LCAs

• Uses of Life Cycle Assessments

  • To assess environmental impact of product
• 4 processes of Life Cycle Assessments :

  1. Extracting and processing raw materials
  2. Manufacturing and packaging
  3. Use and operation during its lifetime
  4. Disposal at the end of its lifetime e.g transport, distribution
• What can be easily quantified?

  • Water
  • Resources
  • Energy resources
  • Production of some wastes
• Problem with pollutant effects 


  • Allocating numerical values to pollutant effects is less straightforward
  • Requires value judgements
  • Not purely objective
• Bias surrounding LCAs


  • misused to reach pre-determined conclusions e.g in support of claims for advertising purposes
• Raw materials : Plastic bags from Paper v Plastic bags

  Plastic

  • crude oil is finite

  Wood

  • renewable resource
  • may involve deforestation so reduces biodiversity
• Manufacturing : Paper v Plastic

  Wood / Paper

  • Heavier to transport so have high energy requirement
  • more energy intensive

  Plastic and wood

  • both require energy which may be derived from finite fuels
  • packaging requirements are similar
• Usage of plastic and paper 


  • Single use (neither an advantage)
• Disposal of Paper and Plastic

  Advantage : Paper

  • biodegradable so will decompose, not remain in landfill

  Plastic

  • will not decompose so remain in landfill

  Both

  • litter and visual pollution