Life-Cycle Assessments

Life cycle assessment is a methodology to quantify the total environmental impacts of a product or service, from raw material extraction through to end-of-life. Weyerhaeuser uses or participates in life-cycle assessments of our products based on business needs. LCA is a useful tool but measuring all material inputs and environmental impacts from “cradle-to-grave” is complex and not always feasible.

We participated as a technical partner in LCA research conducted for the Japan Association for Milkcarton Recycling and the Committee on Milkcarton Environmental Issues. These organizations have conducted significant life-cycle analyses on different types of packaging along the complete life cycle of a milk carton, from forest to dairy to retail. In our wood products business, we supported a consortium of 15 universities and research institutions in their LCA comparing wood, steel and concrete housing (see Green Building in this section of our website).