Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impact of a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle: from the extraction of raw materials to the end of life, passing through stages of manufacture, use, etc.

The four stages of LCA are: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. Each step helps quantify the environmental impact across a product's life cycle.

An LCA framework is the structured approach for conducting an assessment, based on ISO 14040 or ISO 14044 standards. It guides data collection, analysis, and interpretation of environmental impact.

LCA assessments can be particularly interesting for :

- Public authorities (whether they intervene at international, national or European level)- scientists;

- Industrial companies.However, any structure offering products and/or services has the possibility to carry out an LCA.

A Life Cycle Assessment is useful :

- to identify the environmental issues and impacts of a company;

- to develop eco-designed products;

- to compare the environmental impact of its products with those of its competitors;

- to consolidate its brand image and stand out from the competition.

To conduct an LCA, define the scope, collect life cycle inventory data, assess environmental impacts, then interpret results to guide sustainable decisions. Greenly helps companies by offering expert support on our platform that aligns with ISO 14040, 14044 and 14067 methodology.

Yes, the LCA result can be used in the GHG assessment in several ways, depending on the scenario. 

One example is that a company can use the activity-based approach instead of the spend-based approach if they purchase a product a certain number of times during the year of measurement.