Title: Life cycle engineering: methods, databases and results

Authors: Stephane Lassaux, Albert Germain

Addresses: Laboratory of Industrial chemistry – Allee de la Chimie B6, Universite de Liege, B-4000 Liege, Belgium. ' Laboratory of Industrial chemistry – Allee de la Chimie B6, Universite de Liege, B-4000 Liege, Belgium

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique and of existing methods and databases. LCA is a technique to assess the potential environmental impact associated with a product or a service throughout its life cycle from raw material acquisition through production, use and disposal. The International ISO Standards provide principles, framework and methodological requirements for conducting LCA studies.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; LCA; environmental impact; methods; databases; life cycle engineering; ISO 14040 standards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2008.019454

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.9 No.4, pp.318 - 333

Published online: 12 Jul 2008 *

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