Elutsüklimõju

Elutsüklimõju, often translated as Life Cycle Impact or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), is a methodology used to evaluate 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. It provides a comprehensive view of a product's environmental footprint, going beyond the immediate production phase.

The core principle of elutsüklimõju is to consider the entire "cradle to grave" or "cradle to cradle" process. This includes quantifying resource consumption, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, air pollution, waste generation, and other environmental indicators. The goal is to identify hotspots of environmental impact and inform decision-making for reducing these impacts.

Elutsüklimõju is applied in various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and energy. It helps businesses make more sustainable choices in product design, material selection, and supply chain management. For policymakers, it provides data to support environmental regulations and develop strategies for a circular economy. Researchers use LCA to compare the environmental performance of different products, processes, and technologies.

The methodology typically involves several steps: defining the goal and scope of the study, performing an inventory analysis to collect data on inputs and outputs, evaluating the environmental impacts, and interpreting the results. While complex, elutsüklimõju offers a robust framework for understanding and mitigating environmental burdens associated with human activities and consumption.