Focusing solely on one aspect of a product’s life, such as the material
production or a single impact such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), distorts the real picture and could lead to unintended consequences because it might ignore increased impacts during another life cycle phase (e.g. the use phase) or in another environmental impact category. LCA ensures that these unintended consequences are understood and avoided.
This public policy paper highlights the areas legislators, the industry and the public at large should consider when assessing the environmental credentials of a steel product.