Stages of the LCA
The main stages of the LCA assessment framework, as defined in the ISO 14040 standard, are as follows: (1) objective and scope, (2) inventory, (3) assessment, and (4) review and interpretation. The results will identify the life cycle stages with the highest and lowest impact indicators and the relevant key contributions. This information can be used for various applications, such as material selection, product development or improvement, and strategic planning.
Sometimes, certain critical environmental impacts (consumption, emissions or others) arise from the use or consumption of energy and materials. However, it is only in some cases that their most significant effect occurs during the extraction and production of materials or at the end of their useful life. It was essential to take the life cycle and its assessment into account. Life cycle assessment (LCA) involves the analysis and evaluation of the impacts of extraction, transport, production, on-site assembly, use and end-of-life.