What is LCA

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle. This means looking at each stage of the product's life, from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal of the product at the end of its useful life.

The goal of LCA is to identify and quantify the environmental impacts of a product, process or service, so that stakeholders can make informed decisions about how to reduce those impacts. It is a useful tool for businesses, governments, and individuals who want to minimize the environmental impact of their activities.

LCA typically includes four stages:

1. Goal and scope definition: This stage involves defining the purpose of the assessment, setting the boundaries of the system, and identifying the functional unit of the product or service being assessed.

2. Life cycle inventory: This stage involves collecting data on the inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts of each stage of the product's life cycle.

3. Life cycle impact assessment: This stage involves evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the product, process or service based on the data collected in the life cycle inventory.

4. Interpretation: This stage involves interpreting the results of the assessment and communicating them to stakeholders.

Overall, LCA provides a comprehensive picture of the environmental impacts of a product or service, which can help decision-makers identify opportunities for improvement and make more sustainable choices.