This review describes the process of life cycle analysis in some detail. It describes the different organisations involved in researching and applying these techniques and the database resources being used to generate comparative reports. The overview explains the factors to be considered, the terminology, the organisations involved in developing these techniques and the legislation which is driving the whole process forward. The ISO standards relating to environmental management are also discussed briefly in the document. Design for the environment is covered in the report. This review is accompanied by summaries of selected papers on life cycle analysis and environmental impact from the Rapra Polymer Library database.

Today we are experiencing a renaissance in the chemistry of polysaccharide materials. This is due in part to recognition of the importance of renewable-based materials in a society in which petroleum has become a much more expensive feedstock, with a cloudy future with respect to adequacy of supply. There are currently intense, global efforts to develop a biomass-based refinery process, intended to produce biofuel (ethanol or butanol being the top candidates) that will replace some or all of the petroleum-based fuel we now use. In parallel, scientists and non-scientists have become aware of the opportunities that this biofuel industry will create for biomass-based products. The utilization of waste from the biofuel process, along with the exploitation of the collection system for biomass that will serve the biofuel production process, to make other products from biomass, will create an unprecedented and revolutionary opportunity for the creation of integrated biorefineries. These biorefineries will have substantial resemblance to current petroleum refineries, in that they will convert a natural product (or more properly, products) into fuel by chemical transformations and separation processes, and simultaneously use co-products and main products as feedstocks for the production of more complex chemicals. In order to take advantage of the opportunities presented by a biorefinery-based economy, it is crucial that we develop new synthetic methods for polysaccharide derivatives, and new understanding of the structure-property-performance relationships of these versatile molecules. This symposium series book will describe new synthetic methods, novel polysaccharide derivatives, new applications of these derivatives in biomedicine and packaging applications, and numerous examples of the creation of new insight into the design of polysaccharide materials for performance. The articles in this symposium series book are good examples of the advances in polysaccharide chemistry being made in the current renaissance that will help to move us towards a biorefinery future.

The aim of this book is to link demand and supply of environmental information in the field of Life Cycle Management. The book is based on the results of the CHAINET concerted action financed by EU-DGXII for the work period 1998-2000, and is intended to build bridges between the different scientific communities in the field of Life Cycle Management. A structured approach is followed, meaning that both demand and supply of environmental information are characterised, after which the two are linked.

This book offers a detailed presentation of the principles and practice of life cycle impact assessment. As a volume of the LCA compendium, the book is structured according to the LCIA framework developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)passing through the phases of definition or selection of impact categories, category indicators and characterisation models (Classification): calculation of category indicator results (Characterisation); calculating the magnitude of category indicator results relative to reference information (Normalisation); and converting indicator results of different impact categories by using numerical factors based on value-choices (Weighting). Chapter one offers a historical overview of the development of life cycle impact assessment and presents the boundary conditions and the general principles and constraints of characterisation modelling in LCA. The second chapter outlines the considerations underlying the selection of impact categories and the classification or assignment of inventory flows into these categories. Chapters three through thirteen exploreall the impact categories that are commonly included in LCIA, discussing the characteristics of each followed by a review of midpoint and endpoint characterisation methods, metrics, uncertainties and new developments, and a discussion of research needs. Chapter-length treatment is accorded to Climate Change; Stratospheric Ozone Depletion; Human Toxicity; Particulate Matter Formation; Photochemical Ozone Formation; Ecotoxicity; Acidification; Eutrophication; Land Use; Water Use; and Abiotic Resource Use. The final two chapters map out the optional LCIA steps of Normalisation and Weighting.

This book brings value to anyone working with or designing natural fiber composite structures. It helps readers understand the value these materials can add to projects, how to choose the best materials and treatments, how to safely design and fabricate products made of natural fiber composites, and how to test them for safety. It covers the characterization of natural fibers, matrices and respective composites, and how to enhance their performance and processing as well as testing and degradation issues.

This book provides insight into the Life Cycle Management (LCM) concept and the progress in its implementation. LCM is a management concept applied in industrial and service sectors to improve products and services, while enhancing the overall sustainability performance of business and its value chains. In this regard, LCM is an opportunity to differentiate through sustainability performance on the market place, working with all departments of a company such as research and development, procurement and marketing, and to enhance the collaboration with stakeholders along a company’s value chain. LCM is used beyond short-term business success and aims at long-term achievements by minimizing environmental and socio-economic burden, while maximizing economic and social value.