What is ISO 14071?

ISO 14071 is the international standard for critical review processes and reviewer competencies in life cycle assessment (LCA). It provides additional requirements and guidance to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, specifying how to conduct a critical review of any type of LCA study and the competencies required for the review.

The ISO 14071 standard offers organizations detailed guidance on implementing effective critical review processes for LCA studies, ensuring consistency, transparency, efficiency, and credibility.

Conformity with ISO 14071 means that an organization has implemented a robust critical review process for its LCA studies, enhancing the quality and reliability of its environmental management practices.

Why is ISO 14071 important?

With the increasing use of LCA and its applications in areas such as carbon footprinting and environmental labelling, it's crucial to have a standardized approach to critical review processes. ISO 14071 helps organizations ensure the robustness and credibility of their LCA studies, which is particularly important for comparative assertions intended to be disclosed to the public.

ISO 14071 promotes a comprehensive approach to critical review: detailing the review process, specifying reviewer competencies, and emphasizing content over form. A critical review process implemented according to this standard is a tool for quality assurance, credibility enhancement, and stakeholder acceptance of LCA studies.

Benefits

• Enhanced credibility of LCA studies
• Improved consistency in critical review processes
• Increased transparency of LCA results
• Quality assurance for LCA practitioners and commissioners
• Adaptability to various LCA-based standards and applications

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