LCA/LCT Activity

  LCA/LCT Activity 1. Select a product. (draw your product on the right ¼ of the page)2. Sketch the primary inputs (the recipe- these should be nouns)3. Sketch the processes (the verbs- they should go in between the primary recipe ingredients and the main product).4. Sketch the secondary inputs, both nouns and verbs (recipe to make the primary inputs)5. Sketch the tertiary inputs … etc.6. Identify where energy or transportation is required. Add to the diagram7. Identify where emissions or environmental impacts (not just global warming) might occur. Add emissions to the diagram. 8. Is anything missing? (labor, end of life?)9. Add end of life (aka disposal) to the diagram.10. LCA is about quantifying environmental impacts and energy consumption. Where can we find such data?Look up 10 data points and write it on your figure. (cite sources in an accompanying word document.)11. Identify ‘hotspots’ aka where do you think there might be significant environmental impacts? (Circle areas, 3 sources and why). 12. Identify products and processes that might be expensive and explain why (2 sources).  13. SWAP diagrams with a neighboring group- update the other person’s figure using a pencil with anything that you think is missing. SWAP BACK. LCA Definition:Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool that quantifies the environmental impact including materials, energy and emissions from raw materials extraction to end of life. Why do an LCA:Comparative or Improvement How do you do an LCA:Standardized by ISO 14040 series (they define 4 steps)1. Scoping: Goal and Scope Definition Defining your system & its boundaries2. Inventory Analysis (LCI) Quantifying material and energy flows throughout the system- sort of like a mass balance3. Impact Assessment (LCIA) Normalizing inventory data into meaningful impacts within the world (or your system)4. Improvement and Interpretation Analysis Draw conclusions, make recommendations, improve upon product or process in your LCA Companies’ reporting of LCA results are also defined by ISO 14000 series: EPD = Environmental Product Declaration