What is a Life Cycle Assessment (or LCA) ?
The LCA helps you assess the environmental impact of your product, service, or process. This analysis is often multicriteria, broadening your vision of environmental impact.
The LCA is regulated by the ISO 14040 and 14044 norms. It takes into account all steps of your product’s life cycle (from raw materials extraction to end of life, including transportation, production & use)
Why an LCA ?
- Compare your product’s environmental impact with other products’ environmental impact ;
- Ecodesign your products and/or services ;
- Identify opportunities for improving the environmental performance of products at different stages of their life cycle ;
- Inform industry decision-makers as well as governmental and/or non-governmental bodies of your impact and the steps you have taken;
- Communicate (implementation of eco-labeling, environmental claims and environmental declarations) ;
The life cycle of your product can usually be broken down into 6 stages :
1. Raw materials extraction and processing ;
2. Transport of these raw materials (upstream transport) to the manufacturing/assembly plant ;
3. The manufacture of your product and its packaging (if any) ;
4. Transport of the finished product (downstream transport) ;
5. Use and maintenance of your product ;
6. The end-of-life of your product (collection, waste treatment) ;
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