Structuring a process

What is a process?

Unit process is a fundamental concept in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is a tool used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle. In LCA, a life cycle is divided into different stages that include raw material extraction, production, use, and disposal. Each of these stages is made up of unit processes.

A unit process is defined as the smallest element in a life cycle inventory (LCI) that can be quantitatively analyzed. It is a collection of activities that are functionally and temporally coherent, and that transform inputs into outputs. The inputs and outputs of a unit process can be materials, energy, or emissions. In Looper, we call it a process.

For example, in the production stage of a product, a unit process could be the manufacturing of a specific component. The inputs to this unit process could include raw materials, energy, and water, while the outputs could include the component itself, waste, and emissions.

Unit processes are important in LCA because they allow for a detailed analysis of the environmental impacts of a product or service. By breaking down a life cycle into its component parts, it is possible to identify the stages and processes that have the most significant environmental impacts. This information can then be used to identify opportunities for improvement and to make informed decisions about product design and process optimization.

In conclusion, unit processes are a key concept in LCA that allow for a detailed analysis of the environmental impacts of a product or service. They are the smallest elements in a life cycle inventory that can be quantitatively analyzed, and they help to identify opportunities for improvement and inform decision-making.