Life Cycle Assessment

In late 2006, the NDG completed a year-long exploration of the relationship between Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental decision-making. LCA has become a common practice in North America and Europe as a means to better identify and understand life-cycle risks and costs from an environmental, economic, and social perspective. This report provides an increased understanding of how LCA can be applied to the development of environmental policy and it identifies potential barriers, challenges, and opportunities. In 2005, the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development developed background material (appended to the report) and an experts' workshop was conducted as a precursor to the establishment of a project team.

LCA project team members were: Abitibi-Consolidated, Alcan, Canfor, INCO, Procter & Gamble, Friends of the Earth, The Natural Step, Pembina Institute, Pollution Probe, Five Winds International, Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada.

Project report:

The Application of Life Cycle Assessment to the Development of Environmental Policy
(pdf, 380 KB)