4.2 Lifecycle assessment methodology

Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool for evaluating a product's environmental impact from cradle to grave. It examines raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life stages, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and make sustainable decisions.

LCA involves defining goals, analyzing inventory, assessing impacts, and interpreting results. While it provides comprehensive insights, it can be time-consuming and data-intensive. Combining LCA with other sustainability tools and regularly updating methodologies can enhance its effectiveness in guiding eco-friendly product development.

Lifecycle Assessment Methodology

Stages of product lifecycle assessment

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• Purpose of LCA evaluates environmental impacts throughout product life identifies improvement areas supports sustainable product development decisions
• Goal and scope definition outlines objectives system boundaries
• Inventory analysis collects data on inputs outputs
• Impact assessment evaluates potential environmental impacts
• Interpretation analyzes results draws conclusions informs decision-making

Inputs and outputs in lifecycle stages

• Raw material extraction uses energy water land produces emissions waste depletes resources destroys habitats (mining, logging)
• Manufacturing requires raw materials energy chemicals creates products by-products emissions causes air water pollution greenhouse gases (automobile production, electronics assembly)
• Distribution consumes fuel packaging materials generates transportation emissions impacts climate air quality (shipping, trucking)
• Use phase requires energy consumables produces emissions waste impacts energy consumption water pollution (appliance usage, vehicle operation)
• End-of-life needs energy for disposal recycling generates waste recycled materials impacts landfill space soil water contamination (e-waste processing, plastic recycling)

Simplified LCA process and interpretation

1. Define product system and functional unit (1000 uses of a reusable water bottle)
2. Create process flow diagram
3. Collect data for key processes
4. Calculate environmental impacts using assessment methods (carbon footprint, water usage)
5. Identify hotspots in the lifecycle

• Interpretation compares impacts across stages prioritizes improvement areas considers trade-offs between impacts relates findings to product design business decisions

Strengths vs limitations of LCA

• Strengths provide comprehensive quantitative assessment identifies unexpected supply chain impacts supports informed decisions
• Limitations data-intensive time-consuming subjective boundaries difficult to assess social economic impacts challenges in comparing different function products potential oversimplification
• Considerations combine with other sustainability tools regularly update data methodologies communicate results transparently to stakeholders