Using a streamlined life-cycle analysis matrix to structure a design for the environment program for a complex defense system

Global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone, acid rain, loss of species diversity, and other environmental impacts can be traced, at least in part, to man´s industrial activities. Resulting business and social pressures have caused the design and engineering communities to begin systematically integrating environmental issues into the design process; an activity referred to as design for the environment (DfE). Environmental life-cycle analysis (LCA) matrices may be used as a template for establishing a DfE framework that can be tailored to a specific program or project and can be applied to processes, products or facilities. By using a team-based approach to identify significant environmental aspects, the design personnel are in a position to build checklists, guidelines and other DfE tools based on a life-cycle analysis. The matrix approach can be used to support the environmental aspects analysis of ISO 14001