LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) - TX
Overview
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life—from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and end-of-life (disposal, recycling, or reuse).
LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts of a product, service, or process. It is foundational in sustainability data exchange and supports compliance with global frameworks such as ISO 14040/44, the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and corporate ESG reporting.
Objectives of LCA
- Identify Improvement Opportunities: Pinpoint stages in the product life cycle where environmental impacts can be reduced.
- Support Decision-Making: Inform policy, procurement, and design decisions with scientifically grounded data.
- Enhance Product Design: Optimize products and processes for environmental performance and circularity.
LCA's Role in ESG Reporting
While ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks focus on company-wide sustainability, LCA adds precision by delivering product-level environmental data. By integrating LCA into ESG reporting, companies can move beyond high-level declarations to provide concrete, measurable evidence of environmental performance.
LCA data can be multiplied across volumes (e.g., transactions, shipments, production batches) to quantify total environmental impact, providing the bridge between operational data and sustainability reporting.
- LCA System Boundaries – Defines the life cycle scope covered by the assessment (e.g., Cradle to Gate, Cradle to End-of-Life).
- LCA Life Cycle Stages – Breaks down the life cycle into modular stages such as manufacturing, use, and end-of-life.
- LCA Environmental Impact Indicators – Lists and defines the environmental indicators used to measure impacts (e.g., Climate Change Potential, Water Use, Resource Depletion).
- Value Unit – Defines the unit in which the indicator value is expressed (e.g., kg CO₂eq, m³, MJ).
- Reference Unit – Defines the basis for the value (e.g., per kg, per functional unit, per sales unit), enabling contextual interpretation.
These components allow for precise, interoperable data exchange and enable detailed declarations per product, stage, and indicator.
LCA Data Standards and Frameworks
- ISO 14040:2006 – Principles and framework
- ISO 14044:2006 – Requirements and guidelines
- Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) – European Commission initiative for harmonized footprinting
- EN 15804 – LCA standard for construction products
- ILCD Handbook – European Commission’s reference for LCA data quality and modeling
