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There is a growing awareness of the business value of sustainable practices. Life cycle tools can be used to design and continually improve future vehicles as well as provide bottom line cost savings, increase the recycled content and recyclability of products, and reduce the hazardous substance content in products. Data collection and management procedures as well as advanced life cycle technologies and tools have been developed and implemented at some corporations to meet the global market demands to increase the recycled content and recyclability of automobiles and to reduce the hazardous substance content in automobiles. Voluntary take-back legislation in Europe, as well as strict domestic and international labeling and reporting requirements for plastics and hazardous substances have prompted automotive manufacturers to aggressively evaluate (1) the regulated substances contained in their automobiles and (2) the recyclability of their automobiles.

Vehicle recycling is a sensible way for automakers to achieve both internal and external economic and environmental goals. By using recycled materials in the manufacturing of new vehicles, they can reduce costs for both the consumer and themselves, as well as conserve valuable resources. Data collection and management procedures have been developed and implemented at some corporations to meet the global market demands to increase the recycled content and recyclability of automobiles and to reduce the hazardous substance content in automobiles. Voluntary take-back legislation in Europe, as well as strict domestic and international labeling and reporting requirements for plastics and hazardous substances have prompted automotive manufacturers to aggressively evaluate (1) the regulated substances contained in their automobiles and (2) the recyclability of their automobiles.

A Life Cycle Management (LCM) model was used to compare two plastic protective seat cover alternatives for a vehicle. Protective seat covers are temporary plastic covers placed over the seats of a vehicle to protect them from soiling during the assembly process. A contoured all-plastic seat cover was compared to a plastic seat cover with elastic. The results indicate that use of the contoured seat cover results in cost savings of $136,000 annually for this particular model year vehicle. In addition, the contoured seat protector contains at least 25 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content and is recyclable, while the alternative cover contains no PCR and is not recycled. This case study concludes that cost savings can be achieved while increasing the recycled content and recyclability of an item necessary in the production of vehicles. By using the all-plastic seat protector, 90,000 pounds of waste can be diverted from landfills annually.

This paper presents a case example of the evolution of a Self-Declared Environmental label for a supplier. A comprehensive database system combined with Life Cycle Management (LCM) concepts provided the basis of the label design. Environmental labeling is under intense discussion and debate. Although three types of labels are discussed in the draft ISO 14000 Standards, the Type II Self-Declared Environmental Claim presently appears to be the only realistic choice for many suppliers. The Self-Declared Environmental Claim allows manufacturers to make environmental claims about their products in a practical manner. The Traverse Group Label Management Team uses a standardized data collection methodology and Life Cycle Management (LCM) analysis to produce Type II labels for suppliers. For the manufacturer described in the case example, the Type II label is currently being placed on shipments of plastic seat protectors. The evolution of this label is described in the case example.