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Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a widely adopted sustainability assessment technique which strives to identify the environmental impacts of products and services throughout their complete life cycle, from raw material extraction all the way to disposal. It is a comprehensive approach to analyze the cradle to grave impacts of all phases of a product or service life cycle, and to identify which are most important and require attention. The goal of life cycle analysis is to reduce the environmental impacts associated with any given product or service life cycle.
Life cycle analysis starts with determining the system boundaries - the life cycle stages that are to include in the analysis. Then, the process of gathering data is conducted to quantify the inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts of the life cycle stages. After the data is gathered, the impact categories are evaluated, such as energy consumed, air pollution, global warming, and human toxicity. Finally, a life cycle assessment report is prepared based on the findings from the life cycle analysis.
The first step of life cycle analysis is to analyze the materials, energy, and other inputs that go into the product. For example, in making a car, researchers would look at the materials needed to make the metal frame, tires, seats, etc. This includes not only the raw materials but also the energy inputs used to produce them.
The second step is to analyze the outputs. This includes emissions, effluents and waste discharged during production and end-of-life disposal. It also includes the energy generated during the manufacturing process and any resources that can be recovered or recycled. By understanding the output of each phase of the life cycle, the environmental impacts of the product can be determined.
The final step is to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle stages. Different impact assessment methods are used to assess things like energy consumption, air pollution, global warming, and human toxicity. This information is then used to analyze the overall life cycle of a product, helping to identify areas for improvement or optimization.
LCA has been around for over 30 years, and over the years has been improved and refined in order to be more accurate and comprehensive. It is now used by many organizations to evaluate the environmental impacts of their products and services, and to continually strive to reduce these impacts over time. Life cycle analysis is considered to be an important tool in achieving a more sustainable manufacturing industry.
