The Need to Understand Environmental Impacts Is Driving Increased Interest in Life Cycle Assessments

Summary

Although life cycle assessments (LCAs) initially focused on manufactured products, project managers across all disciplines are being increasingly asked about LCAs for products, projects and services. These requests are driven by sustainability objectives, net zero goals or circular economy interests with an underlying goal of understanding the environmental impact of the project, product or service over its life cycle. The results of an LCA can influence product or service purchasing decisions, production operations or project funding decisions. Accordingly, it is important that environmental, health and safety (EHS) project managers understand the various types of LCAs and how they are conducted.

This article appears in the September issue of EM Magazine, a copyrighted publication of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA; www.awma.org).