What is a life cycle analysis?

• 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.

Steps

• 1) Raw Materials• 2) Extraction• 3) Processes• 4) Transportation• 5) Product

What are Raw materials?

What is Extraction? • Manual long harvesting/whole tree harvesting• Mechanical whole tree harvesting/log length

What are processes?

• http://science.discovery.com/videos/hot-videos-how-its-made/

What is transportation?

What is a product (use)?

What are inputs and outputs?

• Inputs = materials and energy used • Outputs = waste and pollution created