Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Interface’s approach to sustainability has made evident the need for better ways to measure the environmental footprint of its products. Simply measuring the amount of recycled or rapidly renewable content is no longer sufficient. Singling out these individual environmental attributes does not capture the environmental impacts associated with sourcing and production of raw materials or the manufacture of the final product. As strange as it may seem, studies have shown that in some cases having recycled or renewable content may not improve the overall environmental footprint, particularly when extensive processing is required for turning certain materials back into usable forms. The true footprint is only seen when a much more detailed analysis, known as a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), is performed.

Interface companies are the first in the carpet industry, and among the first in North America, to use Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs. EPDs are like the ingredient and nutrition labels on food.  Instead of calories and percent of recommended daily allowances, an EPD shows the ingredients of products and the associated environmental impacts. What are EPDs?  How are they used?  Where can I read one? 
Click here to read more on EPDs.

Life Cycle Assessment is a tool used to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product (or process). A complete assessment involves capturing the materials, energy and wastes involved in each phase of the product’s life cycle. Within this method, environmental impacts are quantified and opportunities are identified and evaluated for continuous improvement. A detailed LCA requires the evaluation of all elements of a product’s life cycle:

• Raw material extraction and processing
• Internal manufacturing
• Transportation and distribution
• Use, reuse, and maintenance
• Recycling or final disposal