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BROAD-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Citation:
Curran*, M A. BROAD-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT. J. Schnoor (ed.), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 27(3):430-436, (1993).
Description:
Pollution prevention through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a departure from evaluating waste management options that look mainly at single issues such as recyclability or reduced toxicity. An LCA is a snapshot in time of inputs and outputs. It can be used as an objective technical tool to identify environmental impacts associated with a specific product (it can also be applied to processes and activities, but this article focuses on products) and evaluate opportunities to reduce these impacts. The LCA is a holistic approach that analyzes the entire system around a particular product. It encompasses extracting and processing raw materials; manufacturing: transportation and distribution; use, reuse, and maintenance: and recycling and waste management. It also factors in the downstream and upstream effects of product use. The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry defines LCA as looking holistically at the environt the cradle-to-grave life cycle of a process or product. The 3M Company defines its life cycle approach as looking at how waste can be reduced or eliminated starting with the point of generation in the manufacturing operation, to its processing, treatment or ultimate disposal as a residual hazardous waste. Pollution prevention can take place at any stage in a product life cycle, and changes at any stage can have positive or negative effects on waste generation at other stages. Government programs have typically focused on releases to a single medium (air, water, or land). Although designed to reduce releases to one environmental medium, these programs can increase releases to other media. For example, when air pollution control equipment is installed in hazardous waste incinerators, large quantities of hazardous wastewater may be generated from scrubbers. LCAs can assist in evaluating proposed changes to product or process designs so that trade-offs can be identified. For example, an apparent improvement to a product that decreases air pollutants but results in increased water-borne pollutants could be identified by an LCA. Any potentially offsetting effects of the water-borne pollutants could be accounted for in an overall environmental assessment of the product.