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156 • Green Project Management

taBle 9.2
Promoting Use of LCA
Application Requirement on Methodology
Decision making, choice between Reflection of consequences of
alternative actions/products contemplated actions
Market communication, e.g., Creditability and review process require
environmental product declaration high transparency
Product development and purchasing Results presented with high level of
(little time on competence of user results) aggregation
Decisions on national level, e.g., on waste Data representing national averages
treatment strategies
Identification of improvement possibilities, Site-specific data
own product
Note: From H. Baumann and A.-M. Tillman, The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to LCA: An Orientation in the
Life Cycle Assessment Methodology and Application (Lund, Sweden: Studentlitteratur AB, 2004).
With permission.

Material extraction Material processing Manufacturing Use Waste management

Recycle Re-manufacturing Re-use

Figure 9.3
Environmental impacts.

the liFe CyCle oF the ProduCt oF your ProjeCt

The product of your project will have different impacts on the environ-
ment during different stages of its life. Consider Figure 9.3. The products
of some projects will use materials that will have adverse environmental
effects when extracted or processed, but when the product is deployed, it
may have relatively little effect in its use and may be very easy to recycle
or reuse. Aluminum products are an example of this scenario. However, a
printer or product powered by disposable batteries will create the bulk of
its environmental impact while it is being used by the customer because of
its “consumables” (cartridges or batteries).
Let’s take the example of a washing machine: