Estimating environmental behaviour without performing an LCA

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool for assessing the environmental impact of products. However, its application in the early stages of product development is often hindered by the lack of detailed data and the time-consuming nature of the process. This article proposes a method for estimating the environmental behavior of a product without the need for a full LCA. The approach is based on the identification of key design parameters that have a significant influence on the environmental impact. By establishing relationships between these parameters and environmental indicators, designers can obtain quick feedback on the environmental performance of different design alternatives. The method is demonstrated through a case study, showing that it can provide reliable estimates that are consistent with the results of a full LCA. This allows for the integration of environmental considerations into the early design phase, where the potential for improvement is greatest.

Authors: Daniel Collado-Ruiz and Hesamedin Ostad-Ahmad-Ghorabi Journal: Journal of Industrial Ecology Year: 2013