ABSTRACT
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful analytical approach developed to guide environmentally conscious product and process design and to help in the evaluation of the environmental implications of products, processes, and services. An LCA evaluates the relevant environmental, economic, and technical burdens associated with a material, product, process, or service throughout its life-from creation (material extraction) through manufacturing, use, and finally end of life (disposal or recycling, etc.), as shown in Figure 1. It is expected that the LCA approaches can guide product and process designers in assessing environmental issues associated with their products; guide decision makers in choosing more environmentally conscious products materials, components, products, and services; and guide consumers in making more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. Some of the most powerful applications of LCA are internal use by companies and regulatory agencies to assess systemwide impacts of decisions and choices.
