Program Details
The first set of LCA pilots was completed in 2024.
To learn more about LCAs, the ASPN initiative, and opportunities to partner, please reach out to products@gba.org.
Smart Manufacturing Pilot Program
In 2024, ASPN sought manufacturers interested in participating in a Smart Manufacturing Pilot Program, which included a no cost Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Life Cycle Assessments typically cost a manufacturer approximately $50,000 per assessment. The ASPN initiative was able to offer this assessment to four regional manufacturers at no cost thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
What is an LCA?
An LCA measures the environmental impacts of a product or material. It is a quantitative assessment and is the gold standard in understanding the environmental consequences of a product. Because they utilize standardized data, LCAs allow supplier products to be compared objectively. LCAs offer a number of benefits to manufacturers and can benefit your company in the following areas:
Design
What changes can we make to the product to lessen its environmental impact?
Tracking
How does our environmental performance compare with past years?
Purchasing
Which supplier product has the least environmental impact?
Marketing
Does our product meet the higher standards set by selective customers and markets?
Benchmarking
How does our company/product compare to others in our industry?
Policy
What initiatives will help our company improve overall environmental outcomes and performance?
Other benefits include:
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Environmental impact reduction: A life cycle assessment (LCA) can identify environmental hotspots within a product’s lifecycle, allowing potential improvements to be identified and implemented. This can lead to a reduction in the product’s overall environmental impact.
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Resource preservation: LCA can aid in identifying opportunities for resource preservation by spotting areas where resources are being used inefficiently or where alternative materials or processes may be more sustainable.
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Cost savings: Putting an LCA’s recommendations into action can result in cost savings by identifying and implementing more efficient processes and using less expensive, more sustainable materials.
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Risk management: LCA can assist in identifying and assessing potential risks associated with the manufacture, use, and disposal of a product, allowing risk management strategies to be implemented.
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Improved stakeholder relationships: By demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and transparency, LCA can help to strengthen relationships with customers, regulators, and others.
Simply having an LCA-based Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) report can be a major boost to market access, particularly for building products and materials.