The emergence of Life Cycle Assessment started with

• the undertaking of studies that aimed to optimise energy consumption in a context where strong energy consumption represented a restraint for the industrials (costs, possible boycott …)

• then was a transition from straight energetic consumption studies to studies that would take into account the energetic raw material consumption, in order to improve the analysis and to get more information about it (« inputs »)

• and eventually the development studies that take into account not only the  inputs (”inflows”) but also the outputs (“outflows”)

1969 : first mulitciteria study for Coca-Cola (By Harry E. Teastley Jr.)

• Taking into account of the whole environmental impacts, from the raw material extraction to the waste disposal (what is called from the cradle to the grave approach)

• Clear objectives to:

  • choice between glass and plastic for the product bottling,

  • choice between internal or external bottle production,

  • end of life options (recycling or one-way) for the chosen bottle

The study revealed the plastic bottle as the best choice, contrary to all expectations.

The study has never been published in its complete version. Only was a summary in April 1976 in « Science Magazine »

First discussions on validity of comparisons appeared with the first study results . This leaded the scientific community to go into a standardisation process.

Life Cycle Assessment History

• 1984 : publication by the EMPA of the « Ecological report of packaging material »
• 1991 : first works at SETAC
• March 1992 : First European scheme on Eco-labels
• June 1992 : creation of SPOLD, creation of a data exchange standard between 1995 et 1996
• 1996 : NF X30-300, first standard in France for Life Cycle Assessment
• 1997-2000 : ISO 14040,41,42,43, international series of standard defining the different stages of the LCA methodology
• 1999-2001 : ISO 14020, 25 , 48, 49, series of standard and technical documents concerning communication, environmental declaration directions and working methods…

Nowadays, a great diversity of applications and ways of communication

• Three types of Europeans Eco-labels (I, II et III)
• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in standardisation (ISO 14025)
• Integrated Product Policy (IPP) in implementation by the European Commission, and by its members in a rather dissimilar way.