communication to inform customers, consumers, regulatory authorities or other
stakeholders about the sustainability performance of a product, service or process.
However, the areas of LCA applications are not strictly separated, i.e. a simplified
LCA or a Hot-Spot Analysis needed in a decision-making process can be extended
to a full LCA study for marketing and communication or a full LCA study performed for marketing can support decision making processes.
One example of such a process is shown in Fig. 3 where a sustainability evaluation is included in the Covestro stage-gate process for decision making and
documentation in research and development projects. The methodology for sustainability assessment shown in Fig. 3 presents the increasing depth in sustainability evaluation in the advancing process design.
During the process design in the initial step a “Hotspot Identification” is carried
out. It helps R&D departments to steer their activities in the direction of more
sustainable product solutions in early development phases and without too much
needs for information.
In the next phase the obtained Hotspots can lead to a more detailed analysis.
Based on the results, the conduction of a Screening LCA or an update of the
Fig. 2 ISPN members 2017
Fig. 3 Covestro stage-gate process for a systematic sustainability assessment during process
design
354
A. Bednarz et al.
stakeholders about the sustainability performance of a product, service or process.
However, the areas of LCA applications are not strictly separated, i.e. a simplified
LCA or a Hot-Spot Analysis needed in a decision-making process can be extended
to a full LCA study for marketing and communication or a full LCA study performed for marketing can support decision making processes.
One example of such a process is shown in Fig. 3 where a sustainability evaluation is included in the Covestro stage-gate process for decision making and
documentation in research and development projects. The methodology for sustainability assessment shown in Fig. 3 presents the increasing depth in sustainability evaluation in the advancing process design.
During the process design in the initial step a “Hotspot Identification” is carried
out. It helps R&D departments to steer their activities in the direction of more
sustainable product solutions in early development phases and without too much
needs for information.
In the next phase the obtained Hotspots can lead to a more detailed analysis.
Based on the results, the conduction of a Screening LCA or an update of the
Fig. 2 ISPN members 2017
Fig. 3 Covestro stage-gate process for a systematic sustainability assessment during process
design
354
A. Bednarz et al.