Introduction

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a process of evaluating the effects that a product has on the environment over the entire period of its life thereby increasing resource-use efficiency and decreasing liabilities. It can be used to study the environmental impact of either a product or the function the product is designed to perform. LCA is commonly referred to as a "cradle-to-grave" analysis. As LCA is a continuous process, companies can begin an LCA at any point in the product/function cycle.

LCA can be used for the development of business strategy purchasing decisions, for product and process design and improvement, for setting eco-labelling criteria and to communicate about environmental aspects of products.

Key elements

• Identifies and quantifies the environmental loads involved; e.g. the energy and raw materials consumed, the emissions and wastes generated;
• Evaluates the potential environmental impacts of these loads;
• Assesses the options available for reducing these environmental impacts.

Further Information

UNEP / SETAC co-operation on best available practice in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) [http://www.uneptie.org/pc/sustain/lca/lca.htm] - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) have joined forces work on approaches and best available practices for a life cycle economy, targeting LCA & LCM specifically. The initiative's background, objectives, benefits, structure, partners are available from the website. More information, such as reports and proceedings, will also be available as time proceeds.

The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) [http://www.setac.org/lca.html] - SETAC has established a LCA Advisory Group (open to all interested parties) as a broad-based forum for the identification, resolution, and communication of issues regarding LCAs. The LCA Advisory Group also functions to facilitate, coordinate, and provide guidance for the development and implementation of LCAs. The SETAC Website offers a list of publications on LCA and related issues, an archive of the LCA column from the SETAC newsletter, access to other SETAC advisory groups, as well as information on up-coming meetings and the activities of SETAC branches and regional chapters around the world.

LCANet – European Network [http://www.leidenuniv.nl/interfac/cml/lcanet/hp22.htm] - This site provides information on the European network for strategic LCA research and development. The site outlines the current work of this network and provides documentation of its activities. There is a news page as well as a series of links to related sites, each with a brief description.

EEA LCA Guidebook [http://reports.eea.eu.int/GH-07-97-595-EN-C/en/page001.html] - This page contains the European Environment Agency's report on LCA. The report outlines the applications of LCA, provides a methodological framework and lists additional information sources on LCA.

Ecocycle - LCA [http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecocycle/english/whatislcm.cfm] - This is Environment Canada's site on LCA. It presents an overview of LCA and provides access to its publication on life-cycle management and business.

Life Cycle Assessment - What it is and How to do it [http://www.uneptie.org/pc/sustain/lca/activities.htm] - This UNEP publication outlines how LCA is currently practised and how it is expected to develop. It also presents in a simplified but systematic manner how LCA can be used. The document also lists organisations, software tools and publications dealing with LCA. For further information on this publication, please contact UNEP DTIE.

Towards the Global Use of Life Cycle Assessment  [http://sc-net.uneptie.org:591/scnet/fmpro?-db=scnetres_.fp3&-format=rescatpub.html&-view] - This UNEP publication is a follow-up to the earlier UNEP publications LCA – What is and How to Do It. This 2nd publication reviews the current status of the theory and practice of LCA and outlines the barriers to its wider application. It outlines principle recommendations on how to improve the global use of LCA and presents an Action Plan to promote its wider use world-wide. The publication also has a thematic bibliography and a listing of key institutions and practitioners. For further information on this publication, please contact UNEP DTIE.

 

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