LCA Policies

This paper examines how different Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches, from full LCA"s to more qualitative LCA"s, are being used internationally in the development of government policies. Examples from 14 countries are provided for recent initiatives in various forms of policy which were developed to move national environmental policies toward the more life-cycle based programs. They indicate that a broader frame of reference is beginning to be used by those who write such policies. Discussion is also provided on the barriers that slow the adoption of life-cycle approaches in the development of government policies.