Brief about LCA, concept and various approaches

1. © Loughborough University, 2004
Life Cycle Assessment
A process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated
with a product by identifying and quantifying energy and
materials used and wastes released into the environment; to
assess the impact of those energy and material uses and
releases to the environment; and to identify and evaluate
opportunities to affect environmental improvements.
(SETAC, 1991)

2. © Loughborough University, 2004
What is LCA?
• Enables estimation of cumulative environmental impacts results from
all stages of the product life cycle
• A “cradle-to-grave” approach “for assessing the environmental
aspects and potential impacts associated with a product by;
– compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs of a system
– evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with
these inputs and outputs
– interpreting the results of the inventory and impact phases in
relation to the objectives of the study.” (ISO 14040)

3. © Loughborough University, 2004
Raw Materials
Materials Processing
Product Manufacture
Retail Outlets
Product Use and Service
Reuse - Recycling
Disposal
Materials
Energy
Transport
Water Effluents
Air Emissions
Solid Wastes
Other Releases
Usable Products
Areas covered by LCA

4. T-shirt example (cotton)
• Growing
• Harvesting
• Spinning
• Weaving/knitting
• Bleaching, dyeing, washing
and treatment
• Cutting and sewing
• Use - reuse
• Disposal - recycling
Use and maintenance
Disposal/end of life
Processing of
materials
Production
Extraction of
materials

5. © Loughborough University, 2004
Objectives of LCA
• To provide a complete a picture as possible of the
interactions of an activity with the environment.
• To contribute to the understanding of the overall and
interdependent nature of the environmental
consequences of human activities.
• To provide decision makers with information which
defines the environmental effects of these activities and
identifies opportunities for environmental improvements

6. © Loughborough University, 2004
LCAApplications
External uses:
• Marketing or support for specific environmental
claims.
• Labelling.
• Public education and communication.
• Policy making.
• Supporting the establishment of purchasing
procedures

7. © Loughborough University, 2004
LCAApplications
Internal uses:
• Strategic planning.
• Product & process design, improvements &
optimisation.
• Identifying environmental improvement opportunities.
• Support the establishment of purchasing procedures or
specifications.
• Environmental auditing & waste minimisation

8. © Loughborough University, 2004
assembly
poly-
aluminium
extrusion
+ transport
disposal in
municipal
waste
disposal of
in org. waste
use
paper
duction
filter pro-
sheet steel
stamping
forming
glass
forming
filters + coffee
coffee
roasting
packaging
water
injection
moulding
bean styrene
electricity
Simplified Process Tree for a Coffee
Machine

9. © Loughborough University, 2004
assembly
poly-
aluminium
extrusion
+ transport
disposal in
municipal
waste
disposal of
in org. waste
use
paper
duction
filter pro-
sheet steel
stamping
forming
glass
forming
filters + coffee
coffee
roasting
packaging
water
injection
moulding
bean styrene
electricity
Process Tree:Amounts & Assumptions
7.3 kg 1 kg 0.1 kg 0.3 kg 0.4 kg
White boxes are not
included in the inventory
375 kWh

10. © Loughborough University, 2004
Resource
depletion
Green house
effect
Depletion of
ozone layer
• Source: Use of copper, zinc, oil etc.
• Effect: Reduction of possibilities for future generations
• Source: Combustion (transport, energy etc.)
• Effect: Increase in temperature, desert formation etc.
• Source: CFC and HCFC from foam and coolants
• Effect: UV radiation, skin cancer etc.
Global Impact Categories

11. © Loughborough University, 2004
Regional Impact Categories
Persistent
toxicity
Acidification
Ozone formation
Eutrofication
• Source: Transport, energy, industry (Hydrocarbons etc.)
• Effect: Ozone formation (Damage of lung tissue etc. )
• Source: Transport, energy, agriculture
• Effect: Damage to woodlands, lakes and buildings (SOx, NOx, NH3 )
• Source: Fertilisers, waste water, transport and energy
• Effect: Eutrophication (Damage to plants and fish)
• Source: Waste water, incineration, industry, ships etc.
• Effect: Accumulation: Chronic damage to ecosystems and organisms

12. © Loughborough University, 2004
• The paper bag causes more winter smog and acidification, but
scores better on the other environmental effects.
• The classification does not reveal which is the better bag. What is
missing is the mutual weighting of the effects.
Classification / Characterisation
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
greenhouse
effect
ozone layer
depletion
acidification
eutrophication
heavy metals carcinogens winter smog
summer smog
pesticides
Paper bag
LDPE bag
Plastic versus Paper Bag

13. © Loughborough University, 2004
Source: Electrolux 1998
• Calculated environmental impacts across the products life
cycle
• identifies and quantifies energy & materials used,
waste emissions, etc
• identifies improvement potentials

14. © Loughborough University, 2004
LCA of washing machines
98%
2%
Water Consumption
5%
87%
1%
7%
Solid Waste
96%
1%
4%
Water Pollution
98%
2%
Air Pollution
96%
4%
Energy
Disposal
Use
Distribution
Production

15. © Loughborough University, 2004
LCA of Bang & Olufsen TV
• Extraction, processing,
and production of raw
materials.
• Manufacturing:
processes at Bang &
Olufsen &
subcontractors.
• Use: amount of
electricity used
• Disposal
Lifespan 10 yrs
Use 6 hrs day
Standby 18 hrs
day