US Patent 6490569 - System for Combining Life Cycle Assessment with Activity Based Costing Using a Relational Database Software Application

Abstract

A method for analysis of environmental load burdens and associated costs for products, processes and services, which takes into account both life cycle assessment and activity based costing. The steps entailed in the method include representing the at least one product, process or service as a process hierarchy having at least one elemental component having at least one baseline process associated therewith; associating at least one driver corresponding to the at least one elemental component, with at least one environmental load/substance category; calculating a first metric reflective of an environmental load of providing the at least one product, process or service; and calculating a second metric reflective of a cost of providing the at least one product, processor service.