Streamlined LCA © Colin Fitzpatrick

Streamlining the LCA Process Full LCA is only practical with no limitations to time, expense, data availability etc… In practice consists of many compromises Although very extensive LCA’s have been conducted a complete quantitative LCA has never been accomplished nor is it ever likely to be Design stage is best time to do LCA but very little data available at this point

The LCA Continuum Fully Comprehensive LCA Ecoscreening Currently Accessible Region Extensive LCA Streamlined LCA LCA Scoping

Streamlining the LCA Process Screen the product with an inviolates list Limit or eliminate life-cycle stages Include only selected environmental impacts Include only selected inventory parameters Limit consideration to major constituents Limit or eliminate impact analysis Use surrogate data Use qualitative rather than quantitative data Eliminate interpretations or recommendations

The SLCA Matrix Number of approaches developed adopting a matrix approach in which several life stages are evaluated for their potential impacts on a number of environmentally related concerns Any SLCA process should allow for – Direct comparisons between rated products – Useable and consistent across different assessment teams – Encompass all stages of product life cycle – Address all relevant environmental concerns – Simple enough to permit relatively quick and inexpensive assessments

The SLCA Matrix Developed in 1993 at AT&T

The SLCA Matrix Values may be – Binary 1 = problem 0 = no problem – Ordinal 1-10 severity ranking 1-4 severity ranking Assessor is providing a figure of merit to represent the estimated result from a more formal LCA Should be guided by experience, design & manufacturing survey, appropriate checklists & other available info

The SLCA Matrix Once an evaluation has been made for each matrix element the overall Environmentally Responsible Product Rating (RERP) is computed as the sum of the matrix element values Process is qualitative but does provide a numerical end point against which to measure improvement

Target Plots

The SLCA Matrix Assignment of integer ratings may seem subjective, experiments at AT&T have been performed in which comparative assessments of products are made by several different industrial and environmental engineers. Overall product ratings differ by no more that 15%

SLCA Assets More efficient & less costly (days vrs months) Useable at the early stage of design when opportunities for change are greater Evaluate design attributes which are inherently qualitative such as ease of disassembly

SLCA Liabilities Little or no ability to track overall material flows Little ability to compare completely dissimilar approaches to fulfilling a need Little ability to track improvements over time

Commercial LCA Tool for Electronics EIME ( Two distinct interfaces which allow different users tailored access

Which is the most environmentally friendly?? What are the critical issues and data gaps?

Further Reading Papers on Website. Graedel & Allenby, Chapter 17.