ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The environmental impact of new multimaterials must be analysed on the basis of a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment. Recent LCA tools have been evaluated and applied to determine the effects of multimaterials development on the environment. A novel approach to LCA which includes workplace assessment (the WEST method) is presented.
Industrial practices for clean manufacture are discussed through aerospace and automotive experiences.
Recent research on recycling in the context of multimaterials is described.