© 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)

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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)

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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

T-shirt example (cotton)

• Growing• Harvesting• Spinning• Weaving/knitting• Bleaching, dyeing, washing

and treatment• Cutting and sewing• Use - reuse• Disposal - recycling

Use and maintenanceDisposal/end of life

Processing of materials

Production

Extraction of materials

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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

© Loughborough University, 2004

LCA Applications

External uses:• Marketing or support for specific environmental

claims.• Labelling.• Public education and communication.• Policy making.• Supporting the establishment of purchasing

procedures

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LCA Applications

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

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assembly

poly- aluminium

extrusion

+ transport

disposal inmunicipalwaste

disposal of

in org. waste

use

paper

duction filter pro-

sheet steel

stampingforming

glass

forming

filters + coffee

coffee

roasting

packaging

water

injectionmoulding

bean styrene

electricity

Simplified Process Tree for a Coffee Machine

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assembly

poly- aluminium

extrusion

+ transport

disposal inmunicipalwaste

disposal of

in org. waste

use

paper

duction filter pro-

sheet steel

stampingforming

glass

forming

filters + coffee

coffee

roasting

packaging

water

injectionmoulding

bean styrene

electricity

Process Tree:Amounts & Assumptions7.3 kg 1 kg 0.1 kg 0.3 kg 0.4 kg

White boxes are not included in the inventory

375 kWh

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Resource depletion

Green houseeffect

Depletion ofozone 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

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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

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• 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%

greenhouseeffect

ozone layerdepletionacidification

eutrophicationheavy metals carcinogens winter smog

summer smog

pesticides

Paper bag

LDPE bag

Plastic versus Paper Bag

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Source: Electrolux 1998

• Calculated environmental impacts across the products life cycle• identifies and quantifies energy & materials used,

waste emissions, etc• identifies improvement potentials

© Loughborough University, 2004

LCA of washing machines

98%2%Water Consumption5%87%

1%

7%Solid Waste

96%

1%

4%Water Pollution

98%2%Air Pollution

96%4%Energy

DisposalUseDistributionProduction

© 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 yrsUse 6 hrs dayStandby 18 hrs day