Page 31 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

12 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT HANDBOOK

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) relies heavily on both data and software.
Reliable data is the driving force behind LCA as large amounts of process
and production data are needed. The chapter by Curran on sourcing inven-
tory data discusses historical and current practices in sourcing LCI data and
proposes futuristic approaches for reporting process inventory data, including
manufacturer self-reporting, using open-source models. Ciroth explores cur-
rently available LCA software and highlights the current status and trends for
LCA software into the future.

1.9.2 LCA Applications

Through a range of case studies, authors explore how typical methodological
issues have been treated and managed in various example applications. Of
growing interest is how to model bio-based systems. In "Modeling the Agri-
Food Industry with LCA" Notarnicola, Tassielli, and Renzulli emphasize the
need for a harmonized framework for conducting food-related LCAs and for
collecting and reporting data for agri-food chains in both agricultural and
industrial applications.
Landers, Urban and Bakshi note many engineering analyses undervalue or
completely ignore the ecosystem goods and services that are essential to all
human activities, such as fresh water, soil, carbon and nitrogen cycles, and
pollination, and propose a framework that more accurately accounts for them.
They present a case study that compares different ecosystem services using
exergy and emergy analysis and highlight the importance of "Accounting for
Ecosystem Goods and Services in LCA and Process Design."
In exploring how Fortune 100 companies can better manage the supply
chain and improve a product manufacturer's sustainability metrics, Weisbrod
and Loftus of Procter and Gamble present "A Case Study of the Practice of
Sustainable Supply Chain Management." P&G's sustainable supply chain
management program, through collaboration with supply chain partners,
enabled the company to link environmental sustainability and social responsi-
bility with business operations and values.
Two chapters look closely at specific aspects of materials management
throughout the life cycle. Weitz discusses "End of Life Materials Management"
and how taking a life-cycle perspective encourages waste planners to consider
the environmental aspects of the entire system including activities that occur
outside of the traditional activities of waste disposal. Similarly, but at the other
end of the life cycle, environmental impacts of the mining and minerals pro-
cessing sectors are often inadequately reflected in LCAs. In "Application of
LCA in Mining and Minerals Processing" Stewart, Holt and Rouwette describe
how LCA is being used in the mining and minerals sector and indicate where
LCA needs to be refined to meet the needs of the industry.
Other areas of LCA application are provided in chapters on forest prod-
ucts by Bolin; building systems by Todd; product innovation by daSilva;
food waste and packaging by Hanssen, Moller, Svanes and Schakenda; and
sustainable chemistry & engineering by Hunter, Helling, and Shiang.