1. What is an LCA?
LCA stands for Life Cycle Assessment. It is an analysis of the environmental impacts of a product over its entire life cycle.
The exercise aims at quantifying the environmental impacts of all inputs and outputs, and to compile them into an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the product. This is done across the entire life cycle of the product, which consists generally of five main stages:
- Raw material sourcing: the extraction of raw materials and processing of secondary material input that will be used for the manufacturing of the product, as well as the transportation to the production facility.
- Manufacturing: all impacts that are related to the manufacturing processes, where raw materials or intermediary products are processed into the product.
- Distribution: the outbound transportation phase, where the manufactured products are distributed to the customers, whether for further processing or for use by end customers.
- Use: all impacts related to the use of the product over its entire life cycle. This includes use or application of the product, maintenance, repair, replacement, operational energy use and operational water use.
- End of life: all impacts related to the deconstruction and demolition of the product (including transport to waste processing sites and disposal of waste) are covered.