the 10 environmental aspects in descending order of the numerical value, and gives 10 to 1 points in order from the first to the tenth environmental aspect. And when the said category is discharge | emission of a hazardous chemical substance, the said point is doubled, The environmental impact evaluation method as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The predetermined method is to calculate the numerical value by multiplying the degree of influence of the environmental aspect calculated with reference to a preset characterization coefficient and the consumption or emission amount of the environmental aspect. The environmental impact assessment method according to claim 1, wherein the environmental impact assessment method is a method. The predetermined method is that when the category is emission of hazardous chemicals,
A first step of allocating the harmful chemical substances to ranks classified by intensity for each of the preset evaluation items;
A second step of allocating the harmful chemical substances into categories classified according to the degree of each of the evaluation items related to the concentration;
A third step of calculating the harmfulness of the hazardous chemical substance as a point from the usage amount of the hazardous chemical substance, using a calculation formula associated with the rank to which the hazardous chemical substance is distributed;
Using the fourth step of calculating a total point by multiplying the hazard point calculated in the third step by a weighting factor associated with the category to which the hazardous chemical substance is distributed. The environmental impact assessment method according to claim 1, wherein the environmental impact assessment method is a calculation method.   The preset evaluation items include any one of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, sensitization, flammability, and explosiveness. The environmental impact assessment method according to claim 6.   The environmental impact evaluation method according to claim 6, wherein the preset evaluation item related to the concentration includes any one of indegradability, accumulation, long-distance movement, and harmfulness. A program for evaluating the environmental impact of products,
Identifying a plurality of categories in which the environmental aspects of the computer affect the entire life cycle of the product;
For each of the categories, rank the environmental aspects using numerical values calculated according to a predetermined method,
An environmental impact assessment program which functions as means for summing up points given in association with the ranking according to a predetermined rule in all categories. A program for evaluating the environmental impact of products,
A first means for extracting environmental aspects in the entire life cycle of the product and identifying a plurality of categories affected by the environmental aspects based on the extracted results;
A second means for calculating the influence on the environment as a numerical value for each of the categories using a predetermined method;
A third means for ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the calculated numerical values according to a predetermined rule for each of the categories, and assigning points in association with the rankings;
A fourth means for summing the given points for all the categories;
An environmental impact assessment program that functions as a fifth means for ranking the environmental aspects in descending order of the summed points and identifying the environmental aspects with the highest ranking as significant environmental aspects.   The environmental impact assessment program according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the plurality of categories include resource depletion, energy consumption, global warming, discharge of hazardous chemical substances, and solid waste.   In the third means, the environmental aspects of 10 items are ranked in descending order of the numerical values, and points of 10 to 1 are given in order to the environmental aspects from the first rank to the tenth rank, The environmental impact assessment program according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the point is doubled when the category is discharge of hazardous chemical substances.   In the second means, the numerical value is calculated by multiplying the degree of influence of the environmental aspect calculated with reference to a preset characterization coefficient and the consumption or emission amount of the environmental aspect. The environmental impact assessment program according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: In the second means, when the category is emission of hazardous chemicals,
A first step of allocating the harmful chemical substances to ranks classified by intensity for each of the preset evaluation items;
A second step of allocating the harmful chemical substances into categories classified according to the degree of each of the evaluation items related to the concentration;
A third step of calculating the harmfulness of the hazardous chemical substance as a point from the usage amount of the hazardous chemical substance, using a calculation formula associated with the rank to which the hazardous chemical substance is distributed;
Using the fourth step of calculating a total point by multiplying the hazard point calculated in the third step by a weighting factor associated with the category to which the hazardous chemical substance is distributed. The environmental impact assessment program according to claim 9, wherein the program is calculated.   The preset evaluation items include any one of carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, sensitization, flammability, and explosiveness. The environmental impact assessment program according to claim 14.   15. The environmental impact evaluation program according to claim 14, wherein the preset evaluation items related to the concentration include any one of indegradability, accumulation, long-distance movement, and harmfulness.

Images