A stage-wise approach for burden attribution in LCA of multifunctional systems

A stage-wise approach for burden attribution in LCA of multifunctional systems | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A stage-wise approach for burden attribution in LCA of multifunctional systems Jonathan Wheeler, Candelaria Colombres, Ada Robinson Medici, Fernando Daniel Mele, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9724753/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose The allocation of environmental burdens in multifunctional systems remains one of the most debated methodological challenges in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In most applications, allocation is implemented or reported using aggregated allocation rules, which can make burden propagation less explicit and reduce result transparency. This study proposes a generalizable stage-wise bookkeeping and reporting approach that attributes burdens locally at each transformation stage, enabling traceable burden propagation and system-wide reconciliation, while supporting transparent implementation and documentation of allocation choices made under ISO 14044. Methods The approach operates on a subdivided process model represented as discrete transformation stages (unit processes) linked by material and energy flows. For each stage, gate-to-gate impacts are calculated and normalized per unit reference flow, and stream burdens are propagated through the network and allocated at multifunctional nodes according to an explicit allocation profile. Single-rationale profiles yield footprints under that rationale, whereas mixed profiles are treated as hybrid attribution results for sensitivity analysis. Accounting closure is checked by reconciling the total system impact with the sum of product burdens. The approach is demonstrated through a sugarcane biorefinery producing sugar, ethanol, and electricity. Results and discussion Results show that the level of system disaggregation strongly affects the distribution of environmental burdens among co-products. The stage-wise approach enables transparent tracing of burdens through internal flows such as steam and electricity recycling, which are often neglected in conventional LCA models. Compared with global allocation methods, the proposed approach makes the allocation profile explicit and supports traceable burden propagation and system-wide reconciliation (accounting closure) between product-level results and total system impacts. This transparency also facilitates identification of stage-level hotspots and supports more robust sensitivity analyses of allocation factors. Conclusions The proposed approach supports the implementation of ISO-aligned operational modelling choices, offering a transparent, algebraic, and scalable approach for multifunctional systems. By integrating burden propagation and allocation at the stage level, it enhances the interpretability and reproducibility of LCA studies. Although illustrated through a sugarcane biorefinery, the procedure is broadly transferable and applicable to other complex systems such as energy networks, food processing, and chemical production chains. Recommendations and perspectives The procedure is well suited to studies requiring stage-level transparency, especially when a process has shared utilities or recycled streams. The stage-wise representation can be embedded in process-systems analyses (e.g., optimization), and future work should extend it to additional impact categories and dynamic or consequential LCA. Environmental Engineering Life Cycle Assessment multifunctionality allocation system subdivision process-level modeling Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files 20260513SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9724753","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":640870362,"identity":"96d2d9ec-d857-40c2-b7ce-409e2cf7ab53","order_by":0,"name":"Jonathan Wheeler","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Juan Crisóstomo Álvarez 722, AR T4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jonathan","middleName":"","lastName":"Wheeler","suffix":""},{"id":640870363,"identity":"8ce4cc3a-c172-44a7-ae10-e3500a93c82d","order_by":1,"name":"Candelaria Colombres","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos y Gestión Industrial, FACET, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Av. 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In most applications, allocation is implemented or reported using aggregated allocation rules, which can make burden propagation less explicit and reduce result transparency. This study proposes a generalizable stage-wise bookkeeping and reporting approach that attributes burdens locally at each transformation stage, enabling traceable burden propagation and system-wide reconciliation, while supporting transparent implementation and documentation of allocation choices made under ISO 14044.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eMethods\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe approach operates on a subdivided process model represented as discrete transformation stages (unit processes) linked by material and energy flows. For each stage, gate-to-gate impacts are calculated and normalized per unit reference flow, and stream burdens are propagated through the network and allocated at multifunctional nodes according to an explicit allocation profile. Single-rationale profiles yield footprints under that rationale, whereas mixed profiles are treated as hybrid attribution results for sensitivity analysis. Accounting closure is checked by reconciling the total system impact with the sum of product burdens. The approach is demonstrated through a sugarcane biorefinery producing sugar, ethanol, and electricity.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eResults and discussion\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eResults show that the level of system disaggregation strongly affects the distribution of environmental burdens among co-products. The stage-wise approach enables transparent tracing of burdens through internal flows such as steam and electricity recycling, which are often neglected in conventional LCA models. Compared with global allocation methods, the proposed approach makes the allocation profile explicit and supports traceable burden propagation and system-wide reconciliation (accounting closure) between product-level results and total system impacts. This transparency also facilitates identification of stage-level hotspots and supports more robust sensitivity analyses of allocation factors.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eConclusions\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe proposed approach supports the implementation of ISO-aligned operational modelling choices, offering a transparent, algebraic, and scalable approach for multifunctional systems. By integrating burden propagation and allocation at the stage level, it enhances the interpretability and reproducibility of LCA studies. Although illustrated through a sugarcane biorefinery, the procedure is broadly transferable and applicable to other complex systems such as energy networks, food processing, and chemical production chains.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRecommendations and perspectives\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe procedure is well suited to studies requiring stage-level transparency, especially when a process has shared utilities or recycled streams. 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