Life-cycle assessment infrastructure

The potential of compostable polymers materials depends on a further reduction in price, development of the cost of fossil resources, process optimization and scaling up supported by full life cycle assessment analysis, legislative measures, and development of composting infrastructures and the environmental awareness of consumers. 

In doing life cycle assessments, it is useful to consider the three major categories of products, processes, and facilities, all of which have environmental and resource impacts (Figure 14.5). Products are obviously the things and commodities that consumers use. They are discussed further in Section 14.5. Processes refer to the ways in which products are made. Facilities consist of the infrastructural elements in which products are made and distributed. 

The Project Assessment and Control Process is used to collect data to evaluate the adequacy of the project infrastructure, the availability of necessary resources, and compliance with project performance measures such as cost and drop-dead dates for completion of stages of the life cycle. The SEMP, WBS, schedule, and budget must be monitored with a robust feedback loop to stakeholders who are responsible for making key decisions based on the assessments. 

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