LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) is a standardized method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or activity across its entire life cycle, from raw material acquisition ("cradle") through production, use, and disposal or recycling ("grave"). An LCA study examines human health impacts, energy use, material use, and waste generation at each stage. The design stage affects the entire life cycle impacts as it determines material selection and manufacturing process. Each step in material processing and manufacturing consumes resources and generates waste. Packaging, distribution, and use also impact the environment through energy and resource consumption and emissions. LCA helps identify options for reducing impacts through the 3Rs of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

1. LCA (Life Cycle Analysis)

2. What is LCA?
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is standardized
method to evaluate environmental consequences
of a product or activity across its entire life.

3. Why Product’s Life Cycle Important?

4. 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).

5. LCA studies human impacts, energy, materials, and
wastes at each stage of a product’s life cycle from cradle
( Design) to the grave (disposal).

7. 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:
 entire life cycle
 its social,
 economic and environmental impact.

8. 2.Materials Acquisition
Process of obtaining Raw materials. May be by:
– Harvesting (Timber)
– Mining (Iron ore)
Please note : acquisition uses:
 Uses Energy
 Depletes natural resources
 Impacts environment
 But if we use recycled or recovered materials usually, saves
energy and natural resources.

9. 3.Materials Processing
Converting raw materials into a form to make
product.
Each Separate step creates
 Wastes
 Consumes resources

10. 4.Manufacturing
Converts Previous form into useful product.
It uses
 Energy
Creates
 Wastes at each step

11. 5.Packaging
Packaging protects the product and enhance its
marketability. May use:
– Plastic
– Paperboard
Undergoes separate manufacturing process that
 uses Energy
 consume natural resources
 create wastes

12. 6.Distribution
Products are transported to where they are sold.
Consumes
 Fuel Energy
Generates
 Emission

13. 7.Use
The way they are used impacts the environment.
− Reusable
− Durable
− Recyclable products
 Conserve natural Resources
 Use Less energy
 Creates less waste than disposable single use products

14. Based on LCA study one can understand options for 3Rs