Huang, Chien-ChungChien-ChungHuangMa, Hwong-WenHwong-WenMaHWONG-WEN MA2018-09-102018-09-102004http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-1842686056&partnerID=MN8TOARShttp://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/307172To reduce environmental damage, the properties of environmental issues must be understood. Most previous research has performed relevant assessment either qualitatively or quantitatively. This paper provides a new comprehensive evaluative framework to integrate these two types of approaches. Three methods are combined: (1) life cycle assessment (LCA), a quantitative method, to assess environmental loading, (2) analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a qualitative method, to obtain opinions from experts, and (3) cluster analysis to integrate the results of the former two methods. This new framework could provide integrated information and avoid a bias towards either qualitative or quantitative approach. To present the process of this new evaluative framework, packaging materials are selected as the case study in this paper. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.application/pdfapplication/pdfAnalytic hierarchy process (AHP); Cluster analysis; Life cycle assessment (LCA); Packaging materials[SDGs]SDG7[SDGs]SDG12Environmental impact; Life cycle; Packaging materials; Environmental damage; Environmental loading; Environmental engineering; cluster analysis; life cycle analysis; packaging waste; waste management; analytic method; article; cluster analysis; environmental factor; evaluation; life cycle assessment; packaging material; priority journal; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; Beverages; Cluster Analysis; Conservation of Natural Resources; Environmental Pollutants; Materials Testing; Models, Theoretical; Product Packaging; Refuse Disposal; Risk Assessmentjournal article10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.10.039