It is proved that many of the global issues faced today are due to human beings activities. Being the main culprit of climate changes and other environmental issues, it is man`s obligation to try to solve this problem. Life Cycle Assessment is a recent technique used to address some environmental problems.

1. Addressing Environmental Problems
with Life Cycle Assessment(LCA)
Victorino Lima Costa

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. Product Life Cycle
(Crawford, 2011, 39)

6. LCA’s Composition
Any LCA has
basically 4
phases
ISO:14040-44,
(2006)

7. 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

8. • 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?

9. Environmental Problems
• Global Warming
• Climate Changes
• Melting of Glaciers
• Water, Soil, and Air Pollution

10. Environmental Problems
Addressing 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*

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

12. 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

13. Plastic Bags-Case study
Results:
Main impacts are based in 2 main factors:
1-Resource
2- Production
Three minimal impacts
1- Transportation
2-Secndary packaging
3- End-life processing

14. Plastic Bags-Case study
Results:
Short-term:
Plastic Groceries bags have the lowest impact
Long-term:
Biodegradable bags have less impact

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.