Page 174 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Chapter 12

Prospects for life cycle assessment development and
practice in the quest for sustainable consumption

Ralph E Horne, Tim Grant and Karli L Verghese

Life cycle assessment (LCA) as a technique has been developed rapidly over the last four decades
from its origins in energy accounting to international standards, global software tools and
standard inventory protocols. Previous chapters have described salient aspects of this develop-
ment, and charted applications in different case studies. Awareness of LCA is rising. While
some users have found problems in application, such as time, resource and data difficulties,
the experience and outcome is often revealing.
Inevitably, LCA development to 2020 will involve refining existing approaches and devising
new applications. The need for LCA will be shaped by different events and different stakehold-
ers, and its use and spread will be shaped by the resulting demands. In this regard, a technique
is similar to a technology – it is only useful in so far as it is applied to a relevant problem, and
its use is a function of the ingenuity and appropriateness with which it is applied.
Contemplating the next decade of LCA involves considering the dynamic processes in the
human and natural environments that may drive the need for assessment of environmental
burdens. In other words, what is the bigger picture within which LCA may take place and is
LCA effective? This is discussed in Section 12.1. The next question is, given the ways in which
LCA is used, how is this use likely to develop? This is addressed in Section 12.2 in the context
of uptake across three sections of the economy: design and manufacturing, business manage-
ment and policy making. In Section 12.3, the question posed is: What are the likely future
limits of LCA? Trends are outlined and eight key themes are identified in the future of LCA
practice. In Section 12.4 the problem of sustainable consumption is singled out and the extent
to which LCA can contribute to its realisation in any meaningful way is questioned. Finally, in
Section 12.5 there is a synthesis and conclusion with a vision for a matured, integrated LCA
community of practice, with appropriate influence on decision-making towards environmen-
tally sustainable outcomes.

12.1 Making sense of the ‘problem-solution’: dynamics and
variables galore
Let us start by considering whether LCA ‘works’ – in the tradition of the ‘straw man’. The appli-
cation of LCA hasn’t led to lowering of the eco-footprint or environmental impact of human
activities; on the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence that impacts are accelerating. In
Australia, existing towns and cities are spreading to accommodate a growing population and
statistics suggest that Australia’s population will increase to 28 million people by 2050, with
continued urbanisation along coasts and around existing (already ecologically stressed) urban

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