Sustainability Systems: Analyzing the Environmental Impact of White Board Markers

Running head: SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEM
SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEM
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEMS1
Executive Summary
The life cycle assessment is a process that explains about the environmental impact of the life
cycle process of the product by carrying out assessment. There are different stages in the life
cycle assessment as- scope and goals identification, inventory life cycle, the impact assessment
of the life cycle process and interpretation of the same. It helps in managing the inventory
properly in order to have minimum impact on the environment and also comprises of identifying
and evaluating the process and interpretation of the same. The company chosen for the purpose is
the AusPen white board markers and the Complete Office Supplies dealing in white board
markers. The main aim of the paper is to highlight the sustainability system followed by these
two brands in order to achieve sustainability of its products. The paper has discussed about the
problem being faced by the customers and the two alternatives that are trying to solve the same,
the paper also assigns weight to the different components of the white board marker. The paper
also discussed about the functional unit for the white board markers, a discussion on the material
flow diagram, an impact analysis of the two alternatives. The paper has identified the process
that gives the most environmental impact, identifies the process of the life cycle that has the
maximum impact on the environment and the remedial measures for the same and selection of
the best alternatives based on all these factors.

SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEMS2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Problem definition and description of the LCA procedure.........................................................2
Functional unit.............................................................................................................................6
Balanced material flow diagram for each alternative..................................................................7
Impact analysis for each alternative............................................................................................8
Identification of impacts of life cycle processes..........................................................................8
Remedial measures for reducing the impact of the life cycle processes and feasibility of
improved option...........................................................................................................................8
Selection of the best alternative...................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEMS3
Introduction
Life cycle assessment is the process of analyzing the environmental impact of the chosen
products life cycle on the environment starting from the stage of raw material to its processing,
to its distribution, to its use and other stages (Chau, Leung and Ng 2015). Life cycle assessment
can help in reducing the environmental impact of the products life cycle by properly managing
the resources and environmental impact through release of various emission, the results will be
reviewed in order to take other decisions. The main purpose of the LCA is to reduce the
environmental impact by properly assessing quantifying the inputs and the outputs.it helps I
atki8ng various decisions that are informed ones (Gong, Darling and You 2015). There are two
main LCA is the attribution LCA and consequential LCA. The attribution LCA looks after the
burden of the production and related to the use of the product. The consequential LCA looks
after consequences of the LCA on the environment. In the present world, it has become
important for the organizations to carry put its operations with the reducing the negative impacts
on the environment. The brands chosen for the purpose of this study are the AusPen and the
complete office solutions. These brands provide the same service of white board marker. The
main aim of the paper is to discuss about the two brands delivering the same services, the
problems faced by these brands related to environmental issues, analysis of both the brands and
based on that selection of the best brand that has the minimum impact on the environment.