Today, the marketplace abounds with claims using words like "sustainable", "recycled", "recyclable", "renewable", "reusable", and a host of other terms that imply environmental "goodness". The benefit of LCI is that a product's full supply chain, from cradle through end of life management, can be evaluated on a quantified, scientific basis.
In order to achieve true environmental improvements, it is first necessary to develop an understanding of where the greatest resource and environmental consequences occur. Then efforts can be targeted on those areas where there is maximum potential for improving efficiency in use of material and energy resources and minimizing solid waste, greenhouse gases, and other emissions to air and water.
