A complete tool for the evaluation of environmental performance.
The Life Cycle Analysis (UNE-EN ISO 14040:2006/A1:2021) “It is a technique to determine the potential environmental aspects and impacts associated with a product or service.”
When an organization produces or generates a service or product, the operational processes or activities follow one another, forming what is called the “product/service system”. During the sequencing of processes, there will be inputs to the system (energy, raw materials,…) and outputs (emissions into the atmosphere, waste,…).
The life cycle analysis is based on the compilation of the relevant inputs and outputs of the system (inventory), evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with the inputs and outputs and interpreting the results, always taking into account the objectives of the study.
Of course, there are many ways to do a life cycle analysis. ISO (International Organization for Standardization), in this case, establishes common standards in order to try to standardize them.
The evaluation of the elements emitted directly and indirectly to the environment and the use of resources in production and distribution allows knowing the direct and indirect impacts produced throughout the entire life cycle of the product or activity.
Stages of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessments are laborious and complex processes that require the participation of a specialized technical team.
Given its complexity, it is necessary to approach the work in different stages:
Important aspects to take into account when developing an LCA
Life Cycle Assessment: A comprehensive tool for evaluating environmental performance
The Life Cycle Analysis is essential if you want to have reliable data on an activity or a product:
Unlike all the previous footprints, considered as single-criteria evaluation methods, the Environmental Footprint encompasses much more. It not only measures the contribution of the product, service or organization to climate change, the use of water or the use of resources, but also, in accordance with the evaluation criteria of the European Commission, it evaluates the environmental performance of the product/service up to a total of 16 impact categories.
The corporate or product environmental footprint may have the purpose of issuing a type III ecolabel (UNE-EN ISO 14025:2010), reporting a selected set of environmental impacts according to the criteria of a verification program.
Advantages of life cycle analysis
We provide solutions
At OAK; our knowledge regarding the standardization of construction products added to our experience in environmental management projects. They are intended to provide the best possible solution to our clients, the most viable, providing support in all stages of the evaluation project until its completion:
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