International Paper's LCA Experience, 1996 Life Cycle Assessment Symposium Proceedings

Wilfred A. Côté, III

International Paper

During 1990, in the midst of the concern about solid waste management and diminishing landfill space, life cycle assessment (LCA) was first widely used to compare plastic and paper products. International Paper’s interest in LCA dates from that time and was stimulated by several basic concerns. Results of life cycle inventory studies as reported in the press indicated faulty and incomplete knowledge of the papermaking process. All aspects of a wood products production system necessary for an accurate and complete environmental assessment were not being considered. For example, the renewability of the basic raw material, wood, and the fact that significant amounts of process energy for papermaking come from wood residuals and chemical energy recovery, were not taken into account. Conclusions drawn from these studies about the relative environmental impacts of paper and plastic products led to unfair marketing claims and confused consumers. We were interested in correcting false impressions being left by these reports. In order to do so, we needed to have a better understanding of LCA ourselves. During 1991 and 1992 we met with a variety of LCA practitioners, attended workshops on LCA, and began to look at models available to do inventory analyses. We developed preliminary inventory data bases for specific products and evaluated our internal results against those being published. The Environmental Analysis group in International Paper’s Product Development organization was assigned the task of becoming the company experts on LCA. In addition to learning more about the methodology ourselves, a key early task was to support business group and product managers who needed to respond to customers who were asking for life cycle inventory data on our products. We provided the technical interface to customers, worked with LCA practitioners hired by customers to evaluate products and materials, and developed a company protocol for handling LCA requests. During this period we decided not to develop or license a software model because we felt the methodology was undergoing rapid development and change and the acceptance and possible role of LCA was not yet clear. We determined to use outside services as needed. Life cycle assessment was clearly important enough, however, to invest the effort required to keep up with its developments and issues. International Paper joined the AF&PA LCA Working Croup when it was formed in 1992 and has actively participated in it ever since. We have also co-sponsored inventory studies on kraft bags and bleached paperboard products that were coordinated by AF&PA. Participating in these studies has provided us an excellent opportunity to evaluate inventory models and LCA practitioners and to refine survey tools used to gather...