Fuzzy multi-criteria-based impact category weighting in life cycle assessment

Multi-criteria analysis methods have wide applications in solving complex decision-making problems. Techniques for evaluating different types of criteria allow multi-criteria analysis to be applied in life cycle assessment methods. This paper presents a multi-criteria fuzzy logic methodology aimed to perform impact category weighting and sensitivity analysis within the life cycle assessment of products and processes. The proposed methodology for impact category weighting integrates the decision maker's subjective and the default impact category weighting factors using a fuzzy interference system. The fuzzy interference system allows the relevance of the subjective and default impact category weightings to be changed and provides a novel approach to modelling the weighting factors using fuzzy membership functions. A comparison example of the life cycle assessment of four waste treatment processes is presented in this paper. The results show that multi-criteria analysis techniques can be applied successfully to perform weighting and sensitivity analysis in life cycle assessment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.