Sekisui Specialty Chemicals is proud to share the results of our 3rd party evaluated life cycle analysis (LCA). The Environmental Protection Agency defines LCA as a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product. The assessment compiles “an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs and environmental releases” and evaluates “the potential environmental impacts associated with identified inputs and releases”. An LCA goes beyond simply evaluating greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. a carbon footprint) to look at the complete impact of our products’ manufacturing process on the environment.

The results of the assessment are presented in “cradle to gate” format. They include the impacts of extraction and transportation of raw materials, production and transport of fuels, production and transport of packaging to our facilities, and production of products ready for shipment to customers. The brochure below includes highlights of the full results,  including 100 year carbon emission equivalents comparing Selvol Polyvinyl Alcohol to other similar chemicals, acidification potential, and ozone depletion potential.

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals will use the results of this LCA to make more informed decisions in the continual process of reducing our total environmental footprint. Each one of our facilities adheres to an environmental policy that is an extension of Sekisui Chemical Group’s Prominence in Environment philosophy. “We are engaged in our daily business activities with the aims of halting the deterioration of natural capital” by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, promoting the use of recycled resources, and decreasing impacts on ecosystems. For more information on Sekisui Specialty Chemical’s site specific environmental policies and certifications, please visit the ‘About Us’ page on our company site. For more information on Sekisui Chemical Group’s CSR policy, please visit the corporate website.

Selvol Polyvinyl Alcohol LCA