Building a Life Cycle Assessment Tool & Library of Preventive Conservation Methods

FAIN: PR-268771-20

FAIC (Washington, DC 20005-1704)
Eric Pourchot (Project Director: May 2019 to September 2022)
Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe (Project Director: September 2022 to November 2023)
Sarah Sutton (Co Project Director: February 2020 to November 2023)
Matthew Eckelman (Co Project Director: February 2020 to November 2023)
Sarah Nunberg (Co Project Director: February 2020 to November 2023)

Development of an online Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool and library for conservation and preservation professionals. When completed, this tool and library would help cultural heritage institutions evaluate the environmental and human health impacts of collection management activities, including conservation treatment, storage, loans, and exhibitions.

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) will conducted Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) that will help collection care professionals to make informed choices that protect health and the environment while continuing to preserve and exhibit humanities collections. 3,500 materials, products, and processes will be researched and made available through an online Tool. Complex processes will captured in an LCA Library to guide collections care decision-making. Research results will be disseminated through articles, blog posts, presentations, workshops, and a traveling exhibit . Key research support will be provided by Northeastern University and the Pratt Institute. Principal Investigators are Matt Eckelman (NEU), Sarah Nunberg (Pratt), Eric Pourchot (FAIC), and Sarah Sutton (Sustainable Museums).