The use of Life Cycle Assessment in environmental characterization of materials for ecodesign

The use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the design stage of technical objects is presented. Environmental analysis was conducted on a wrapping machine, with special interest given to its gear transmission. Using LCA, environmental profiles and environmental indices for different constructions of gear wheels are produced and, on this basis, on optimal combination of materials for elements of transmission gears is found. The results of simulation give many interesting observations, which are important for both machine designers and manufacturers.