What is life cycle assessment?

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a management tool. It allows you to collect and evaluate data on the inputs and outputs of materials, energy and waste of a product over its entire life cycle. By using it you can calculate a product’s possible impact on the environment.

As an example, if your business manufactures washing machines, LCA will help you to evaluate:

  • the raw materials you need to make the machine
  • its design, eg whether it is energy and water efficient
  • the resources you need and the waste created whilst it is manufactured and assembled
  • how it is marketed, including the design of any packaging
  • how it is transported and sold
  • how it is disposed of.

You can then identify how to minimise the overall impact your product has on the environment. For example, changes that you make could involve:

  • using recyclable raw materials
  • improving the energy efficiency of the product
  • reducing packaging.

In this guideline: