What is LCA?
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a systematic inventory and assessment of environmental and resource impacts throughout the entire life cycle of a product or product system.
An LCA considers the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction, production, transport, use phase to disposal or reuse. “Cradle to grave,” or preferably “cradle to cradle.”
Methodology:
- Inventory: Data is collected on all inputs and outputs of the product’s life cycle.
- Emissions Calculation: Emissions are calculated based on the inventory data.
- Classification: Emissions are categorized into various environmental impact categories.
- Characterization: The environmental impacts of different emissions are assessed and quantified.
- Improvement: Analysis of how the product’s life cycle can be improved.
LCA can be used in early-phase concept studies to account for the environmental burden of different concept choices/technical alternatives. It can also serve as a tool for finding the most environmentally friendly solutions during a project, or to document any environmental savings upon delivery.
Life cycle assessment is also used as a basis for developing EPDs for products.
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a concise document that describes the environmental impact of a product or service.

LCA can answer:
- What are the most significant environmental problems for a system?
- Where in the life cycle do the most significant environmental problems occur?
- What is the greatest potential for product improvement of a system from an environmentally efficient perspective?
- Documentation of the total environmental impacts associated with your own product if a customer wishes to compare it with a competing product?
Various Environmental Impact Categories:
- GWP: Global Warming Potential
- ODP: Ozone Depletion Potential (stratospheric ozone layer)
- POCP: Photochemical Oxidation Potential