Which of the following is a drawback of "single-scores" or "single-proxy" Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)?

Single-scores or single-proxy Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) condense complex environmental impact data into a single score or metric, making it simpler for decision-makers to interpret and compare products. However, this simplicity can lead to a lack of transparency regarding the underlying assumptions and methodologies used to arrive at that score. By prioritizing a single outcome, nuances and potential trade-offs across various environmental factors may be obscured, making it difficult for stakeholders to fully understand the implications of the assessment.

For example, while a single score might indicate that one product is more sustainable than another, it may not sufficiently address specific impacts such as carbon emissions, water usage, or human toxicity. Multiple-factor LCAs, on the other hand, provide a more detailed picture by evaluating and presenting various environmental indicators separately, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of a product's overall sustainability.