The use of life cycle methods by seven major companies

We studied how 7 large international companies are applying life cycle methodology to their products. The study comprised questions about the involvement of the purchasing department and also about the inclusion of toxics in the life cycle studies. The participating companies are using 5 different life cycle methods. None of them used the “full LCA”. The use of life cycle methods is mostly unfrequent. At the companies studied, use of LCA methodology was not internalised but rather at the starting stage. In 4 cases reasons for development of the life cycle studies are coming from outside the company. Five of the seven companies mentioned problems gathering valid data. The results of life cycle studies are used for different applications. In five cases results of the life cycle methods are used for activities which may lead to environmental impact reduction. Three companies developed life cycle methods for a data base. The use of the results for purchasing purposes occured at 2 companies. Only in one case was the purchasing department involved in the development of the life cycle method. This restricted involvement limits the potential environmental impact of life cycle studies. None of the companies uses or intends to use the life cycle method for toxics reduction. Two companies used “risk assessment” and one company a “black list” for this purpose. In all the studies the attention to toxics was insufficient to prevent potential shifts of hazard to the work environment.