Preface	v
Foreword	xi
Executive Summary	xvii

Chapter 1.0 Introduction	1

1.1 Overview	1
1.2 Historical Perspectives on Life-Cycle Inventory Development	3
1.3 Objectives of the Inventory and Its Applications	4
1.4 Criteria to be Met by Life-Cycle Inventories	6
1.5 Interpretations and Limitations	7
1.6 Legal Issues	7

Chapter 2.0 Framework For a Life-Cycle Inventory	9

2.1 Scope of an Inventory	9
2.2 Life-Cycle Inventory Stages	9
2.3 Construction of a Life-Cycle Inventory Model	11
2.4Presentation of Life-Cycle Inventory Results	16
2.5 Peer Review	25
2.6 Communication	25
2.7 Limitations of the Inventory	26

Chapter 3.0 Raw Materials and Energy	29

3.1 Overview of the Raw Materials Acquisition System	29
3.2 Data Analysis	30
3.3 Reporting	33
3.4 Recommendations	34

Chapter 4.0 Manufacturing, Processing, and Formulation	37

4.1 System Description	37
4.2 Factors Affecting Output Interpretation	37
4.3 Data Presentation	40

Chapter 5.0 Distribution and Transportation	45

5.1 System Overview	45
5.2 Components of Transportation and Distribution	47
5.3 Data Status	53
5.4 Generic Approaches and Models	54
5.5 Recommendations for Future Development of the Distribution and Transportation Stage	55

Chapter 6.0 Use / Re-Use / Maintenance	59

6.1 Boundaries and Scope of Activities	59
6.2 Activities in the Use / Re-Use / Maintenance Phase	60
6.3 Data Sources, Methodologies, and Deficiencies	63
6.4 Incorporation of End-Use Patterns	70
6.5 Presentation of Inputs, Outputs, and Reporting Format	71
6.6 Recommendations and Research and Development Needs for Future Life-Cycle Inventory Deployment	72

Chapter 7.0 Recycling	75

7.1 Boundaries and Scope of Activities	75
7.2 Activities in the Recycling Stage	75
7.3 Data Sources, Methodologies, and Deficiencies for Recycling Information	82
7.4 Recommendations and Research and Development Needs	84

Chapter 8.0 Waste Management	85

8.1 Overview of Waste Management	85
8.2 Waste Management Systems and Potential Pathways	90
8.3 Data Collection and Reporting	104
8.4 Uncertainties and Research Recommendations	112

Chapter 9.0 Research Needs for Life-Cycle Inventories	115

9.1 Database Development	115
9.2 Inventory Methodology Refinement	116

Chapter 10.0 Beyond the Inventory: Setting the Stage for the Environmental Impacts and Improvement Analyses Components of a Life-Cycle Assessment	119

10.1 The Bridge from Inventory to Analysis	120
10..2 General Considerations for the Life-Cycle Impact Analysis Component	121
10.3 General Considerations for the Improvement Analysis Component	123
10.4 Environmental Risk Assessment Versus Environmental Analysis	124

Appendix A - Glossary	125
Appendix B - Workshop Participants	129
Appendix C - Life-Cycle Assessment Bibliography and References	133