Mitigating environmental impacts using Life Cycle Assessment in Brazilian companies: A stakeholders' perspective

Abstract

The increase in environmental problems in recent decades has required the evolution of the tools used to mitigate environmental impacts, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of LCA in Brazilian companies. Data collection involved a questionnaire administrated to companies addressing attitudes related to environmental management, enabling the following three classifications: (1) Does not use Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), (2) Uses LCT and (3) Uses LCA. The results were categorized and submitted to both descriptive and multivariate analyses. Most companies investigated do not yet use LCA. The main obstacles were difficulties involved in implementing LCA, the lack of an external demand, a lack of available background data and difficulty applying the results to the environmental improvement of products. In contrast, the main reasons that led companies to use LCA were the possibility of reducing environmental impact, achieving improvements in the production process, the creation of a differentiated product for the market and the improvement of environmental management. The findings underscore the need for greater governmental support with regard to environmental labeling (mainly type III) and greater dissemination of information on LCA within industries, since the lack of knowledge of the tool is perceived as one of the greatest obstacles. This research is pioneering in Brazil. Further studies should identify the evolution in LCA use in Brazilian companies, which should reflect an improvement in environmental management on the national level.

Keywords: Brazilian companies; Environmental management; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle thinking.