Research

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Life Cycle Analysis in the Printing Industry: A Review

Area: Sustainable Print
Document # PICRM-2011-05

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the leading tool for estimating environmental effects of products and processes. Despite this wide use, LCA analysis remains problematic and limited. Within the printing industry, one of the primary problems is non-standardized assumptions and practices. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to compare the life cycle impacts of products. This paper will compare LCA studies performed within the printing industry in order to identify common practices, limitations, areas for improvement, and opportunities for standardization. This comparison is focused on the data sources and methodologies used in the particular studies.

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Tags: life cycle assessment LCA sustainability printing industry

Author

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Justin Bousquin
Graduate Student, E. Philip Saunders College of Business
Rochester Institute of Technology

Author

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Marcos Esterman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Rochester Institute of Technology

Author

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Sandra Rothenberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Zutes Faculty Fellow, E. Philip Saunders College of Business
Rochester Institute of Technology