Enhancements to Life Cycle Assessment Methodology For Proper Characterization of Forest Products, 1994 Environmental Conference Proceedings

S. F. Galeano

Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, is a developing methodology which quantifies the materials and energy exchanges of a product during its life cycle thus making possible the understanding of its impacts and the potential for improvements as well as a better assignment of socio/politico/economic values. LCA consists of four major components or stages, of which only two, Scoping-Goal Setting and Inventory are now defined and understood, regardless of the need for further enhancements. The incompleteness of the methodology and the overexpectations that business sectors and policy makers are attaching to LCA, create the potential for erroneous evaluations and conclusions.

The forest and paper industries are recognizing the realities of LCA and the need to contribute to the enhancements of the Inventory stage while participating in the scientific dialogue on the limitations and feasibility of the not yet developed Stages. Examples of industry’s incipient efforts in enhancing the Inventory stage are given. Forest products can be impacted negatively by LCA applications which disregard intrinsic characteristics of their materials. Conversely, in a world of increasing population/pollution and depleting resources, the promise of a renewable material, with global environmental benefits, should be very appealing and perdurable.