WEBVTT 00:00.730 --> 00:02.410 Sustainability. 00:02.890 --> 00:06.790 Today, this word is used in almost all areas of life. 00:07.650 --> 00:09.210 But what does it actually mean? 00:09.750 --> 00:14.210 Sustainability describes both a normative vision of life and a 00:14.210 --> 00:15.590 practical concept of action. 00:16.770 --> 00:19.590 The core idea of sustainability can be summarized in the following 00:19.590 --> 00:20.570 way. 00:20.850 --> 00:24.890 Today, we are not allowed to live at the expense of tomorrow, in 00:24.890 --> 00:28.270 social, economic and ecological terms. 00:30.730 --> 00:34.470 The scientific assessment of sustainability is an area in which 00:34.470 --> 00:37.110 sustainability as an action concept becomes effective. 00:38.470 --> 00:42.270 Environmental and sustainability assessments are of central importance 00:42.270 --> 00:46.990 for the comparability, reliability and comprehensibility of decisions. 00:47.750 --> 00:54.350 An important method is eco-balance or life cycle analysis, in English 00:54.350 --> 00:57.730 life cycle assessment, which is called LCA for short. 00:57.730 --> 01:03.410 It has to meet the criteria of objectivity, reliability and validity, 01:04.070 --> 01:06.030 and is often applied in a comparative way. 01:07.330 --> 01:11.430 Because to know what environmental effects an e-car has without being 01:11.430 --> 01:15.910 able to compare it with an alternative is not yet an evidence-based 01:15.910 --> 01:16.910 decision -making tool. 01:17.530 --> 01:20.010 The justified differentiability is missing. 01:21.110 --> 01:25.370 An LCA is the scientific method for ecological assessment. 01:25.370 --> 01:29.970 It can be extended to the social and economic dimension of 01:29.970 --> 01:29.970 sustainability. 01:31.850 --> 01:35.210 To ensure that LCAs are carried out globally in a comparable way, 01:35.830 --> 01:39.030 there is the ISO 14000 environmental norm series. 01:39.770 --> 01:43.730 The steps of eco-balance and environmental management are defined in 01:43.730 --> 01:43.730 it. 01:44.730 --> 01:46.690 LCAs are divided into four phases. 01:48.130 --> 01:51.030 First, the target and examination framework are defined. 01:51.030 --> 01:55.210 Only if the assumptions made in the first phase are identical, 01:56.230 --> 01:58.070 comparable LCAs can be created. 01:59.010 --> 02:02.870 The examination framework decides what is part of the assessment and 02:02.870 --> 02:03.930 what is not taken into account. 02:04.830 --> 02:08.970 The second phase is the factual assessment, where comprehensive data 02:08.970 --> 02:11.990 on materials and energy flows are collected and documented. 02:12.710 --> 02:18.250 In the third phase of the effect assessment, certain effect categories 02:18.250 --> 02:18.910 are assigned. 02:18.910 --> 02:23.310 As a result, the effects on the environment become predictable and 02:23.310 --> 02:24.350 thus tangible. 02:25.610 --> 02:32.610 Based on the results and the goals set beforehand, conclusions and 02:32.610 --> 02:33.710 recommendations can be drawn in the fourth phase. 02:35.950 --> 02:39.490 An LCA only looks at ecological aspects. 02:40.450 --> 02:43.910 The multidimensional sustainability assessment, Life Cycle 02:43.910 --> 02:47.630 Sustainability Assessment, on the other hand, combines ecological, 02:48.090 --> 02:50.290 social and economic aspects. 02:50.810 --> 02:54.450 However, these sustainability assessments have methodical limits. 02:55.530 --> 03:00.010 By defining target and examination framework, results are made 03:00.010 --> 03:01.910 possible, but also limited. 03:02.290 --> 03:06.810 Their transferability and thus their statement power are thus impaired 03:06.810 --> 03:08.630 or relative. 03:09.330 --> 03:13.910 In addition, the required amount of data and quality for a factual 03:13.910 --> 03:14.830 assessment is enormous. 03:14.830 --> 03:18.430 This can lead to high time and financial costs. 03:19.910 --> 03:24.230 Nevertheless, the sustainability assessment is a reliable tool to 03:24.230 --> 03:28.230 assess environmental effects of products, processes and organizations, 03:29.390 --> 03:31.290 classify and make them comparable. 03:33.050 --> 03:36.590 The environmental and sustainability assessment in companies is a 03:36.590 --> 03:39.890 central instrument of operational sustainability management. 03:40.890 --> 03:48.270 For you as engineers, it is important to know the added value of 03:48.270 --> 03:53.110 sustainability assessments in order to make good decisions for tomorrow.