Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Environmental impact assessment of products based on internationally recognized ISO methodologies.
What is a Life Cycle Assessment?
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with a product, process or service throughout its life cycle.
The assessment typically considers all relevant stages, including raw material extraction, material processing, manufacturing, transportation, use and end-of-life treatment.
LCA studies provide the technical foundation for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) and sustainability reporting initiatives.
Why Perform an LCA?
Manufacturers increasingly require detailed environmental information to support:
- Product development
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
- Carbon footprint studies
- Sustainability reporting
- Customer requirements
- Product improvement initiatives
- Green procurement programs
Life Cycle Stages Considered
:Typical Life Cycle Stages
- Raw Material Extraction
- Material Processing
- Manufacturing
- Distribution
- Use Phase
- End of Life
- Recycling and Recovery
Standards and Methodologies
EPD Analytics performs Life Cycle Assessments according to:
- ISO 14040
- ISO 14044
- EN 15804 (where applicable)
- Product Category Rules (PCR)
- European Commission Environmental Footprint methodologies
LCA Applications
Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
Life Cycle Assessment forms the technical basis of EPD development.
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
Greenhouse gas emissions can be extracted from broader LCA studies.
Product Design Improvement
Identification of environmental hotspots across the product life cycle.
Customer and Regulatory Requirements
Support for sustainability reporting and environmental communication.
Industries We Support
- Aluminium
- Construction Products
- Electronics
- Medical Devices
- Packaging
- Metal Components
Representative Projects
Aluminium Extrusion Profiles
Industry: Aluminium
Scope: Cradle-to-gate environmental assessment supporting EPD development.
Commercial Vacuum Cleaner
Industry: Industrial Equipment
Scope: Life cycle assessment supporting product carbon footprint calculations.
Precision Metal Components
Industry: Manufacturing
Scope: Environmental impact assessment of machined metal components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between LCA and carbon footprint?
Carbon footprint evaluates only greenhouse gas emissions, while LCA evaluates multiple environmental impact categories..
Is LCA required for an EPD?
Yes. An EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment performed according to applicable standards and PCR requirements.
Which software is used?
LCA studies may be performed using professional LCA modelling tools and internationally recognized databases.
How long does an LCA project take?
Typical projects range from several weeks to several months depending on complexity and data availability.