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InLCA-LCM 2004
Conference discussion board
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Rita Schenck
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 5
Affiliation: American Center for Life Cycle Assessment
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 Post subject: Life Cycle Assessment as a tool Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 9:26 pm |
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I am a bit surprized at the comments in this paper suggesting that measurement of impacts was not important or perhaps not possible. For example, if one has a goal of recycling all materials, but that causes (as it must) significant air pollution from transport, is this a good goal?
The value of life cycle assessment is that it allows one to see the outcomes of decisons before they are made. While it is true that we never have perfect data, and there are many things we do not understand well about how the environment operates, it is also true that we will have no goals that are not predicated on some understanding of the environment-- otherwise we would not care about the issue and have goals.
Perhaps better goals for the Navy would be to reduce greenhouse gases, air and water pollution from its activities, both on and off base. This would at least drive the goals towards an LCA perspective.
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Rita Schenck |
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vasicekpr
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 1
Affiliation: Art Anderson Associates
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| Post subject: Re: Life Cycle Assessment as a tool Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:02 pm |
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Rita,
I would say that your choice of an example - i.e. recycling can cause air pollution - is a good example of my paper's main thesis. Politics drives the military (in fact, most of the country) to recycle to the maximum extent possible, even though it may not be a good life-cycle decision or even a good business decision. This is a rule rather than an exception in life-cycle decision making. Most of the calculations I have seen, cloud the issues rather than refine a clear path. Additionally, mathematics forces us to ignore the less quantifiable variables, most of which are the most dterminant factors.
There is nothing wrong with using math to help determine some of the decision components. My contention is that these tools/numbers are only a small element in the overall construction of the goals package in a susatainbility managment system. The actual life cycle decisions then become an artifact of the systems decisions made per my rough flow chart.
I appreciate your comments. I was hoping to stir a little more discussion along these lines.
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Patrick R. Vasicek
Senior Project Manager
Art Anderson Associates
202 Pacific Ave.
Bremerton, WA 98337-1932
Phone: 360-479-5600 |
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Life Cycle Assessment as a tool