LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Understand the environmental impacts of your product — from raw materials through to end of life
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle, from raw material extraction and manufacturing through to use and end of life.
Alongside carbon emissions, an LCA can also report on a range of other Environmental Impact Indicators, providing a broader picture of your product’s environmental performance.
What is an LCA
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) looks at the environmental impacts of a product across its whole life cycle — from the materials and manufacturing through to how it is used and what happens at the end of its life.
It considers what goes into making and using a product, as well as the emissions, waste and other environmental impacts associated with each stage of its life cycle.
LCAs are carried out in accordance with internationally recognised ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards.
Why do businesses use LCA's
Understand environmental impacts beyond carbon
Identify environmental hotspots and opportunities for improvement
Support product design, procurement and sustainability decisions
Provide credible environmental data
Compare products, materials or design options
Prepare for an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), where appropriate
What does an LCA measure?
An LCA can measure a range of environmental impacts associated with a product. These can include carbon emissions as well as other indicators such as:
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Ozone depletion
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Acidification
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Eutrophication
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Photochemical ozone creation
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Resource use
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Energy use
The impact categories included depend on the purpose and scope of the assessment.
How are LCAs carried out?
Every LCA is different, but the process generally involves:
Define the product and assessment scope
We establish what is being assessed, the life cycle stages included and the purpose of the assessment.
Collect and review data
We gather information about materials, energy, transport, manufacturing, use and end-of-life processes.
Model environmental impacts
The data is modelled to calculate the environmental impacts associated with the product's life cycle
Analyse and interpret the results
We identify the main sources of environmental impact and what the results mean for the product.
Identify improvement opportunities
The results can help identify areas where changes to materials, manufacturing or other stages of the life cycle could reduce environmental impacts.
Develop an EPD if required
An LCA can also provide the underlying environmental data needed to develop an
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), where appropriate.
What we can help with
LCA data collection
Modelling and assessment
Interpretation of results
Recommendations for improvement
EPD development/publication