Lifecycle Analysis (also called Lifecycle Assessment) is a systematic method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product across its entire life — from raw material extraction through to end-of-life disposal or recovery.
LCA provides quantitative data on energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, waste generation, and other impacts at each stage of the product’s life.
| Stage | Description | Example Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material extraction | Mining, logging, farming of input materials | Habitat destruction, water use, transport emissions |
| Manufacturing/processing | Transforming materials into the product | Energy use, waste, chemical releases |
| Distribution and use | Transport, retail, consumer use | Packaging waste, transport emissions, energy in use |
| End-of-life | Disposal, recycling, landfill, incineration | Landfill methane, recycling energy, toxic leachate |
A full quantitative LCA requires specialist software. Students can apply a simplified or qualitative LCA:
- List stages (extraction, manufacture, distribution, use, end-of-life)
- Identify the key environmental impact at each stage
- Suggest design changes to reduce impacts at the highest-impact stages
KEY TAKEAWAY: LCA reveals where in a product’s life the greatest environmental damage occurs. This allows designers to target improvements where they have the most effect.
EXAM TIP: When applying LCA in a response, work through each stage systematically. Identify at least one impact per stage and link it to a specific design recommendation.
STUDY HINT: Remember ‘cradle-to-grave’ means full lifecycle. ‘Cradle-to-cradle’ adds the recovery loop — materials cycle back rather than being buried or burned.
