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LCA in Supply Chain Decision Making
Liila Woods, PE Americas
Christi Witt,* JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
Daniel Daggett, JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
Margaret Zahller, PE AmericasThis project creates a life cycle assessment (LCA) model to evaluate impacts along the JohnsonDiversey, Inc. (JDI) supply chain so informed manufacturing and shipping decisions can be made across the JDI that address the environmental impacts. The LCA model is designed to allow decision makers the ability to rapidly obtain and evaluate life cycle results on the effects of changes in transportation, distribution, factory efficiencies, packaging materials, and production volume. The model, created in GaBi 4.3, uses the i-report interactive report feature which allows non-LCA experts the ability to obtain life cycle results based on the LCA model.
The supply chain LCA model allows the user to specify the location of the production site, the production volume, and various parameters for transportation including transportation volume, distance, and mode. The transportation parameters included in the model are upstream transportation of raw materials and packaging materials to the production site and downstream transportation of the finished product. Based on the parameters input by the user, the i-report provides the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) results for each location selected and the environmental impact results of four impact categories (assessed using CML2001 impact methodology): global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and photochemical ozone creation potential.
JDI KPI data including electricity use, natural gas use, total water consumption, net water consumption, chemical oxygen demand generated, and waste generated were input into the model for each manufacturing facility. Data for 2007 were used in this first version of the project but the model facilitates easy adoption of new data as they become available (annually or more frequently if available). Separate models were created for 29 of JDI’s production facilities in 22 different countries to assess the regional differences in fuels, energies, and transportation. The LCA results are displayed in an interactive report which updates tables and figures as inputs are modified or changed. The entire report can be saved or exported for future viewing.
JDI intends to use LCA results to ensure that product supply decisions have been evaluated for environmental impact. Results from the model will be used to support green house gas measurement and to facilitate continuous environmental improvement of JDI’s supply chain operations.
* corresponding author: christi.witt@johnsondiversey.com