methodology developed to assess a product's full environmental costs, from raw material to final disposal.
the process of compiling and evaluating the inputs and outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle from cradle to grave, that is, at all stages from resources, materials and energy inputs, through production processes, to outputs and their distribution, use and eventual disposal (as products, by-products, wastes or emissions).
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an analysis method that quantifies the environment aspects and impacts of products and services throughout their entire life cycle.
a quantification of the level of energy and raw materials used as well as the solid, liquid and gaseous wastes produced at every stage of a product's life or process. LCA can be conducted for a whole process or for part of a process. Conducting an LCA can be complicated, therefore it is important to set boundaries for the study.
Analysis of the impacts (e.g. energy, environmental or economic impacts) a system over its complete lifetime from creation to destruction, sometimes including the lifetimes of key constituents and components.
The process of analyzing a product's entire life, from raw materials extraction through manufacturing, delivery, use, and disposal or reuse.
the comprehensive examination of a product's environmental and economic aspects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use and disposal.
Life cycle assessment is a specific method for systematically identifying, quantifying and assessing inputs and outputs (i.e. sources of environmental impact) throughout a product's lifecycle. It is one of a range of tools that support life cycle management, but is not a prerequisite for life cycle management.(Environment Canada - Environmental Life Cycle Management: A Guide To Better Business Decisions)
Systematic set of procedures for compiling and examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy and the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to the functioning of a product or service system throughout its life cycle.
A management tool for appraising and quantifying the total lifetime environmental impact of a product or activity, by analyzing the entire life cycle of the materials, processes, products, technologies, services or activities it involves. Life Cycle Assessment has three components – inventory analysis, impact analysis and improvement analysis.
is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process, or activity by identifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, and to evealuate and implement opportunities to affect environmental improvements.
An assessment of the total environmental impact of a product during its entire life cycle, including production, materials, energy and water consumption, detergents, end-of-life treatment, etc.
Evaluation of the environmental impact of the entire life cycle of a product. LCA is a tool for evaluation of opportunities for environmental improvements.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method of quantitatively analyzing the energy and resources a product uses as well as its environmental impact during manufacture and use, and evaluating the product’s overall environmental impact over the course of its entire lifecycle. The former analysis is called inventory analysis; the latter assessment is called impact assessment. Life cycle assessment has been standardized in the ISO 14040 series. Back to glossary index
Life Cycle Assessment is a process to: ï‚· evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process, or activity by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, ï‚· assess the impact of those energy and materials used and releases to the environment; and ï‚· identify and evaluate opportunities to affect environmental improvements. The assessment includes the entire life cycle of the product, process or activity, encompassing, extracting and processing raw materials; manufacturing, transportation and distribution; use, re-use, maintenance; recycling, and final disposal.
A procedure which involves assessing the impacts of a product or material throughout its life cycle - ie from raw material extraction or production through manufacture and use, to disposal or recovery. Also called Life Cycle Analysis.
A tool to produce environmental performance data for a product or system which usually includes all the product's life cycle stages through to end of life recycling and disposal.
A life cycle analysis and assessment (also known as life cycle analysis, life cycle inventory, Ecobalance, cradle to grave analysis, well-to-wheel analysis, material flow analysis and dust to dust energy cost) is the assessment of the environmental impact of a given product or service throughout its lifespan.