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Life Cycle Assessment

Overview of LCA and Methodology October 30, 2012. Life Cycle Assessment. Life Cycle of Products. 2. Life Cycle Assessment Phases. Goal and Scope Definition. Goal defines the intended application, audience, and reasons for LCA

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Life Cycle Assessment

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  1. Overview of LCA and Methodology October 30, 2012 Life Cycle Assessment

  2. Life Cycle of Products 2

  3. Life Cycle Assessment Phases

  4. Goal and Scope Definition Goal defines the intended application, audience, and reasons for LCA Scope defines the product system, product functions, and functional unit Scope defines other LCA parameters 4

  5. Life Cycle Thinking… seeks to identify possible improvements to goods and services in the form of lower environmental impacts and reduced use of resources across all life cycle stages Goal:avoid burden shifting when optimizing a product in one particular area of the life-cycle. What is better from a life-cycle perspective? Confidential

  6. Scope of LCA Analysis Boundary extraction manufacture distribution use disposal Source: Story of stuff, 2009 Cradle-to-Grave - full LCA from resource extraction through product use and final disposal. Other common scopes include: Cradle-to- Gate and Cradle-to-Cradle

  7. Carbon-Based Analysis Carbon Footprint… is a subset of an LCA focused solely on the Green House Gas emissions associated with a company, person, activity, or product. Value:energy consumption is a simple and valuable way to quickly assess comparable impacts of our decisions Confidential

  8. Sustainability Toolbox Sustainability Standards Product Category Rules 8

  9. NSF Standard Development Structure • Same accredited consensus process of development (as in performance standards) • Managed by NSF Standards Department Staff; experience in developing national water and sustainability standards • Leverage existing technology expertise within the current Water Joint Committees • Include involvement of representatives having knowledge and expertise in product sustainability • Ensure regular follow-up with industry at large throughout development • Awareness around content and structure of standards to enable preparation for those seeking compliance • Broad input into the content and structure 9

  10. Sustainability Assessment Standards Aggregation of single attribute criteria to assess product on a life cycle basis Product Design and Materials Selection Water Use and Conservation Energy and Atmosphere Human and Ecological Health Social Responsibility Disposal and End of Life

  11. Product Design Strategies • De-materialize – accomplish the same function using less resources • Close the materials loop – reuse and recycling materials prevents impacts incurred upstream • Design with benign materials – replacing potentially hazardous materials has become cost of entry • Use sustainable materials – materials derived from sustainable sources reduce environmental concerns Confidential

  12. Example Criteria: Energy and Energy Efficiency • Inventory of electrical and thermal energy • Manufacturer use of renewable energy and energy reduction • Supplier use of renewable energy • Green house gas emissions inventory 12

  13. Potential for Tiered Performance • Common template of “credits” earned toward a minimum threshold of performance. • Level 1/Conformant • Level 2/Silver • Level 3/Gold • Level 4/Platinum 13

  14. What are Product Category Rules? A set of specific rules, requirements, and guidelines for developing Type III environmental declarations for one or more product categories (ISO 14025). The PCR defines the product attributes and life cycle assessment criteria that must be reported for the Type III environmental declaration. Can be applied to Business to Business or Business to Consumer products.

  15. PCR Defines LCA Analysis LCA inventory analysis: • Data collection and calculation • Allocation of material and energy flows and releases • Impact category selection • Parameters for reporting LCA data • Materials and substances to be declared in EPD • Other environmental data not addressed by LCA

  16. Example: Draft Flooring PCR General Information Product Definition Product Characteristics Material Content Production Methods and Processes Delivery and Installation Use Stage End of Life Stage Life Cycle Assessment Additional Information, Evidence, and Test Results 16

  17. Environmental Product Declarations Equal comparisons using standardized LCA data based on the PCR for that product type (e.g., office chairs)

  18. Example of EPD 18

  19. Comparison of EPDs to Sustainable Product Certifications Environmental Product Declaration: Sustainable Product Certification: Triple bottom line Multi-attribute, life cycle-based Defines sustainability metrics and levels of achievement Ranks products on sustainable performance Certification with tiered ranking • Environmental data focus • Life cycle assessment required • PCR provides framework of data reporting for a life cycle assessment • Summarizes environmental impacts • Independently verified Technical Report

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