Addressing Environmental Problems with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Addressing Environmental Problems with Life Cycle

Assessment(LCA)

Victorino Lima Costa

Outline•What is Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)?•Product Life Cycle•LCA’s phases•Importance of LCA•Environmental Problems •Cradle to Grave•Example: Plastic Bags & LCA•Refutation & Contra Refutation

What is Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)?

Curran explains that:

“ Life Cycle Assessment is a tool that is

used to determine and evaluate the

environmental loadings and the impacts of

a particular product or process…”

(as cited in Crawford, 2011, p. 38)

Product Life Cycle

•Product life cycle is the entire life of a product from its research and development until its final disposal: “cradle to grave”

•It includes: -All Inputs - All Outputs

Product Life Cycle

(Crawford, 2011, 39)

LCA’s Composition

Any LCA has basically 4 phasesISO:14040-44, (2006)

LCA’s Phases

The function of LCA is to assess all phases of a Product Life Cycle in order to improve its relation with the environment.

1-Goal and Scope Definition

2- Inventory analysis (LCI)

3- Impact Assessment (LCIA)

4- Interpretation

•LCA is used to manage the use of energy of a product life cycle

•Assesses the inputs and outputs of a product life cycle

•Assesses and quantify the wastes of a product life cycle

•Addresses water, soil, and air pollution •Reduces impacts on the environment

Why is LCA so important?

Environmental Problems

•Global Warming•Climate Changes•Melting of Glaciers•Water, Soil, and Air Pollution

Environmental ProblemsAddressing them using LCA technique…First: What is the origin of these Problems?

Some Causes…

•Extraction of Natural Resources•Burning of fossil fuels•GHG emissions*•Manufacturing Processes*•Wasteful of Production*

“Cradle to Grave-6” and“Cradle to Gate-4” LCA consider•Supplies and suppliers•Transportation •Manufacturing•Packaging•Use •Disposal

LCA of Plastic Bags-Case study

Research by Environmental Agency in UK, 2011.7 types of Carrying bags:•Conventional lightweight bag•With prodegradant additive•Biodegradable•Paper bags•Bag for life•Heavier more durable bag•Cotton bag

Plastic Bags-Case study

Results:Main impacts are based in 2 main factors:1-Resource2- ProductionThree minimal impacts1- Transportation2-Secndary packaging3- End-life processing

Plastic Bags-Case studyResults:Short-term:Plastic Groceries bags have the lowest impact

Long-term:Biodegradable bags have less impact

Refutation•LCA is not a very specific approach- it is

complex•LCA does not include Economic and Social

aspects •Only small improvements can be achieved

Contra Refutation•LCA studies the whole product technical and

potential changes •Measures not only impact on the environment,

but also people’s relation to such an impact.

Conclusion

•LCA to address environmental problems to minimize the impacts of human activities on the environment.

•It is proved that many of the global issues faced today are due to human activity.

• Being the main culprit of climate changes and other environmental issues, it is man`s obligation to try to solve this problem.

References• Crawford, R. (2011). 1-Global Environmental Issues and

the built environment. Life cycle assessment in the built environment (1-22). London: Spon Press. 

• Crawford, R. (2011). 3-Life Cycle Assessment. Life cycle assessment in the built environment(38-71). London: Spon Press.

• Gore, A. (Director). (2006). An inconvenient truth  [Documentary]. United States: Paramount.

• Ross, S., & Evans, D. (2002). The use of life cycle assessment in environmental management. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 7(3), 190-190.

• Ruban, A. (2012). Life Cycle Assessment of Plastic Bag Production.