This life cycle analysis template can assist you evaluate the environmental and sustainability aspects and impacts of a product, service or process throughout its entire life cycle.
By regularly assessing the environmental performance of products and processes, organizations can identify new opportunities for optimization, eco-innovation and the development of more sustainable solutions.
A life cycle analysis (LCA) is a methodology that is used to assess the environmental and sustainability impact of a product, process or activity throughout its entire life cycle. It is a systematic approach that evaluates the environmental inputs, outputs and potential impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life, from the extraction of raw materials to its disposal or recycling.
The life cycle of a product typically includes the assessment of the following stages and life cycle impact categories:
Raw material acquisition: This stage involves the raw material extraction or cultivation of resources needed for the product, such as the mining of metals or harvesting of crops.
Manufacturing: This stage encompasses the product design, processing, assembly and production of the product using the raw materials acquired, essentially, evaluating the environmental impacts of product development.
Distribution and transportation: This stage includes the supply chain aspects of packaging, transportation, and distribution of the product from manufacturing facilities to consumers or end-users.
Use phase: This stage involves the actual use of the product by consumers, including energy consumption, maintenance and potential emissions or waste generated during its use.
End of life: This stage includes the disposal or recycling of the product, considering the waste generated and the potential environmental impacts or carbon footprint of the different disposal or recycling methods.
A life cycle impact assessment considers various environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, air and water pollution and resource depletion. It quantifies and assesses the collected data of these environmental impacts to provide insights into the sustainability and potential areas of improvement for a product or process.
By conducting a life cycle analysis, decision-makers can better understand the environmental hotspots or areas of concern associated with a product’s life cycle. This analysis can help identify opportunities for optimization, eco-design, and the implementation of more sustainable practices.
It is widely used in industries, government agencies, and research institutions to support environmental decision-making and promote sustainable development.
Overall, life cycle analysis supports the goal and scope of sustainable development, facilitates informed decision-making, and enables organizations to reduce their environmental footprint while improving resource efficiency and performance.
This analysis template has provisions for the following aspects to undertake a life cycle assessment of business activities inclusive of:
This 2-page analysis can assist you to gain an understanding of the relevant stages of a product or service system, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to final disposal.
