Elinikäanalyysi

Elinikäanalyysi, often translated as life cycle analysis (LCA), is a methodology for assessing the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. The goal of elinikäanalyysi is to identify and quantify environmental burdens such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, water pollution, and waste generation.

The process typically involves several key stages. First, a goal and scope definition is established, outlining the boundaries of the study and the product system being analyzed. Second, an inventory analysis is performed, which involves collecting data on all inputs (energy, raw materials, water) and outputs (emissions to air, water, and soil, waste) for each stage of the product's life cycle. Third, an impact assessment translates these inventory data into environmental impacts. Finally, an interpretation stage analyzes the results, identifies significant impacts, and provides recommendations for improving environmental performance.

Elinikäanalyysi can be used for a variety of purposes, including comparing the environmental performance of different products or services, identifying environmental hotspots in a supply chain, supporting product design and development, and informing policy decisions. It is a valuable tool for understanding the hidden environmental costs of consumption and production.