Authors
Manuele Margni
Professor, CIRAIG – Polytechnique Montreal
Other Collaborators:
Bruno Arcand, Marc-Étienne Dagesse, Simon Langlois-Bertrand
Legend
Categories of Instruments
The categories are based on Christopher Hood’s NATO model:
- Hood C (1983) The Tools of Government. Macmillan
- Hood C, Margetts H (2007) The tools of government in the digital age. Palgrave
The NATO model groups policy instruments according to four types of social resources they rely on and from which governments derive different capabilities:
Nodality denotes the central point in information networks; gives governments a strategic position to disseminate information and/or access information.
Authority denotes the possession of legal powers and other sources of legitimacy; enables governments to demand, forbid, guarantee and adjudicate corporate and individual behaviour.
Treasure refers to public money and ‘fungible chattels’; allows governments to exchange and to use public resources as a means of influence.
Organization denotes the possession of a stock of people with skills, equipment, etc., gives governments in-house capacity to act, for example through bureaucratic and scientific leverage.
Types of Instruments
- Informational measures : based on the government’s central position in information or social networks; cover governmental participation in the building of life cycle databases and inventories, or the setup of sharing platforms; include the dissemination of more general LCA information, such as the results of (past) studies and reports in various sectors.
- Legislative and regulatory frameworks: codes of regulations, laws and acts, standards and mandatory eco-labels; bestow official power to demand, forbid, guarantee, adjudicate.
- Governmental procurement policies: public procurement of goods, services and construction using or promoting LCA in management-related decisions in different sectors and at different levels (agencies, ministries, departments).
- Financial support: covers instances where governmental agencies fund measures aimed to support the application of LCA by private actors; includes LCA completed in collaboration with, or funded by, public authorities; includes negative incentives such as taxes.
- Administrative practices: cover the use of LCA in-house in different agencies and departments, but also in state-owned corporations.
- Strategic guidance: covers references to life cycle assessment and life cycle thinking principles in high-level government strategy documents, action plans, scenarios or roadmaps; includes alternative terms whenever (a) the principles to which they refer are close to life cycle thinking and/or (b) the specific policy tool to which they refer is clearly within the family of policy tools that contain LCA.
Instruments by Category
| Instrument | Category |
| Informational measures | Nodality |
| Legislative and regulatory frameworks | Authority |
| Governmental procurement | Treasure |
| Financial support | Treasure |
| Administrative practices | Organization |
| Strategic guidance | Organization |
LCA Instruments per jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Instrument Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Leaflet (2009) promoting the relevance of LCA for agriculture and primary industries | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Australia | Ecologically sustainable design guide (2009) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Australia | Australian national life cycle inventory database (2011) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Australia | Green Star – voluntary green building rating | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Australia | Australian packaging covenant organisation guidelines for sustainable packing | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Australia | Financial support of bioenergy projects from Australian renewable energy agency depending on LCA | Financial support | Treasure |
| Australia | LCA as allowed method of carbon neutral certification within the carbon neutral program | Financial support | Treasure |
| California | Californian code of regulations title 24, part 11 (Californian green building code 2013): LCA dispositions for residential and non-residential sectors (voluntary measures) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| California | Californian oil recycling enhancement act (2009): comprehensive LCA of used lubricating and industrial oil management process | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| California | Low carbon fuel standard (2007): carbon intensity norms based on LCA | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| California | Pavement management system based on network-level GHG LCA equations (California Department of Transportation) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| California | Environmentally preferable purchasing program | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| California | 2015 Executive order (B-30-15) requires full life-cycle cost accounting to evaluate and compare infrastructure investments and alternatives | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| California | LCA to evaluate the impacts of hazardous waste management systems (Department of toxic substance control) | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Canada | GHGenius – lifecycle emissions model for transportation fuels and technologies | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Canada | Canadian raw material database (government supported University of Waterloo’s inventory data) INACTIVE | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Canada | Canadian agri-food life cycle data centre (food systems priority research for integrated sustainability management laboratory, University of British Columbia) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Canada | Clean fuel standard: LCA modelling tool required to evaluate the carbon intensity of domestic and imported fuels (ECCC) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Canada | Climate lens – general guidance (2019) for projects funded by Canada Infrastructure program, Disaster mitigation and adaption fund, and Smart cities challenge. | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Canada | Cost-benefit analysis framework (2019) as part of the regulatory impact analysis statement to assess life cycle carbon intensity of domestic and imported fossil fuels | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Canada | Supply manual (annex 2.2. on green procurement mentions life cycle costing and life cycle thinking) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Canada | Policy on green procurement (2006) mentions LCA as general principle | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Canada | Public services and procurement Canada’s office of greening government operations requires LCA for certain purchases TRANSFER TO Treasury Board | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Canada | Milk production LCA (2018), supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Diary Commission | Financial support | Treasure |
| Canada | LCA report on the environmental performance of solar photovoltaic technologies (2010), funded by Canmet Energy | Financial support | Treasure |
| Canada | Money paper LCA commissioned by the Bank of Canada | Administrative practices | Organization |
| Canada | Potash LCA funded by the Saskatchewan government as a part of a NRCan research project | Financial support | Treasure |
| Canada | Life cycle assessment in agriculture – potential applications, social license and market asses (2014), funded by the Albertan government and the (federal) Growing Forward 2 initiative | Financial support | Treasure |
| Denmark | LCA methodology guidelines on spatial differentiation in life cycle impact assessment (Environmental protection agency) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Denmark | “An introduction to life cycle thinking and management “ (2003, Environmental protection agency), guidelines for companies | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Denmark | LCA and life cycle cost calculation tools developed by the Environmental protection agency (2014) for industries to calculate the environmental impact of buildings and construction | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Denmark | LCA Center Denmark (2002), supported by the Environmental protection agency | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Denmark | Green procurement through the Forum on sustainable procurement (ministry of the environment) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Denmark | Green procurement through the Partnership for green public procurement (ministry of the environment) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Denmark | Green procurement through the Responsible procurer (ministry of the environment) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Denmark | Environmental protection agency’s promotion of green procurement policies in the public sector | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Denmark | Arla foods environmental and loss account LCA funded by the Environmental protection agency | Financial support | Treasure |
| Denmark | “Denmark without waste. Recycle more – incinerate less” (2013); strategy including LCA-based scenarios to collect and treat waste | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| EU | European platform on life cycle assessment | Informational measures | Nodality |
| EU | EU ecolabels based on LCA criteria to promote environmentally friendly products | Informational measures | Nodality |
| EU | Product environmental footprint pilot phase to harmonize LCA implementation | Informational measures | Nodality |
| EU | Supporting Environmentally Sound Decisions for Waste Management – A technical guide to Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for waste experts and LCA practitioners (JRC, 2011) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| EU | ISPRA research campus offers LCA expertise and training, notably for nuclear decommissioning and waste management | Informational measures | Nodality |
| EU | Recommendation of the Commission (2013/179/EU) the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| EU | The Integrated Product Policy and its toolbox, including LCA), aim to minimize the environmental degradation of products through all phases of their life cycle. | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| EU | Renewable energy directive (2018/2001) mentions LCA as a tool to evaluate eligible fuels | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| EU | Eco-design directive (2009/125/EC) requires that the eco-design of energy-related products considers environmental life cycle aspect | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| EU | Waste framework directive (2008/98/EC) requires that waste prevention programs consider the entire life cycle of products and materials | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| EU | Green public procurement encouraged by the Integrated product policy toolbox | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| EU | Green public procurement includes life cycle costing mechanism | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| EU | Sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy action plan (SCP/SIP) relates to LCA elements and policies | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| EU | Closing the loop. An EU action plan for the circular economy (2015), including LCA as a methodology to communicate environmental information | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| EU | Building the Single Market for Green Products. Facilitating better information on the environmental performance of products and organizations (2013), including the harmonization of LCA methodology | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| EU | Resource-efficient Europe flagship initiative: roadmap to better communicate to citizens and public authorities the environmental impact of goods and services over their life cycle | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| EU | Better regulation for better results – An EU agenda (2015). LCA is listed in the Better regulation toolbox | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| France | Creation and supporting of poles de compétitivité (e.g. eco-design) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | General principles for an environmental communication on mass market products (AFNOR, 2016) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | Base IMPACTS + bilan produit (ADEME): LCA based software to assess environmental impacts of products | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | AgriBalyse (ADEME): database of life cycle inventories of agricultural products | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | Les actions de l’ADEME pour soutenir la transition vers l’économie circulaire (2015) : review document | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | ADEME financial support for the production of complementary data for Base IMPACTS | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | Référentiel d’évaluation des impacts environnementaux des systèmes photovoltaïques par la méthode d’analyse de cycle de vie (ADEME, 2012) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | Eco-label regulation and experimentation on environmental labelling (2011-12) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| France | Loi de transition énergétique pour la croissance verte (2015) requires transparent environmental communication | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| France | Loi Grenelle I : transition to a circular economy must be made through the promotion of industrial and territorial ecology, and ecological product design. | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| France | Loi Grenelle II launches an experimentation on eco-labelling and favors the use of LCA for the environmental declaration of products | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| France | NF Environment ecolabel by AFNOR (in collaboration with ADEME) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| France | Intégrer les trois types de législations mentionnés par PV cycle https://www.pvcycle.fr/missions/ | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| France | Revenu garant de l’environnement certification required for subsidy demands for certain photovoltaic energy projects; many LCA based labels are recognized as RGE certification | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| France | Plan d’action national pour les achats publics durables (2004) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| France | Programme d’investissement d’avenir (2010) supports eco-design projects that ca be based on LCA | Financial support | Treasure |
| France | ADEME (Environment & energy management agency) finances and completes a variety of LCA studies | Financial support | Treasure |
| France | The Energy Regulatory Commission conducted a procurement process for photovoltaic installation projects (above 250 kW) requiring LCA | Administrative practices | Organization |
| France | Stratégie nationale bas-carbone refers to eco-conception for the buildings sector and waste management | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| France | Stratégie nationale de développement durable aims to build a circular economy by 2020 | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| France | Stragégie de développement durable de la défense committed to design equipement by considering its life cycle | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Germany | Federal environmental agency manual on the use of valuation in LCA (1999) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Germany | Ökobaudat, database of building services and construction materials | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Germany | German LCA network (2003-2008) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Germany | ProBase internet portal offers various data sets for LCA use | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Germany | Joint guidelines (2010, 2012) by the government and the federation of industries for companies to calculate and communicate product carbon footprints | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Germany | Packaging ordinance (1995) requires LCA for beverage packaging; amendment (2003) requires deposit for single-use beverage packaging | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Germany | “Top-runner approach” as guiding principle in product-related environmental protection | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Germany | Contract-award law allows for factoring in of life cycle cost in the bid assessment process, in some cases prescribes it. | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Germany | Ökoinstitut study (2005) based on LCA on the performance of the municipal waste sector with regard to climate change, commissioned by the Federal environmental agency | Financial support | Treasure |
| Germany | Strategic cornerstones for sustainable development in municipalities (2015) refers to the need to assess life cycle of infrastructure projects | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Germany | National programme for sustainable consumption (2016) outlines strategies to systematically strengthen and develop sustainable consumption in various areas | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Germany | The German annex to the leaders’ declaration G7 summit (2015) promotes life cycle based decision-making | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Ireland | Capital works management framework guides and assists construction cost professionals in carrying out whole life cycle cost analysis and producing life cycle cost models | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Ireland | Application of LCA-to-go European program for | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Ireland | Green procurement – guidance for the public sector (2014) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Ireland | Public bodies and schools are required to report annually to Sustainable energy authority of Ireland on their energy performance | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Ireland | Research stimulus fund (2006-2010) funded several LCA studies | Financial support | Treasure |
| Ireland | Environmental protection agency financed research project to evaluate life cycle impact of wastewater treatment plants (2014) | Financial support | Treasure |
| Ireland | Department for the environment, community and local government funded LCA study on compost production and agricultural use produced by Rx3 (2012) | Financial support | Treasure |
| Ireland | Our sustainable future – a framework for sustainable development for Ireland (2012) refers to the necessity to consider the full life cycle | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Ireland | Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment (2016): the state-of-the environment report indicates that regulatory approaches will require LCA in the coming decades for business as well as eco-label standards | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Italy | Scientific network rete italiana LCA | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Italy | Laboratory for the valorization of resources in production and territorial systems (RISE) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Italy | Supporting environmentally sound decisions for waste management – a technical guide to life cycle thinking and life cycle assessment for waste experts and LCA practitioners (2011) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Italy | Law 221/2016 to promote green economy and restrict excessive use of natural resources refers to LCA in green procurement | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Italy | Made green in Italy (2018): a voluntary national certification system using the LCA European Product Environmental Footprint methodology | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Italy | Green public Procurement based on law 221/2016 refers to optional LCA INACTIVE | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Italy | Training from the environmental ministry available if there is no LCA expertise within a public administration unit | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Italy | Environmental impact assessment program (2011) aligned with EU’s PEF/OEF | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Japan | METI pilot project to apply EU’S PEF | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Japan | METI supported pilot phase as part of its carbon footprint of products programme that uses LCA to identify “hot spots” in products’ life cycle (after2012, the programme is transferred to the industry association) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Japan | METI life cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modelling (LIME) and LCA database (project (1998-2003); follow-up: LIME 2 (2003-2006) and LIME 3 (2011) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Japan | Life cycle assessment society of Japan, supported by METI | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Japan | Mandatory GHG accounting and reporting system (2006) requires large companies and public organizations to assess emissions over the life cycle | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Japan | Basic environment plan – environmentally sound material cycle refers to LCA in governmental evaluations | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Japan | 3R initiative proposed by the Prime minister at the G8 summit 2004 | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Netherlands | Handbook environmental prizes (2017) by CE Delft consultancy, commissioned by the Ministry of infrastructure and the environment | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Netherlands | ReCiPe (2008, revised 2016) model used for impact analysis in LCA, developed by the Ministry of health, welfare and sport | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Netherlands | National environmental database provides standardized data for LCA in the construction sector (managed by the private sector, but with support of the government) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Netherlands | DuboCalc (2010/2013) calculates the environmental impacts different infrastructure designs, based on material and energy use during the whole lifecycle, based on LCA | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| New Zealand | Life cycle association New Zealnd, creation supported by the government | Informational measures | Nodality |
| New Zealand | Research commissioned by the primary industries ministry used LCA to establish a database on construction materials | Informational measures | Nodality |
| New Zealand | The greenhouse gas footprinting (2007) of the primary industries ministry covers GHG over the life cycle of products and services | Informational measures | Nodality |
| New Zealand | LCA study (2015) on the environmental impact of electric vehicles | Informational measures | Nodality |
| New Zealand | Livestock and environmental assessment partnership (LEAP) and PEF/OEF | Informational measures | Nodality |
| New Zealand | Sustainable land management and climate change research programme provides annual subsidies for research projects, LCA is a favoured research topic | Financial support | Treasure |
| Quebec | CIRAIG database inventory, supported by the government | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Quebec | Open input-output database | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Quebec | Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement (53.4.1) allows for change in waste management priorities due to LCA justification | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Quebec | Charte du bois (2017) : GHG LCA required for publicly funded construction projects | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Quebec | EDDEC research project funded by the government to analyze the life cycle of strategic materials (iron, copper, lithium) | Financial support | Treasure |
| Quebec | Grain sector LCA (2015) funded by the Quebec and federal government | Financial support | Treasure |
| Quebec | CIRAIG-led LCA studies on pavement (2009, 2019) funded by the government | Financial support | Treasure |
| Quebec | CIRAIG-led LCA studies on product and services for Hydro-Quebec | Financial support | Treasure |
| Quebec | Orientation ministérielle sur le choix des types de chaussées 2010-2015 (2012) : LCA as decision-making tool for managing the road network | Administrative practices | Organization |
| Quebec | Plan d’action du développement durable 2016-2021 refers to EDDEC analysis of strategic materials | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Quebec | Plan d’action 2013-2020 sur les changements climatiques : pilot project for carbon footprint certification | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| Quebec | Stratégie gouvernementale de développement durable 2015-2020 : eco-responsible managing practices for public administration, including life cycle notion | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Quebec | Transporter le Québec vers la modernité : Politique de mobilité durable 2030 (2018) refers to LCA to assess fuels | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Sweden | Swedish life cycle center partly funded by the government; Life cycle database owned by the center (maintained by Chalmers Univerity of Technology) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Sweden | International environmental product declaration system (2014) led by IVL Swedish research institute | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Sweden | Nornet LC funded by Nordic Built; Nordic network for LCA use (2015-17) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Sweden | Swedish environmental protection agency’s national action plan for environmentally sustainable procurement refers to life cycle costing | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Sweden | Counting on LCC energy: tool to calculate life cycle costs of products for procurement | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Sweden | Swedish national roadmap for implementing the European environmental technologies action plan (2006) promotes life cycle costing in procurement (action 20) | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Sweden | IVL-led LCA study (2017) on lithium batteries for vehicles funded by the Swedish energy agency and the Swedish transport administration | Financial support | Treasure |
| Sweden | IVL-led LCA study (2009) on wood pellet production funded by the Swedish energy agency | Financial support | Treasure |
| Sweden | GreenBridge (2015), doctoral thesis to develop a LCA tool to assess life cycle cost of bridges, partially funded by the Swedish transport agency | Financial support | Treasure |
| Sweden | National research program for energy efficiency in historic buildings (2016) and VindEL (2017), including life cycle as possible qualifying criterion, funded by the government | Financial support | Treasure |
| Sweden | LCA calculation tool for the construction of roads and infrastructure of the Swedish transport agency must be used by suppliers | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Sweden | LCA study (2014) by the Swedish transport agency to compare options for the the extension of a highway (Västra Linken Umeå) | Administrative practices | Organization |
| Sweden | Sweden’s environmental objectives – an introduction (20012) refers to non-toxic and efficient materials life cycle as generational goals | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Sweden | Strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation in the areas of environmental sustainability, sustainable climate and oceans, and sustainable use of natural resources 2018-2022 (2018) refers to life cycle perspective for sustainable production and consumption | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Sweden | Government bill (2008/09:35) on future travel and transport infrastructure for sustainable growth refers to life cycle perspective | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Sweden | Government bill (2021/13:25) on investments for a strong and sustainable transport system refers to life cycle cost of materials and methods | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| Switzerland | Swiss agricultural life cycle assessment database | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Switzerland | Ecoinvent life cycle inventory database (founded with the support of the government) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Switzerland | World food LCA database to support environmental product declaration and ecodesign | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Switzerland | National resource and efficiency network provides analytical tools to assess resource and material efficiency, codeveloped by the governement | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Switzerland | SFOE energy research database INACTIVE | Informational measures | Nodality |
| Switzerland | Green economy action plan (2013) refers to the importance of a life perspective | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| Switzerland | Sustainable development strategy 2016019 refers to life and material cycles | Strategic guidance | Organization |
| UK | Code for sustainable homes (2007): voluntary national standard using LCA (certification under governmental contract) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| UK | Inventory and carbon database V3:national material database with focus on energy and carbon, funded by the government | Informational measures | Nodality |
| UK | LCA study on food supply and production chains funded by the governmental Food chain programme (2006-07) | Informational measures | Nodality |
| UK | Sustainable clothing roadmap (2007) to improve life cycle of clothing, government coordination; implementation through Waste and resources action programme (2011) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| UK | Waste and resources action programme to reduce voluntarily reduce household food waste, packaging and supply chain waste throughout their life cycle (Courtault commitment 2005-2015) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| UK | National sustainable public procurement programme aligned with the European Commission’s Green public procurement programme initiative | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| UK | LCA study on supermarket carrier bags (2011) funded by the government | Financial support | Treasure |
| UK | Newcomers’ guide to life cycle assessment – baselines and boundaries’ (2015) funded by the government | Financial support | Treasure |
| UK | LCA study on nappies (2005, update 2008) funded by the government | Financial support | Treasure |
| UK | Application of a LCA study in waste planning and strategy development via the WISARD software tool supported by the government | Administrative practices | Organization |
| UK | Best practicable environmental option guiding the administration in environmental decision-making, LCA as key component; used for decommissioning nuclear installations and waste management | Administrative practices | Organization |
| USA | U.S. life cycle inventory database (2011) created by NREL | Informational measures | Nodality |
| USA | EPA Life cycle engineering guidelines (2001) to facilitate LCA implementation in the engineering of products, processes, and installations | Informational measures | Nodality |
| USA | LCA commons – plateform containing LCA analyses and providing LCA data | Informational measures | Nodality |
| USA | LCA collection: catalogue and archive of data, tools, and resources that support LCA for agriculture and related areas of research | Informational measures | Nodality |
| USA | GREET (Greenhouse gases, regulated emissions, and energy use in transportation): model to evaluate vehicle and fuel combinations on a fuel-cycle/vehicle-cycle bases, developed by the government | Informational measures | Nodality |
| USA | Energy independence and security act (2007) requires EPA to perform LCA to create regulatory standards (U.S. renewable fuel standards) | Legislative and regulatory framework | Authority |
| USA | Environmental preferable purchasing refers to life cycle perspective/multiple attributes as a guiding principle | Governmental procurement policy | Treasure |
| USA | New methods in environmental remediation life cycle assessment (2004) under the Experimental program to stimulate competitive research: LCA protocol for human health risk, economic and sociopolitical assessment | Financial support | Treasure |
| USA | EPA Safer choice program uses LCA as part of an environmental certification program | Administrative practices | Organization |
| USA | Many labs related to the U.S. department of energy use LCA in various sectors (e.g. NREL) | Administrative practices | Organization |
| USA | Environmental impact statement uses LCA to assess corporate average fuel economy standards for passenger’s car and light trucks (2018) | Administrative practices | Organization |
Contact Us
Due to the exploratory nature of the research, the database is not exhaustive. If you know of other LCA-related government instruments that are in use in one of the 17 OECD jurisdictions, do not hesitate to send us information. Thank you for your contribution!
