245
screening LCA to focus on improved maintenance procedures to reduce fuel consumption, providing operating savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Azul
K S.A., a manufacturer of cleaning products developed a qualitative screening tool
that considered design, materials, manufacturing, marketing, waste generation, disposal and market trends. Based on this screening assessment, a liquid dishwashing
detergent was selected for further analysis based on a high qualitative impact ranking and a growing market. Ediouro Grafi ca rated its LCM maturity at a relatively
low level, and thus, decided to focus on a waste minimization project that could be
used to develop basic data systems and lay the foundation for more complete LCAs.
Freudenberg Nonwovens South Africa manufactures interlinings for the garment
industry and develops and produces nonwovens for the energy, car interior, hygiene,
medical, building interiors, as well as for special applications. Their LCM maturity
was rated higher and the company had support from the corporate parent. Thus, it
conducted a more sophisticated evaluation of its supply chain, defi ning specifi c sustainability criteria to be integrated into a supplier scorecard.
There was some tendency for companies to confl ate LCA and LCM. Many
viewed LCAs almost as a compliance requirement, and it was necessary to reassure
companies that their projects did not necessarily require cradle-to-grave studies. For
example, Cristacryl de Colombia S.A. is a manufacturer of high quality acrylic
products using 100 % virgin materials. The company completed a streamlined study
of its products that showed the production of basic chemicals dominated the impact
assessment, but they saw little value, or ability, to gather more detailed data on
upstream processes they had virtually no ability to affect. Instead, the company
developed a communication campaign to educate customers on how to improve
yields, improve recycling rates and avoid landfi ll disposal of the acrylic scrap. This
directly supported their strategy of positioning themselves as a quality supplier of
superior products. However, during the pilots, it was necessary to reassure the company that LCM did not require a complete LCA with site-specifi c data from their
chemical suppliers.
In other cases, companies conducted LCAs, but struggled to identify improvements that provided a fi nancial benefi t. India Glycols conducted a study of polyethylene glycol made from sugar cane molasses, a byproduct from a sugar refi nery.
Although the study showed benefi ts relative to petroleum-based products, their customers have limited understanding and appreciation for the environmental benefi ts,
and the product currently competes in a commodity market. It will require signifi -
cant marketing to build awareness and identify niches that will attach a premium to
bio-based chemicals. Similarly, Multidimensionales S.A., a packaging company,
conducted a LCA of disposable polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) cups.
Although there would be signifi cant benefi ts from improved recycling rates, there is
a lack of recycling infrastructure in Bogota and a need to change end user behaviors.
The company has identifi ed shopping mall operators as a high leverage point, with
suffi cient volume of material that can be practically collected and a good venue for
end user outreach programs. Azul K identifi ed landfi ll disposal of the empty bottle
as a signifi cant impact, but did not have the ability to infl uence end-of-life recycling
rates. The company was able to redesign a light-weight version that had the same
17 Building Organizational Capability for Life Cycle Management
screening LCA to focus on improved maintenance procedures to reduce fuel consumption, providing operating savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Azul
K S.A., a manufacturer of cleaning products developed a qualitative screening tool
that considered design, materials, manufacturing, marketing, waste generation, disposal and market trends. Based on this screening assessment, a liquid dishwashing
detergent was selected for further analysis based on a high qualitative impact ranking and a growing market. Ediouro Grafi ca rated its LCM maturity at a relatively
low level, and thus, decided to focus on a waste minimization project that could be
used to develop basic data systems and lay the foundation for more complete LCAs.
Freudenberg Nonwovens South Africa manufactures interlinings for the garment
industry and develops and produces nonwovens for the energy, car interior, hygiene,
medical, building interiors, as well as for special applications. Their LCM maturity
was rated higher and the company had support from the corporate parent. Thus, it
conducted a more sophisticated evaluation of its supply chain, defi ning specifi c sustainability criteria to be integrated into a supplier scorecard.
There was some tendency for companies to confl ate LCA and LCM. Many
viewed LCAs almost as a compliance requirement, and it was necessary to reassure
companies that their projects did not necessarily require cradle-to-grave studies. For
example, Cristacryl de Colombia S.A. is a manufacturer of high quality acrylic
products using 100 % virgin materials. The company completed a streamlined study
of its products that showed the production of basic chemicals dominated the impact
assessment, but they saw little value, or ability, to gather more detailed data on
upstream processes they had virtually no ability to affect. Instead, the company
developed a communication campaign to educate customers on how to improve
yields, improve recycling rates and avoid landfi ll disposal of the acrylic scrap. This
directly supported their strategy of positioning themselves as a quality supplier of
superior products. However, during the pilots, it was necessary to reassure the company that LCM did not require a complete LCA with site-specifi c data from their
chemical suppliers.
In other cases, companies conducted LCAs, but struggled to identify improvements that provided a fi nancial benefi t. India Glycols conducted a study of polyethylene glycol made from sugar cane molasses, a byproduct from a sugar refi nery.
Although the study showed benefi ts relative to petroleum-based products, their customers have limited understanding and appreciation for the environmental benefi ts,
and the product currently competes in a commodity market. It will require signifi -
cant marketing to build awareness and identify niches that will attach a premium to
bio-based chemicals. Similarly, Multidimensionales S.A., a packaging company,
conducted a LCA of disposable polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) cups.
Although there would be signifi cant benefi ts from improved recycling rates, there is
a lack of recycling infrastructure in Bogota and a need to change end user behaviors.
The company has identifi ed shopping mall operators as a high leverage point, with
suffi cient volume of material that can be practically collected and a good venue for
end user outreach programs. Azul K identifi ed landfi ll disposal of the empty bottle
as a signifi cant impact, but did not have the ability to infl uence end-of-life recycling
rates. The company was able to redesign a light-weight version that had the same
17 Building Organizational Capability for Life Cycle Management