Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment
by Naomi Pearson

Life Cycle Assessment is a methodology for evaluating the environmental impact of the materials and processes used during the following stages: extraction or harvesting of raw materials through processing, manufacture, installation, use, and ultimate disposal or recycling. The EPA defines the exercise of LCA as follows: LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service, by:

• compiling an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs and environmental releases;
• evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with identified inputs and releases;
• interpreting the results to help you make a more informed decision.

Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, has emerged as a highly effective method for designers and manufacturers measuring environmental impact. For example, the U.S. Green Building Council has taken steps to incorporate LCA thinking into LEED standards. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards, recommends LCA principals for environmental management. LCA software such as Okala by Sustainable Minds and SimaPro and are now available for use by Industrial Designers. The Environmental Graphic Design field also benefits by applying LCA methodologies in order to make environmentally preferable design and fabrication decisions.

While LCA is a practice that can be applied universally to all design fields, there is a specific set of LCA associated considerations for those in the Environmental Graphic Design field. Signage longevity is a consideration relating to the "disposal or recycling" stage of LCA. As discussed in the SEGD Green Paper, longevity is a key environmental factor because the lifespan of environmental graphics tends to vary from a few days to 50 years. A short life span is best served by a sustainable plan for disposal or recycling of signage components. Another LCA stage with specific considerations for signage is the "use" stage. "Use" represents energy used during the lifetime of a product or service. In some signage cases, the type of lighting and/or electronic component determines how much energy will be used. Strategies for minimizing the amount of energy used over time are to be considered. These are just 2 examples of how looking at Life Cycle Assessment stages can be used to break down, better understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of what we produce. With further analysis, LCA becomes a valuable tool for the Environmental Graphic Design field.