Where can I find life cycle information on common products?

[Philip Strothmann]

Please submit your answer below. Make sure you have read the rules of this competition!

[Rebecca LeBlanc]

First, narrow down the definition of a “common product” – I equated “common” to “consumer.”

A number of online resources are available which highlight companies that are taking sustainability seriously.

https://scm.ncsu.edu/scm-articles/article/consumer-products-sustainability-report

“Consumer” can then be broken down into subcategories:

• Food
• Clothing
• Electronics
• Automobiles
• Personal Care Products
• Other

Using the above list for specific LCI/LCA data:

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Food LCI/LCAs:</span>

• Company: Nestle: http://www.nestle.com/csv/planet/product-life-cycle
• Organization: Beef: http://www.beefresearch.org
• Focus: Agriculture: https://data.nal.usda.gov/life-cycle-assessment

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Clothing</span>

• Textile Production: Handbook of Life Cycle Assessment of Textiles (ISBN: 978-0-08-100169-1) & EU Cost Action 628
• Industry Organization: http://apparelcoalition.org/
• Actual clothing item production: http://www.isca.in/rjcs/Archives/v2/i2/14.pdf
• Manufacturer: http://www.levistrauss.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Full-LCA-Results-Deck-FINAL.pdf

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Electronics</span>

• Manufacturer: LG – (love what they have done!): http://www.lg.com/global/sustainability/environment/greener-products/products-application
• Manufacturer: Apple: http://www.designlife-cycle.com/apple-ipad
• Industry Organization: http://www.epeat.net/
• University Resource: http://www.sustainelectronics.illinois.edu/resources/resources.cfm?i=8

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Automobiles/Transportation</span>

• University Studies: http://www.cmu.edu/gdi/docs/lca-of-automobile.pdf
• Manufacturers:
  • Audi: http://www.audi.com/content/dam/com/EN/corporate-responsibility/product/audi_a6_life_cycle_assessment.pdf
  • Mercedes Benz (older study): http://papers.sae.org/971166/
  • Toyota MIRAI (when the fuel infrastructure is in place – my next car):
  • http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/environment/low_carbon/lca_and_eco_actions/pdf/life_cycle_assessment_report.pdf

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Personal Care Products</span>

Manufacturers:

• Unilever: https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/our-strategy/about-our-strategy/lifecycle-assessments.html
• Pureology: http://www.pureology.com/sustainability-new/life-cycle-assessment
• https://prezi.com/sjygzesuawkg/life-cycle-analysis-on-personal-hygiene-cosmetics/
• MAC cosmetics: http://network.artcenter.edu/gallery/9811005/MAC-lipstick-Life-Cycle-Analysis

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Other – Home cleaning products</span>

• Cleaning Products: http://www.greenseal.org/Portals/0/Documents/Standards/GS-37%20LCA.pdf

While conducting this mini-research project – I happened along many more resources that I can use in my existing projects!

Happy Learning!

Rebecca LeBlanc

 

 

 

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