Life Cycle Analysis and Commodity Chain Analysis (Research Paper Sample)

Life Cycle Analysis and Commodity Chain Analysis
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Life Cycle Analysis and Commodity Chain Analysis
Problem Statement
Human activities alter the ecological balance. Various practices, such as agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, and urbanisation, have immensely contributed to ecological degradation. Unpredictable weather changes and other natural disasters are on the rise globally. The trend is attributed to climate change, which is caused by human activities. The global rise in temperature has led to a rise in sea level, melting ice, droughts, hurricanes, heat waves, and other erratic weather activities. Limited or partial research on the adverse effects of human actions has led to unstainable operations. As a result, the research paper focuses on ways of embracing sustainable operations. Particularly, the link between life cycle assessment (LCA) and commodity chain analysis (CCA), and its use in enhancing eco-friendly activities. Agricultural activities heavily contribute to ecological devastation in various states. Large scale cultivation demands mechanization and the use of fertilizers. LCA assists in evaluating the damage caused by each phase of the agricultural activities. The systematic assessment is useful in making informed decisions in the conservational measures. The goal of the research is to provide reliable information that guides policy marking. Sustainable farming and livestock farming activities are essential in reducing carbon footprints. Therefore, the analysis will focus on the concepts of LCA and how it assists in enhancing the sustainability of the commodity chain.
Key Concepts
Life Cycle Analysis
Environmental management is necessary in protecting global biodiversity. Curran (2014) defines LCA as a science-based technique used to evaluate the environmental aspects and potential effects associated with a given product. Curran (2015) illustrates that the concept is linked to pollution control, energy efficiency, and waste management initiated in the 1960s. However, the concept has been modified over time to cater for the entire life cycle of specific manufactured goods, starting with creation, then use, and end-life. Curran (2014) explains that ISO standards 14040 governs the application framework of LCA. The effect of each stage in the environment is documented, and the findings used to formulate appropriate remedies. The tracking enables environmentalists to tackle pollution from the source. Teuteberg Hempe, and Schebek, 2018 confirm that LCA assists in decision making. Various measures have been implemented by international agencies and governments to ensure a reduction in environmental degradation. Therefore, the concept is vital in the discussion of commodity chain analysis
Commodity Chain Analysis
The process of creation of goods and services entails various phases. A commodity chain is defined as a "network of labor and production processes, whose result is a finished commodity” (Bair 2009). The concept can also be referred to as global commodity chains or global value chains. The primary concern of the CCA is agricultural activities. Technological revolutions have altered how farming is executed. Mechanization and use of organic manure have been adopted globally, to increase productivity. Bair (2009) states that the agents in the CCA include firms, households, government, financial institutions, and the global community. Each group contributes to the process of raw material production, intermediary goods, and final products. However, the activities have resulted in negative consequences for the environment. Each stage in agricultural production leaves an undesirable footprint in the adjacent environment. Blair (2009) elaborates that linking together different chains in the agricultural sector is essential in the realization of viable operations. The goal of the CCA is to reduce conservation measures by ensuring each agricultural process adheres to environmental regulations. Therefore CCA provides a useful tool to understand various policies implemented globally. Analytical exploration of the supply chain and the link in the degradation of the environment allows informed decision making.
Relationship between Life Cycle Analysis and Commodity Chain Analysis
LCA and CCA are valuable tools that assist in reducing the dilapidation of the environment. The techniques allow the environmentalist to identify the sources of toxic waste, impact, and establish appropriate measures. Bair (2009) shows that CCA's focus is on the worldwide division of labour, and integration has evolved. On the other hand, LCA explores various phases in the production chain. Modern capitalism is cited as the primary reason for the changes encountered in the various industrial process (Bair, 2009). Individuals and corporations are concerned with profit marking, with limited emphasis on conservational challenges. The two similarities prove that LCA and CCA are essential models in tackling the increasing pollution. Cases of environmental degradation are on the rise due to changes in farming techniques. Lovett et al. (2007) argue that monitoring is essential in tackling the emerging environmental catastrophes. Similarly, LCA explores the need for balancing the profitability of and activity with eco-friendly processes (Curran, 2014). The need to establish a consensus between sustainability and commercial aspect is the most significant trade-off in the operations of most of the firms. For that reason. LCA and CCA provide an avenue to understand environmental dilapidation and possible measures to mitigate potential hazards.
Secondly, the unequal distribution of rewards is the focus on CCA. The research is based on establishing the benefits gained by developed and third world countries in the chain of production. Each agent in the supply chain ought to benefit from the activities. However, it has been established that developed nations exploit the less industrialized states (Bair, 2013). The acquisition of raw material at lower prices and the sale of finished goods at higher prices has resulted in an imbalance in trade. Besides, the highest percentage of carbon footprints are significantly associated with industries, while the burden is shared across the divide. Disasters such as droughts, excess rainfalls, windstorms, flooding, and unpredictable weather pattern affects the global community. As a result, CCA explores how the supply chain the world operates. LCA provides the best scientific approach to assessing each aspect. The ability to trace the individual contribution of each phase in the environmental damage assists in overcoming the degradation from the source (Teuteberg et al., 2018). The application of the two concepts provides a lasting solution to tackling the sustainability issues in the environment. Thus, LCA and CCA provide an avenue of understanding how agricultural production network contributes to environmental damage and provides a possible approach to tackle the menace.
Further, the commodity chain explores the cyclical shift in the global economy. Bair (2009) explains that the economic slump leads to a decline in productivity. The reduction in the number of producers’ means there will include limited economic activities in the supply chain. The concept is useful in the LCA evaluation as it pinpoints the exact contribution in a given phase of the production (Finkbeiner, 2013). High productivity in a given agricultural activity is likely linked with ecological devastation. The need to increase the yields leads to the use of more fertilizers. Similarly, the transportation and processing of the raw materials to finish products have an impact on the environment. The energy use and raw material discharge are likely to have a negative footprint in the environment (Bruel et al., 2016). As a result, LCA is useful in the assessment of CCA during recession and boom in the economy. The findings offer valuable information that can be utilized to reduce the degradation of the ecosystem through the use of tested and verified methods (Finkbeiner, 2013). Reliable data enables the scientist to formulate mitigation measures that will assist in tackling the pollution attributed to agricultural activities.
Application of Life Cycle Analysis in Commodity Chain Analysis
The Use of LCA has evolved in the last three decades. The gradual changes were meant to enhance the application of the technique in improving sustainability operations. The current LCA methodology is based on the improvement of previous existing models. According to Curran (2015), SETAC 1990 was established in 1990 and considered aspects such as inventory, impact analysis, and improvement exploration. The model was then followed by SETAC 1993 that introduced goal definition and scope (Curran, 2014). The initiative was meant to expand the use of LCA in managing the environment. The new technique allowed the scientist to create specific goals that they intend to attain in the LCA process. The modern development used is ISO 1997/2006 (Curran 2015). The framework caters to the input-output analysis and its impact on the surroundings. Therefore, the latest IS0 14040 series is a sequential process that enables the users to focus on the specific niche in the ecology. ISO 14040 series offers the best methodology for evaluating the environmental degradation caused by human activities (Hellwegand & Canals, 2014). New LCA approach is useful in the analysis of the CCA. Each phase offers an insight into how the activities contribute to the degradation of the environment. Therefore, it is vital to explore the four steps stipulated in the LCA 1997/2006. The procedure is useful as it is internationally accepted.