Corporate interest in life cycle assessment (LCA) is surging, according to new market research.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a science-based method of analyzing the environmental impact of products or processes across their full life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, through manufacture, use, recycling and disposal.
LCA tool vendors and consultants are reporting sales growth of 30%-40% and, by one measure, the number of scientific publications dealing with LCA has more than doubled in the last two years.
"As companies try to move beyond easy sustainability wins, they are looking at science-based, quantitative tools like LCA to give them an edge," said David Schatsky, principal at Green Research and author of a new study of the use of LCA at corporations and the market for LCA tools and services.
According to the report, companies that learn to use LCA can do more than improve their environmental performance. They can also foster product innovation, make credible environmental marketing claims, and stay ahead of regulations that could otherwise shut them out of markets.
According to a survey of executives 82% of companies that did an LCA last year plan to do more in the coming 12 months. Rising transparency expectations, the growth of LCA-based ecolabels and threats of regulation are driving greater adoption of LCA, the report concludes.
Loading...