Elinkaarilaskentana

Elinkaarilaskenta is a Finnish term that translates to "life cycle assessment" or LCA. It 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 LCA is to identify and quantify the environmental burdens associated with a product or service to enable informed decision-making regarding environmental improvements.

The process typically involves several steps. First, the goal and scope of the study are defined, outlining what is being assessed and the boundaries of the system under investigation. Second, an inventory analysis is conducted, which involves collecting data on all relevant inputs and outputs of the system, such as energy consumption, raw material use, emissions to air, water, and land. Third, an impact assessment is performed, where the potential environmental impacts of the identified inputs and outputs are evaluated. This can include categories like global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and ozone depletion. Finally, the results are interpreted to draw conclusions and make recommendations.

Elinkaarilaskenta is a valuable tool for businesses, policymakers, and consumers seeking to understand and reduce the environmental footprint of their activities. It helps in identifying environmental hotspots in a product's life cycle, comparing the environmental performance of different products or processes, and guiding the development of more sustainable products and services.