HOW DOES LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT ASSIST FBRI RESEARCHERS TO DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS?
LCA is a complete examination of a product’s environmental and economic aspects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use, and disposal. We look for improved methods of assessing land use and habitat impacts within a life cycle framework while we also assess socio-economic impacts. Every product leads to a “tree” of impacts with hundreds of branches of processes that convert raw materials into goods and services while also releasing pollution to air, water, and land. “Life Cycle Assessment” estimates those impacts so we are able to design products and supply chains that meet our needs while we also place lighter demands on nature.
