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• Performer: A solution that meets the basic sustainability standards in the
marketplace
• Transitioner: A solution for which a specifi c sustainability issue is actively
addressed
• Challenged: A solution with a signifi cant sustainability concern identifi ed and
for which an action plan is under development
LCA information or as well eco-effi ciency analysis results can be used to support
this evaluation process.
Ultimately, Sustainable Solution Steering will benefi t customers by delivering
new business opportunities through innovative solutions as well as providing support on their own sustainability needs. It is a life cycle management process that can
be applied to other industries as well (Kicherer and Voeste 2014 ).
3 Examples of Assessments and Applications
3.1 Using Plastics Europe LCI Information
In order to produce plastic products, energy resources are consumed. Currently such
energy resources are almost entirely obtained from non-renewable sources, and by
using them, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are produced. Nevertheless, even
more energy would be consumed and more GHG emissions emitted, if plastic products are to be substituted by alternative materials. This was established in a study by
(Pilz et al. 2005 ).
The study generally follows an “80/20-approach”, meaning that the authors aim
to cover 80 % of infl uences with 20 % of effort that would be required for a more
comprehensive study. As a result, a high degree of reliability was ensured for the
general magnitude of the overall results, but not for every specifi c fi gure in the case
studies investigated, where – based on the “80/20-approach” – many (reasonable)
assumptions had to be made where data were not easily available.
Calculation of life cycle energy and GHG emission balances: Data for the production phase of plastic products were mostly taken from the “Ecoprofi les” as published by PlasticsEurope. Production data of alternative materials was taken from
the database ecoinvent (2007) or comparable sources. In the use phase the calculation covers issues where plastic products have a different impact on energy and
GHG emissions compared to alternative products. The effects considered are mainly
fuel consumption for transportation, prevented food losses, differences in thermal
insulation properties, and fuel savings due to the lower mass of plastic automotive
parts.
For example, substituting plastics in the case studies throughout Europe
(EU27 + 2) in 2007 would increase the life cycle energy consumption by around
2.140 million GJ per year and the GHG emissions would increase by 110 Mt CO 2
equivalents per year.
10 Sustainability Improvements and Life Cycle Approaches in Industry Partnerships
• Performer: A solution that meets the basic sustainability standards in the
marketplace
• Transitioner: A solution for which a specifi c sustainability issue is actively
addressed
• Challenged: A solution with a signifi cant sustainability concern identifi ed and
for which an action plan is under development
LCA information or as well eco-effi ciency analysis results can be used to support
this evaluation process.
Ultimately, Sustainable Solution Steering will benefi t customers by delivering
new business opportunities through innovative solutions as well as providing support on their own sustainability needs. It is a life cycle management process that can
be applied to other industries as well (Kicherer and Voeste 2014 ).
3 Examples of Assessments and Applications
3.1 Using Plastics Europe LCI Information
In order to produce plastic products, energy resources are consumed. Currently such
energy resources are almost entirely obtained from non-renewable sources, and by
using them, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are produced. Nevertheless, even
more energy would be consumed and more GHG emissions emitted, if plastic products are to be substituted by alternative materials. This was established in a study by
(Pilz et al. 2005 ).
The study generally follows an “80/20-approach”, meaning that the authors aim
to cover 80 % of infl uences with 20 % of effort that would be required for a more
comprehensive study. As a result, a high degree of reliability was ensured for the
general magnitude of the overall results, but not for every specifi c fi gure in the case
studies investigated, where – based on the “80/20-approach” – many (reasonable)
assumptions had to be made where data were not easily available.
Calculation of life cycle energy and GHG emission balances: Data for the production phase of plastic products were mostly taken from the “Ecoprofi les” as published by PlasticsEurope. Production data of alternative materials was taken from
the database ecoinvent (2007) or comparable sources. In the use phase the calculation covers issues where plastic products have a different impact on energy and
GHG emissions compared to alternative products. The effects considered are mainly
fuel consumption for transportation, prevented food losses, differences in thermal
insulation properties, and fuel savings due to the lower mass of plastic automotive
parts.
For example, substituting plastics in the case studies throughout Europe
(EU27 + 2) in 2007 would increase the life cycle energy consumption by around
2.140 million GJ per year and the GHG emissions would increase by 110 Mt CO 2
equivalents per year.
10 Sustainability Improvements and Life Cycle Approaches in Industry Partnerships