Life cycle analysis (LCA).
As the urgency of reducing GHG emissions increases, it becomes increasingly important to be able to provide climate- and environmental performance data for products. Through a life cycle analysis, a holistic perspective can be applied to calculate a product’s environmental impact – from material extraction to the end of the product life cycle. In this way, complex data can be easily overviewed, as energy, resource use and emissions are mapped.
A life cycle analysis can be developed with the aim of including environmental aspects in the product development, as well as providing information regarding circularity in the value chain. It can also be implemented to present transparent data on a product’s environmental performance through an EPD, Environmental Product Declaration.
This is a verified third-party document where the calculations have been produced in accordance with ISO 14025, ISO 14040. Data can also be used by customers in climate declarations and climate reporting and enables a more objective comparison of environmental performance of products. The framework on how to perform an EPD is governed by product category rules that regulate the calculations for each product category. Thus, the EPD system is adapted for several different industries and is used globally.
