Life Cycles – Environmental Assessment
Recently, I came across an organization that looks at the full environmental cost of items: Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment. They take into account the entire life cycle, not only the manufacture, but the use and disposal of an item. This is a very thorough way to help decide on a choice between two items.
I was surprised by what they found out about plastic and paper bags. Unless you have very high recycle rates for the paper bags, it takes much more energy and creates much more pollution to produce them than plastic bags. Read more in the full review.
Their findings about diapers was also very interesting. After reading a couple of their reviews, I know many more things to consider when purchasing new items.
Comments(3)
Indeed the Institute’s findings are surprising regarding paper versus plastic bags. I have no doubt their assesment is thorough. But I find these comparisons can be dangerous if it leads one to think that plastic bags are therefore a choice at all.
Plastic bags, as have been shown worldwide, are an awful choice. Reusable and tough cloth bags are the way to go. The Institute’s findings may lead us away from bad choices (paper bags), but should in no way lead us to make choices that are only marginally better.
Indeed, the Institute’s final remarks lead one to think it promotes greater efficiency in plastic bag production and bagging techniques. This is dangerous. This is not a binary choice situation. Indeed, if we’re assessing choices, let’s assess cloth bags, plastic bins, wicker baskets, whatever people can use to avoid polluting.
I would love to find out more about ILEA however in following the link I end up at a website that seems to be more related to sales (2nd hand cars etc)than lifecycle assessment. Is this a New Zealand organisation? If so, is there another link? Thanks
It appears the organization I referred to has lose their domain and place on the web. I’m sorry about that – so the links don’t seem to work. And I can’t find their new site.