scope:

Purpose

The increased application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) techniques to evaluate materials and energy use and emissions from products and processes has led industrial groups and governments to seek to ensure the quality and accessibility of life cycle inventory (LCI) data. The goal is both to help manufacturers, converters, formulators, and users understand the environmental consequences of their . activities and to find ways to reduce associated environmental impacts.

Objectives

Environment Canada, the Canadian Standards Association, and several participating industries wish to develop an LCI database for the commodities produced by these industries. The initial objectives were (a) To provide LCI data/database for commodities. These data would be used by small- and mediumsize companies to support voluntary improvements in the environmental performance of their products, consistent with pollution prevention initiatives issued by the CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment). Large businesses may also utilize the database in performing screening LCI studies to make product and process design decisions, and perhaps before undertaking more detailed life cycle studies.

(b) To provide the participating industries with data to benchmark their own industries as a basis for internal improvement, including voluntary actions in line with the CCME pollution prevention ¡ni tiatives.