4.1 This guide provides a reference to the manufacturing community for the evaluation of environmental sustainability aspects of manufacturing processes. This guide is intended to improve efficiencies and consistencies of informal methods by providing procedures for consistent evaluations of manufacturing processes.

4.2 This guide describes a procedure to identify parameters and models for evaluating sustainability metrics for a particular process. Users of this guide will benefit from insight into the sustainability implications of selected processes as well as the contributing factors.

1.1 This guide provides guidance to develop manufacturer-specific procedures for evaluating the environmental sustainability performance of manufacturing processes. This guide introduces decision support methods that can be used to improve sustainability performance.

1.2 The scope of this guide is constrained by the manufacturing phase of the life cycle. The guide addresses specifics related to the processes and procedures within this phase.

1.3 This guide will allow manufacturers to make effective evaluations during plant and enterprise-wide decision-making within the manufacturing phase.

1.4 This guide focuses on environmental sustainability impacts, though social and economic impacts are not explicitly excluded.

1.5 This guide addresses:

1.5.1 Setting boundaries for the evaluation of environmental sustainability of a process or processes,

1.5.2 Identifying the process and equipment-related parameters necessary for environmental sustainability-driven process evaluation,

1.5.3 Creating process models using these parameters,

1.5.4 Utilizing process models to support consistent evaluations and sustainability-driven decision-making in a manufacturing enterprise.

Note 1: See ULE 880 for additional guidance at enterprise-level decision-making.

1.6 This guide may be used to complement other standards that address sustainability and the product life cycle. This guide most closely relates to the inventory component as discussed in the ISO 14040 series (ISO 14040, ISO 14044) standards, efficiency as discussed in the ISO 50000 series (ISO 50001) standards, and resource management as discussed in the ISO 55000 series (ISO 55001) standards.

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.