Life cycle assessment information sources

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a compilation and evaluation of inputs, outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. The LCA methodology is comprehensively described based on the ISO 14000 series standards. References are also given to I.CA information sources. 

The following three subsections present the three inter-linked methods Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Engineering (LCE), and Life Cycle Sustainability. LCA will be introduced first since it is subject to an ISO standard and forms the classical core of life cycle studies. The further developments towards LCE and LCS are addressed in the following sections. Links to further reading and other information sources will be given in the text and in the list of references. 

Jensen, A.A., Hoffman, L., Mpller, B.T., Schmidt, A., Christiansen, K., Elkington, J., van Dijk, F., 1997. Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)—A Guide to Approaches, Experiences and Information Sources. Environmental Issues Series No. 6. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen. 

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