What is a life cycle assessment (LCA) and its phases?

• A. A method to assess environmental impacts from cradle to grave; goal and scope definition, inventory, impact assessment, interpretation
• B. A method to assess financial costs across lifecycle
• C. A risk management framework for product life
• D. A plan for waste disposal

Answer: (A)

Life cycle assessment evaluates environmental impacts of a product or system from beginning to end, tracing material and energy flows from cradle to grave. It follows four interrelated phases. First, goal and scope definition decides what will be studied, the functional unit to compare, system boundaries, and assumptions. Second, the life cycle inventory collects data on inputs and outputs—materials, energy use, emissions, and wastes—across all stages of the life cycle. Third, the life cycle impact assessment translates these data into environmental effects in categories such as climate change, resource depletion, and ecological impact. Fourth, interpretation assesses the results, identifies hotspots, checks data quality, and suggests improvements or decisions to reduce overall environmental burden. This framework distinguishes LCA from other analyses: estimating financial costs over a product’s life is lifecycle costing, not environmental impact; a risk management framework focuses on probability and severity of risks; and a waste disposal plan is a practical handling step rather than a full life-cycle environmental accounting.