Life Cycle Assessment in Supply Chain Management: Applications and limitations for practitioners

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) as it has appeared in studies of supply chain management (SCM) in order to explore the potential utility for practitioners. Despite its widespread application in environmental studies, research incorporating LCA into SCM has been very limited, though potential benefits for this match have been identified. This paper employs a systematic literature review to explore these two topics as they relate to one another. Results show that LCA and LCA-based concepts do appear in the literature, with important implications for managers in their pursuit to improve supply chain performance.