Life Cycle Assessment is a way to investigate, estimate, and evaluate the
environmental burdens caused by a material, product, process, or service,
throughout its life span. Environmental burdens include the materials and
energy resources required to create the product, as well as the wastes and
emissions generated during the process. Examining the entire life cycle creates
a more complete picture of a product’s environmental impact, as well as the
trade-offs in impact from one period of the life cycle to another. Results of
LCAs can be useful for identifying areas in the supply chain with high
environmental impact, and for evaluating and improving product designs.