Life Cycle Assessments
Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are a process by which the considerations of environmental and social impacts throughout the entire lifespan of a development or product can made. This is often called a "cradle to grave" approach.
Aggregates are a major part of any construction process and thus have an impact to be measured through LCAs. However, a limited number of tools, guides and approaches actually consider aggregates throughout the lifespan of a development.
The following tools, guides and approaches included in this Sustainability Module take into account the principles of LCA:
- Green Guide to Specification An assessment of the relative environmental performance of building materials and components.
- Environmental Code of Practice for Buildings A strategy to minimise the environmental impact of buildings over the entire building life cycle.
- The Natural Step Uses environmental management systems, key indicators and life cycle assessments for environmental planning.
- Procurement Module Information on the procurement of sustainable aggregates in construction.
In addition to the tools included in the Sustainability Module, the following tools and techniques addressing LCA provide alternative methods and may prove useful:
- Surrey County Council's work on the application of a Life Cycle Assessment technique in the investigation of Brick Arch Highway Bridges
- Queen's University (Belfast) work on Life Cycle Assessments
- Defra Report - Battery Waste Management Life Cycle Assessment
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