Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) has become today a basis for product makers to rethink about their products. LCA is a technique that helps to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s life from-cradle-to-grave i.e., from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. We are now looking for cradle-to-cradle as our goal.
Increasing number of products are now designed and manufactured to meet requirement of eco-labels that insist on “exclusions” of certain harmful substances, set thresholds on resource consumption (“inputs”) and waste generation (“outputs”). The idea is to minimize adverse environmental and health impacts, reduce risks to ecosystems and consumers in all phases of the life cycle of the product. Products that are eco-labeled are therefore expected to be lean on environmental impacts/risks. Through change in design, manufacturing process, packaging and the logistics of distribution, the product makers meet the eco-label requirements. LCA provides the strategy of Life Cycle Management (LCM)
Typically, life cycle of a product goes through various phases. Figure 1 shows life cycle phases for a T-shirt.
Figure 1 – Life cycle phases for a T-shirt.
(adopted from Worldwatch Institute, Worldwatch Paper 166: Purchasing Power: Harnessing Institutional Procurement for People and the Planet, July 2003, http://www.worldwatch.org)
Indeed, each phase of life cycle for a product corresponds to different intensities of environmental impacts. For some products, processing or manufacturing phase dominates and for some, it is the use phase where substantial environmental impacts occur.
The impacts in the manufacturing phase are best addressed by the manufacturer through product redesign, sustainable packaging, influencing the supply-chain, deploying better logistics and taking back the used product as extended producer responsibility. The use phase impacts of the product are however to be managed at the consumers end. If the consumer is careless, insensitive or not aware of how to use the product correctly then the impact in the use phase can be substantial.
There are many products that have low environmental impact in the manufacturing phase. These products with their low environmental impact in the making appear to be like dwarfs and hence appealing while making the choice! But in the use phase, the same products lead to significant environmental impacts; especially if abused or carelessly used. The environmental impacts of such products cast tall shadows! Examples of such products are incandescent lamps, iron, washing machine etc. Figure 2 shows normalized percentage of environmental impacts (on Y-axis) for a washing machine in different phases. Clearly, you would notice that for a washing machine the use phase dominates.
Figure 2: LCA of a washing machine, source: Andrew Sweatman
It is important therefore that the product makers and product users or consumers work in tandem and communicate with each other. Both must implement or influence responsible manufacturing and undertake responsible product use. Only then we will be able to achieve the goal of sustainable production and consumption. It is our joint responsibility.
We as consumers should therefore be very particular about correct use of the products we buy. Most product makers today guide the consumers regarding optimum use of the product not only limited to safety but also towards minimizing resource consumption and waste generation. Often, we do not read the product-use instructions carefully nor do we practice the instructions in all seriousness.
When you get a new washing machine at home, you may like to do a “family session” of collective reading of the user manual and learn how to use the washing machine in the most energy and water efficient manner. For example, washing machines should be best run with full load and one should practice line drying as much possible. Levy’s claim that the use phase impacts of a jean can be reduced by 50% if it is line dried and washed in cold water. If every U.S. household used only cold water for washing clothes, then it is estimated to be equivalent to nearly 8 percent of the Kyoto target for the U.S on carbon dioxide emissions! So “use phase” of such products really matters.
So, when we buy a product, we should select the product by looking at its full life cycle impacts. As a consumer, take on the responsibility to minimize environmental impacts in the use phase and insist for guidance from the product makers. Let us be responsible consumers and not cast ‘’tall shadows’’ with the products we use and consume!
(This article is a modified version of the one published in Green Prospects Asia in Malaysia. The picture on “tall shadow” is sourced from http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/01/the-man-who-was-a-dwarf-and-later-a-giant/ )
For students – Take up a research project on LCA of some of the products like washing machine. An electric iron, a cotton T-shirt could be examples where use phase dominates. Consider a bicycle on the other hand where impacts in the making or manufacturing are much more than during use. You may also like to do household surveys to check how much gets read and followed up on the use guides/instructions provided by the product makers. How well are these manuals done and do they focus on reducing impacts in the use phase.
Reblogged this on oskreddy and commented:
Sir,
We wish to bring to your notice that we the “Green Universe Environmental Services Society (GUESS)” head-quartered at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India was established in 1998. Since then we have been promoting various eco friendly concepts, pro-environmental initiatives and sustainable development projects. With our vast field-level practical experiences we have observed and noticed that the farmers of our country are facing severe crop loss issues due to wild boar & wild animal attacks, frequent natural calamities, global warming effects, non availability of labour, cost escalation and climate change issues. It is known fact that many of the wild animals have shifted their habitations from the forests to farm fields due to man-made mistakes such as severe deforestation and high level destruction in the forest areas.
Due to the above situations the farmers who make 70% of the Indian community are leaving agriculture and migrating to the urban habitations in search of livelihoods resulting in many of the villages are becoming deserts and the population pressure is at high level in urban areas which is causing various social & economic issues. It is fact that the most of the countries are shifting towards naturals in all walks of life and the demand for natural products is ever increasing and it is time to throw light on promotion of different eco-friendly sustainable farming measures & concepts to the struggling farmer community.
Keeping in view the alarming situation faced by the farming community due to wild boar & animal attacks which is great concern to the society today we have come up with an eco-friendly, cost-effective sustainable solution of “Henna Bio Fence.” It is non-grazing & pest-free because it is astringent & pungent in nature which can be an effective NPM measure, sustains for longer period hence it is perennial, drought tolerant because it can pass through severe climatic situations, creates additional man days through raising & post harvest measures and also generates income because the demand for natural dyes is ever increasing. Hence “Henna Bio Fence” can be an eco-friendly cost-effective sustainable solution in place of highly expensive solar, chain linked mesh & barbed wire fences and can act as income & employment generating measure.
Natural dyes are pro-environment and obtained from renewable resources with no health hazards are traditionally used since ages to impart color. There is renewed interest in the application of natural dyes throughout the world today, as eco-friendly norms become stringent and the awareness about protection and preservation of environment grows day by day. The entire world is facing the side effects of synthetic products and there has been increasing interest in natural dyes, as the public become aware of health issues, ecological and environmental problems related to the use of synthetic dyes. Henna as natural dye is being used in Textiles, Handlooms, Leather, Beauty & Health Care, Cosmetics and Tattoo Industries etc.
Considering the above facts, concerns and in light of the multi beneficial advantages, as responsible NGO we have initiated this “Henna Bio Fence” project to help the struggling farmers. We request for financial collaboration to impart trainings, to create awareness, to transform the concept and to provide input cost to encourage an eco-friendly, sustainable and cost effective “Henna Bio Fence” to the farmers to protect the crops from wild boar & animal attacks and to improve their income levels. In addition to the crop protection measure there is lot of scope for employment generation through value addition and marketing.
Henna Bio Fence is also useful as NPM, NTFP, SMC & NRM measures. The Decoction of henna leaves because of its strong chemical composition can be used as Bio Pesticide for all the crops which reduces the pest management expenditure for a longer period. It also controls the cross pollination issues between different crops. Henna Bio Fence in one meter width all along the periphery of the crop fields in multiple (6-8) rows with close spacing will become as thick & strong fence which completely arrests the wild boar and animal attacks. Reducing crop loss itself is great benefit to the farmers and as well to the nation and also there are many social & economic advantages in addition to the crop protection measure.
Keeping in view the above facts, we request the International Organizations who are very much concern about environment & global warming effects for financial contributions from Carbon Trade Funds, Environment Protection Funds, Ecological Balancing Funds, Global Warming Budgets, CSR & CER initiatives to provide them an eco-friendly, sustainable and cost effective “Henna Bio Fence” for their farm fields to protect the crops from animal attacks and to improve the income levels of the farming community. Hence, we request your kind attention towards a noble cause of “Vruksho Rakshathi Rakshithaha” by providing them the input cost from different possible funds & measures to help the struggling farmers who are feeding our Nation. The detailed project report will be submitted after hearing from you. We await quick response in this regard to make this pro-environmental project successful. We are hereby providing the YouTube link of promo film on Henna Bio Fence for information.
Henna Bio Fence Video Link:
GUESS – Henna Bio Fence – English : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvzdK4qQbQo
GUESS – Henna Bio Fence – Telugu : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQTs9khJmQg
Thanking You
Best Regards
OSK REDDY
Ph. No. 919494947894 / 919848028410
Mail:oskreddy@gmail.com / oskreddy@yahoo.com
Web Site: http://www.guessfoundation.org
I some time wonder why so little attention is paid to the pacakaging of goods. Manufacturers employ all kind of fancy packaging to enchance it’s marketability paying little attention to its environmental foot prints. The packaging is surly going to enter into waste stream once the product is put into use. The manufacturers should therefore employ bare minimum pacakaging required for safe delivery at consumer’s end. This can reduce cost of the products as well as it’s carbon footprints and save precious resources. Do we have any law any where in the world on this?
Dear Dr Singhal
Indeed, packaging considerations are critical when it comes to minimizing life cycle impacts. The term sustainable packaging is now used widely and several case studies are available (including in India) that illustrate environmental, heath and safety as well as economic benefits.
I will be shortly putting a post specifically on this topic
Regarding washing machines: Use of warm/hot water for washing was something I came across in recent years. I’m not sure how many in India do this. I like how you have made suggestions for students to conduct surveys. Line drying is something my family does but only after drying it for a minute or two in the dryer. Time and energy is a constraint when it comes to washing clothes. Related to this is a talk by Hans Rosling. You might be aware of him – he does brilliant visualizations of statistics. He gave a talk on washing machines in TED conference in the year 2010. You can watch it here: http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine?language=en
For his statistics video: http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen?language=en
I liked the article called Dwarfs with Tall shadows on the subject of LCA and thought of sharing my view on the topic.
Since the example of a washing machine was mentioned, I recollect having read somewhere the role of Consumer Education in enabling the consumer to make the right choices. For washing machines, for example, a front loading one would always be better than a top loading one as the former consumes less water.
There is also a magazine by the name “Right Choice”
I wondered if customers would benefit by knowing about a few basic facts like these when they make a decision to buy a product or would they select a product based on a media promotion campaign.
We usually see companies selling washing machines on the basis of their “dirt removal” capabilities; an aspect that probably is uppermost in a consumer’s mind when deciding on a purchase.
It would need a very innovative and clever marketing strategy to project a WM on the basis of it’s long term LCA water or energy footprint.
That brings us to the question then about free choice and regulation.
I recently read about the EU banning and phasing out several categories of the “luxury” home appliances which are resource hungry and inefficient such as high wattage grillers, barbecue devices, etc.
It would be a clever mix of measures that would nudge the manufacturers and the consumers to make smart choices that would benefit everyone in the long run