How do you evaluate your design choices for environmental impact using LCA?

1 What is LCA and why use it?

LCA is a systematic and holistic approach that considers the environmental impacts of a product or service life cycle from material production to end-of-life. It can help you assess the environmental performance of your design, compare different design alternatives, and select the most environmentally preferable one. Additionally, it can be used to communicate the environmental benefits of your design to stakeholders and clients, as well as support decision-making and policy-making based on environmental criteria.

2 How to conduct an LCA?

An LCA generally follows a few steps to assess the environmental impacts of a system. These steps include defining the goal and scope of your study, such as the functional unit, system boundaries, and impact categories. You should also collect data on the inputs and outputs of your system, such as materials, energy, emissions, and waste. After that, use appropriate models and indicators to calculate the environmental impacts of your system. Lastly, interpret the results and draw conclusions based on your goal and scope.

3 What are the challenges and limitations of LCA?

LCA is a powerful and comprehensive tool, but it also has some challenges and limitations that you need to be aware of. These include data availability and quality, uncertainty and variability, and subjectivity and trade-offs. Data may not be reliable or consistent for all stages of the system, especially upstream and downstream processes. Additionally, assumptions, methods, and models may affect the accuracy and robustness of results. Lastly, subjective choices and trade-offs must be made in goal/scope definition, data selection, impact assessment, and interpretation which can influence the outcome and validity of the study.

4 How to improve your LCA skills and knowledge?

Continuous learning and improvement is essential to developing expertise in the complex and ever-evolving field of LCA. To enhance your skills and knowledge, following international standards and guidelines for LCA, such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, is recommended. Additionally, reputable and updated software and databases for LCA should be used, such as SimaPro, GaBi, Ecoinvent, and LCA Commons. Joining professional networks and communities for LCA, like the International Society for Industrial Ecology, the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment, or the European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment can also be beneficial. Lastly, attending training courses, workshops, webinars, and conferences on LCA can provide insight into the field; some examples include the LCA Academy, the LCA Boot Camp, and the LCA X series.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?