Life Cycle Assessment as a Method for Quantifying Environmental Impacts

2 Life Cycle Assessment as a Method for Quantifying Environmental Impacts 

To determine the environmental impact of a product or process, a LCA is often conducted. The LCA provides a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the environmental impact of a product or process throughout its entire life cycle. The LCA is a powerful and widely used tool for measuring the sustainability of an enterprise or concept and informing decisions with respect to sustainability and environmental considerations. The guidelines for conducting an LCA are defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040 series [17]. There are four main steps to an LCA according to ISO  

Goal and Scope Definition - defines the extent of the analysis including the goals and the system boxmdaries. The functional xmit for the LCA is defined within this step. The functional unit describes a reference for what is being studied and how much or over what time frame (i.e., 1 kg plastic resin). 

Inventory Analysis - documents material and energy flows that occur within the system boxmdaries, often referred to as Life cycle inventory (LCD. 

Interpretation - reviews the results of the LCA, identifies opportunities to reduce the environmental burden throughout the products life, and provides conclusions and recommendations. 

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