Caring for the environment is one of the main challenges that we have faced in recent years, which is why there are more and more actions aimed at mitigating or avoiding the negative effects that have been caused in this regard.
Thus, for organizations the scope of two fundamental objectives has been incorporated, the prevention and reduction of environmental impacts. However, to achieve these objectives, it is necessary, in the first place, to develop instruments that make it possible to know and quantify the impact on the environment of any product, process or activity. Thus, there are currently numerous methodologies that have been developed to assess the environmental impacts derived from human actions. Among these methodologies, the analysis of the life cycle of a product stands out. (Hortal, 2007)
The product life cycle is based on the fact that all products have a finite life, as it happens with living beings. In this way, the products are also born with their introduction to the market, they have a growth stage, a period of maturity, and finally, the decline that culminates with their exit from the market.
However, the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a product, service or activity, facilitates the evaluation of the environmental impact that each one generates on the environment throughout the life cycle process, that is, from obtaining the raw material, the transportation of said raw material, the production of the product, during its use and finally, when it is discarded. (Eured, sf)
Meanwhile, the use of the necessary materials, the energy used throughout the life of the product, the emissions generated, the waste that is created throughout the process, etc. must be identified and quantified. Being said identification and quantification, carried out in order to optimize the use of resources, reducing the impacts generated in the environment.
Definition
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is an objective process that allows evaluating the environmental loads associated with a product, process or activity, identifying and quantifying both the use of matter and energy, and emissions to the environment, to determine the impact of this use of resources and emissions generated, with the purpose of evaluating and putting into practice strategies for environmental improvement. (Rieznik & Hernández, 2005)
The LCA includes the complete cycle of the product, process or activity, taking into account the stages of extraction and processing of raw materials, production, transport and distribution, use, reuse and maintenance, recycling and final disposal. (Higher Institute of the Environment, nd)
Background
The first studies of ACV date back to the 60's, developing almost simultaneously, in the United States and Europe. These analyzes focused on calculating the energy consumption necessary for the production of intermediate and final chemical substances. Subsequently, after the oil crisis of the 1970s, a large number of more detailed studies were carried out on the optimal management of energy resources. Since, for these studies, the material balances of the process had to be taken into account, so it was necessary to include in them the consumption of raw materials and the generation of waste.
In 1993, within the scope of the International Standards Organization (ISO), the Technical Committee 207 (ISO / TC 207) was created with the aim of developing international regulations for environmental management. Within the latter, Subcommittee SC 5 developed standardization regarding life cycle analysis. Currently, the UNE-EN ISO 14040: 2006 standard, called environmental management: life cycle analysis, principles and frame of reference, includes the different stages of development of this methodology. (Sanz, 2014)
These stages basically go through a definition of the limits of the system under study and of the functional unit that serves as a reference base for the comparison between systems and to quantify the functional inputs and outputs thereof. Subsequently, once the data compilation and calculation procedures have been carried out to quantify the relevant inputs and outputs of the system, taking the functional unit as a reference, the evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with them and the interpretation of the results are carried out. of the inventory and of the stages of evaluation of the impact in relation to the objectives of the study.
The evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with the inputs and outputs identified in the inventory, provides information to better understand the environmental importance of these potential impacts generated. Subsequently, the interpretation, analysis and evaluation of the results of the previous phases, allows evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of each stage of the process and adopting environmental improvement strategies, involving new, more sustainable design, production and consumption modalities. (Rieznik & Hernández, 2005)
Today, life cycle analysis is a leading tool, both at the business and government level, to understand and manage the risks or opportunities that products entail throughout their life cycle.
One of the relevant applications of the LCA methodology has been in studies concerning the substitution of fossil fuels for biofuels to mitigate climate change and address issues related to the depletion of oil stocks. (Dufour, 2011)
Likewise, environmental management for sustainable development acquires a crucial importance in the current world scenario, to face the great environmental problems that affect the entire planet, such as the depletion of natural resources, global warming, pollution and biodiversity loss. Faced with these problems, society must adopt a coherent and holistic approach that integrates together with environmental, economic and social aspects.
In this context, a useful methodology that facilitates this necessary sustainable development is precisely the life cycle analysis (LCA), whose purpose is to analyze objectively, methodically, systematically and scientifically, the different potential environmental impacts, as a practical management tool. environmental, which requires computer support to facilitate data management and analysis of results. (Rieznik & Hernández, 2005)
Stages in the life of a product
Figure 1. Stages of life cycle analysis (Simón, 2016)
All activities or processes cause environmental impacts, involve consumption of resources, emit substances into the environment and generate other environmental modifications during their life span. Thus, the basic principle of the LCA tool is the identification and description of all stages of the product life cycle, from the extraction and pre-treatment of raw materials, the production, distribution and use of the final product to its possible reuse, recycling or disposal of the product. (Eco intelligence, 2013)
- Acquisition of raw materials. All activities necessary for the extraction of raw materials and energy contributions from the environment, including transportation prior to production.
The main environmental impacts in the stage of extraction of raw materials for the elaboration of a product are related to the energy consumption associated with this extraction process, the degradation and erosion of the land, the emissions of polluting gases, the emissions of greenhouse effect and soil or water pollutants. Other factors to take into account in the raw material extraction stage are their dangerousness and toxicity. (UNCUMA, sf)
- Process and manufacturing. Activities necessary to convert raw materials and energy into the desired product. In the manufacturing phase, the environmental impact is mainly due to the energy required to manufacture the product and the generation of waste associated with the manufacturing process.
The industry generates a large amount of waste, many of which are recoverable. The main problem lies in the fact that on many occasions it is not financially worth doing.
- Packaging, distribution and transport. After the stage of extraction of raw materials and manufacture of the product, packaging and / or packaging of the same is carried out for subsequent distribution. However, there is another "virtual" stage prior to all of them whose importance should not go unnoticed. This stage is the product design stage. For example, a reduced or low weight and volume package can lead to an optimization of the distribution of the product, since, for example, the number of products transported in the same truck can be increased with an improvement in the package.
This strategy of integrating environmental aspects into product design in order to improve its environmental performance throughout its life cycle, is called ecodesign. (UNCUMA, sf)
- Use, reuse and maintenance. Use of the finished product throughout its service life. The use and maintenance phase involves high energy consumption and associated resources, since this phase ranges from the electrical energy consumed by the product if required, to the transport of a repair or maintenance.
Thus, energy consumption represents one of the main environmental problems at a global level, since the main current energy sources are of non-renewable origin and are regularly associated with high emissions of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, the impact due to energy consumption is closely related to equipment efficiency: the more efficient, the less associated consumption. (UNCUMA, sf)
- Recycling
It begins once the product has served its initial function and consequently is recycled through the same product system (closed recycling cycle) or enters a new product system (open recycling cycle).
- Waste management. It begins once the product has served its function and is returned to the environment as waste.
The waste can be reused or recycled in order to obtain new products, energetically valued in order to turn it into a source of energy generation or eliminated. (UNCUMA, sf)
Benefits for organizational management
In the framework of international environmental management, different concepts have been developed that have originated in specific professional disciplines and that have evolved over the years in an independent way, with little communication between professionals from different disciplines. Among the current conceptual methods, five can be highlighted: life cycle, ecodesign, clean technology, industrial ecology and total environmental quality management. The mentioned concepts are methods to achieve a common objective: sustainable development.
As already mentioned, the main function of the LCA is to provide support to make decisions related to products or services; and more specifically, to know the possible related environmental consequences. (Romero, 2003)
Of course, different types of decisions require different decision tools. For example, selecting a suitable place to build a certain industrial plant is a decision based on environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies, while LCA is used for the design of eco-products.
Organizations consider it beneficial to know, in as much detail as possible, the effects, even if unintentional, that their products, services or activities could cause on the environment; especially, those that cause significant adverse environmental impacts, to attend to the legal, social and political responsibilities that they imply, in addition to the economic losses and the impact on their business image.
LCA is an environmental management tool that provides a solid basis for an organization's management to make appropriate technical decisions based on issues that might arise about launching a new product or modifying existing products, to make them more efficient in terms of their environmental performance, and that they also continue to perform the function for which they were programmed.
In the concept of environmental performance of the product, topics such as its design, manufacturing processes, means of transport, the type of energy needed at different stages of its life cycle, the recommendations for its use and the form are included. and the moment for its final disposal, if it is not recycled or reused before. (Romero, 2003)
To the extent that, through the application of the LCA, opportunities for improvement are identified and effectively implemented in the product, an increase in the environmental performance of that product will also have been achieved. Regarding the financial aspects, the LCA can be a useful aid to reduce costs as the new design and the new manufacturing, transportation, and distribution processes, among others, promote greater efficiency in the allocation and use of raw materials, supplies and energy. (Romero, 2003)
conclusion
LCA is a powerful environmental management tool that can be extremely useful to help decision-makers by those who are responsible for the destinations of companies, whether it is used alone or in conjunction with other tools such as risk assessment and environmental impact assessment.
The main function of LCA is to provide support to make decisions related to products or services; and more specifically, to know the possible environmental consequences related to the use of a product or the configuration and use of a service.
References
- Dufour, J. (July 11, 2011). Madrid. Energy and sustainability. Obtained from: https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2017/06/05/ser_madrid_oeste/1496682127_810340.html Eco intelligence. (February 04, 2013). Obtained from http://www.ecointeligencia.com/2013/02/analisis-ciclo-vida-acv/ Eured. (sf). Obtained from: https://www.ecured.cu/An%C3%A1isis_de_ciclo_de_vida Higher Institute of the Environment. (sf). Obtained from: http://www.ismedioambiente.com/programas-formativos/analisis-del-ciclo-de-vida-conceptos-y-metodologiaRieznik, N., & Hernández, A. (2005). Life cycle analysis. Madrid, Spain: Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid. Polytechnic University of Madrid, Romero, B. (2003). Life Cycle Analysis and Environmental Management. Technological trends, 91-97, Sanz, J. (2014).Analysis and identification of the environmental impacts of electrical and electronic equipment during its life cycle. Spain: Polytechnic University of Valencia.UNCUMA. (sf). Cooperative Union of Consumers and Users of Madrid. Obtained from:
Thanks
Special thanks to the research professor Fernando Aguirre y Hernández, professor of the master's degree in administrative engineering attached to the Technological Institute of Orizaba, for the technical contribution to the construction of this article and its direction in the process of learning systemic thinking. Likewise, to the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) dedicated to promoting and stimulating the development of science and technology in Mexico, for financial support for postgraduate studies.
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