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LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Citation:
CURRAN, MARY ANN. LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT. Chapter 13, S. E. Jorgensen and B. Fath (ed.), Encyclopedia of Ecology; Subject Area: Human Ecology. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, ISBN978008045405: pg. 2168-2174, (2008).
Impact/Purpose:
Informational / EPA
Description:
Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, is an environmental accounting and mangement approach that consider all the aspects of resource use and environmental releases associated with an industrial system from cradle-to-grave. Specifically, it is a holistic view of environmental interactions that cover a range of activities, from the extraction of raw materials from the Earth and the production and distribution of energy, through the use, and reuse, and final disposal of a product. LCA is a relative tool intended for comparison and not absolute evaluation, thereby helping decision-makers compare all major environmental impacts when choosing between alternative courses of action. This article presents a brief history of the development of LCA methodology and describes the basic components of conducting an LCA, i.e. selecting a functional unit; defining the goal and scope of the study; compiling an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs and environmental releases; evaluating the potential environmental impacts; and interpreting the results to help decision-makers make a more informed decision. Key issues associated with data collection, impact assessment modeling, and interpretation of the results are also outlined. The artile concludes with the caution that while LCA is an environmental management tool that informs decision-makers, other decision criteria, such as cost and performance, should also be considered in order to make a well-balanced decision.
