Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

An examination, like an audit, of the total impact of a product or service’s manufacturing, use, and disposal in terms of material and energy. There are few standards yet in measuring and assessing these impacts but a Life Cycle Analysis is usually wider in scope than similar assessments, such as the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and the Substance Flow Analysis (SFA). This includes an analysis and inventory of all parts, materials, and energy, and their impacts in the manufacturing of a product but usually doesn’t include social impacts.

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One Response to “Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)”
  1. RBW says:

    See the ISO 14000 family of standards for quite extensive LCA and LCI standards.
    LCA can also include environmental impacts (more than impacts of material and energy)including net or life-cycle green house gas emissions.

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