LCC application in the Polish mining industry

Purpose - To provide a tool to evaluate the economic and ecological feasibility of new and existing mining projects using a combination of environmental goals expressed in life cycle assessment (LCA) results with economic goals expressed within life cycle costing (LCC).Design methodology approach - Sustainability is developing into a target for an increasing number of industries and governments. As a consequence focus has shifted from the production process to the entire life cycle. LCA is a tool that can help producers make better decisions concerning environmental protection, whereas the aim of LCC analysis is to create a cost-effective model for environmental impact assessment.Findings - Study of the influence of the environmental cost of projects should be based on long-term analysis of environmental investment. Using the life cycle net present value (LCNPV) method it is possible to compare different investment options, and this method can be treated as a tool that can help producers to make better decisions pertaining to environmental protection.Research limitations implications - Internalisation of external costs and valuation of environmental costs are the biggest problems for LCC calculations.Practical implications - Mining producers can reasonably expect that implementation of LCA and LCC will lead to minimisation of environmental impact of their activities and to more effective environmental, cost and waste management. This means savings through reducing the amount of waste emissions and a decrease in fees and fines.Originality value - The use of the tools described in this paper will increase the efficiency of the decision-making process, demonstrating the connection between activity and devastation of the environment.