Declarações ambientais de produtos lácteos: análise e recomendações para aplicação

Abstract

The need of transparency and communication with the consumer about the environmental impacts generated by some product makes increasingly the producers looking for methods to quantify and report those information. Guided by ISO 14025 this study shows a general approach about Environmental Product Declaration (EDP) and its elaboration steps. The Product Category Rule (PCR) is an essential requirement for the elaboration of this kind of environmental certification (type III) therefore was used a methodology based on 60 criteria in order to compare two PCRs specifically to dairy products. In addition, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used, a technique with standards in ISO 14040 and 14044, aims to calculate the potential environmental impact generated by a process or product throughout its life cycle. It is possible to analyze the phases of the life cycle as extraction of the raw material, production, use and final disposal and calculate the potential environmental impact involved in each phase, in different categories. Among seven impact categories evaluated the Global Warming Potential is highlighted with bigger quantity of potential emissions. The study also showed by the Environmental Declarations evaluated that the production of milk in the fields is responsible in the majority of cases for more than 80% of total emissions in the environmental impact category evaluated. Furthermore, recommendations are given in order the development of this certification type become available in Brazilian territory.