ABSTRACT
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an environmental management tool that examines the environmental burden of a product or process over its entire life, from production, through use and on to disposal or recycling. It measures the energy and raw material input and the waste and emissions from every stage of a product or system’s design, production, use and disposal [1]. These data are then examined with regard to a number of predefined environmental impacts. The methods and approach for LCA, although still flexible and developing, are set out in the ISO standards (ISO 14040 and ISO 14044). LCA has become more common in its use, as it is now widely recognised that in order to evaluate and reduce the environmental consequences of a product or activity, the impact resulting from all stages of its life cycle must be considered [2].
