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Harmonization of LCA Methodologies for Metals

From 2012-2014, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) led an initial industry wide initiative to produce a guidance document and FAQ with harmonized Life Cycle Assessment methodologies within the metals and minerals industry.

Most recently between 2023-2025, ICMM has led the initiative to update and enhance this document, which is now available in the peer-reviewed Int. Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (IJLCA).* The new Guidance document includes updated coproduct allocation rules and adds harmonized carbon footprinting approaches for the metals and minerals industry, amongst other items. IMOA was an active contributor to both the 2014 document and this latest Guidance document.  Consequently IMOA’s 2024 LCI datasets and carbon footprint values are calculated in accordance with the updated Guidance. The currently available IMOA 2024 Summary Report for Molybdenum for Metallurgical Applications describes the methodologies used for the IMOA LCIs which take into account this most recent ICMM best practice approach.

*March 2026:  Open Access IJLCA article, Vol 31, Article 28, free to download:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-026-02596-2