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Life Cycle Assessment and Design - Experience from Volvo Car Corporation
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English
Abstract
In 1989, Volvo pledged to minimize the environmental effects of its operations by adopting a holistic approach to the environmental impact of its products, at every stage of their life cycle.
As a means to achieve this goal, it was decided to use Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) philosophy. In collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Institute (IVL) and the Federation of Swedish Industries, an evaluation system based on the environmental goals adopted by the UN Conference on Environment & Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, has been developed. Based on this evaluation method, a computerized tool known as EPS - Environmental Priority Strategies in product design - was born. It is made for use by non-LCA practitioners such as design engineers and purchasing staff. This software, particularly well adapted to the profile of Volvo's products, was introduced in the company in the beginning of the nineties. Today, combined with a LCA-data base, it's used as a “compass” to indicate the direction in which long-term environmental improvements have to be made.
The purpose of this paper is to explain, and illustrate with a concrete example, how the Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) is using LCA at the design phase. A description of the environmental tools will be presented, as well as a case study of an EPS-comparison between different tailgates, in order to describe how the system is used in practice. Experiences from the implementation will be discussed during the presentation.
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Louis, S. and Wendel, A., "Life Cycle Assessment and Design - Experience from Volvo Car Corporation," SAE Technical Paper 980473, 1998, https://doi.org/10.4271/980473.Also In
References
- Steen, B. Valuation of environmental impacts from depletion of metal and fossil mineral reserves and from emission of CO2 AFR report 70, AFR, Box 47148, S-10074 Stockholm Sweden
- Steen, B. Ryding, S.-O. The EPS-Enviro-Accouniting method. An application of environmental accounting principles for evaluation and valuation of environmental impact in product design Report B 1080 1992 AFR-Report 11, AFR, Box 47148, S-10074 Stockholm Sweden
- Ryding, S.-O. Steen, B. Wenblad, A. Karlsson, R. The EPS system - A Life Cycle Assessment Concept for Cleaner Technology and Product Development Strategies and Design for the Environment “Design for the Environment. EPA Workshop on Identifying a Framework for Human Health and Environmental Risk Ranking” Washington DC June 30 July 1 1993
- Steen, B. EPS-Default Valuation of Environmental Impacts from Emission and Use of resources 1996 Report 111. AFR Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm