Life Cycle Analysis

As Jones et al. (2017:235) advocated, life cycle analysis (LCA) is a “technique used to assess potential impacts associated with a material or product through all its interlinked stages”. Additionally, the aim of LCA is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of “resource use and emissions or by-product” (Jones et al. 2017:235) and subsequently a final assessment to interpret the results is conducted.

This analysis across the life cycle, provides a different perspective when making a decision about that product or service, the LCA process thus consider five steps: raw material acquisition or extraction; material processing; product manufacturing use; and recovery or retirement. Sometimes the transportation stage is also included in this process (Clark et al. 2011:565).

Moreover, LCA studies have been focused on the “quantification of energy and materials used and wastes released into the environment throughout the life cycle” (Cabeza et al. 2014:396). Therefore, to evaluate the sustainability of your Event throughout the Life Cycle Analysis, three aspects are proposed to be taken into consideration:

• Impacts: Any impacts of your event on the environment.
• Scope: Consider all life cycle stages for your event and the products that are used during the event.
• Metrics: Measurements from actual product or event life cycle, supported by data.

References

Ayres, U. (1995) ‘Life cycle analysis: A critique’. Resources, Conservation and Recycling[online] 14, 199–223. available from: <doi:10.1016/0921-3449(95)00017-D> [6 March 2019]

Cabeza, F., Rincón, L., Vilarino,V., Perez, G., and Castell, A. (2014) ‘Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review.’ Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews [online] available from: <doi:10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.037> [5 March 2019]

Clark, E. (2011) ‘Life-cycle assessment, in: Fundamentals of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability’. Cambridge University Press [online] pp. 565–576. available from: <doi:10.1017/CBO9780511718786.047> [5 March 2019]

Jones, M. (2016) Sustainable Event Management: a practical guide. 3rd edn. Oxford: Routledge

Tukker, A. (2000) ‘Life cycle assessment as a tool in environmental impact assessment.’ Environmental Impact Assessment Review [online] 20, 435–456. available from: <doi:10.1016/S0195-9255(99)00045-1> [7 March 2019]