Position paper on the extent to which the LCA measurement method is suitable for assessing the beneficial qualities of a Cradle to Cradle product.

Position paper on the extent to which the LCA measurement method is suitable for assessing the beneficial qualities of a Cradle to Cradle product.

Context

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a measurement tool that has been used since 1970 to assess the environmental impact of products and services. Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is an innovation framework that has been used since 1990 to design products and services that are good for the economy, health, and the environment.

A group of companies within the Cradle to Cradle learning community in the Netherlands works with both instruments and wants to determine whether C2C and LCA are compatible. These companies' experience is that the LCA method for comparing products dominates the market, while the favorable C2C qualities they strive for are not adequately reflected in these LCA standards.

Approach and activities

In 2009, a group of 17 companies in the Netherlands came together to share their experiences with implementing C2C principles in the Learning Community C2C. Most of these companies wanted to find an answer to the question: 'Why does LCA sometimes fail to reflect the improvements expected from C2C?' The conclusion is that commonly used LCAs are not suitable for assessing the beneficial qualities of a C2C product. The report provides further findings, conclusions, and recommendations. One of the recommendations is to reformulate the question to: 'How can LCA professionals benefit from C2C?'