LCA Life Cycle Analysis What is LCA Life
- Slides: 17
LCA (Life Cycle Analysis)
What is LCA? Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is standardized method to evaluate environmental consequences of a product or activity across its entire life.
Why Product’s Life Cycle Important?
Assessing a product’s life cycle includes examining -human impacts -energy -materials -wastes at each stage of a product’s life cycle from cradle (the inception of the idea, Design) to the grave (disposal).
LCA studies human impacts, energy, materials, and wastes at each stage of a product’s life cycle from cradle ( Design) to the grave (disposal).
1. Design Coming up with an idea of product – deciding: materials – how to make – how long it will last. So, we can see design affects: Ø entire life cycle Ø its social, Ø economic and environmental impact.
2. Materials Acquisition Process of obtaining Raw materials. May be by: – Harvesting (Timber) – Mining (Iron ore) Please note : acquisition uses: Ø Uses Energy Ø Depletes natural resources Ø Impacts environment Ø But if we use recycled or recovered materials usually, saves energy and natural resources.
3. Materials Processing Converting raw materials into a form to make product. Each Separate step creates Ø Wastes Ø Consumes resources
4. Manufacturing Converts Previous form into useful product. It uses Ø Energy Creates Ø Wastes at each step
5. Packaging protects the product and enhance its marketability. May use: – Plastic – Paperboard Undergoes separate manufacturing process that Ø uses Energy Ø consume natural resources Ø create wastes
6. Distribution Products are transported to where they are sold. Consumes Ø Fuel Energy Generates Ø Emission
7. Use The way they are used impacts the environment. − Reusable − Durable − Recyclable products Ø Conserve natural Resources Ø Use Less energy Ø Creates less waste than disposable single use products
Based on LCA study one can understand options for 3 Rs
