LCArapporten

LCArapporten is the term used in several Nordic languages for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report that documents the results and methodology of an LCA study. An LCArapporten provides a structured, transparent record of how a product, process, or service interacts with the environment throughout its life cycle, from raw material extraction to end of life.

The purpose of an LCArapporten is to support informed decision making in product design, policy development, and sustainability reporting. It is intended to enable stakeholders to understand environmental performance, compare alternatives, identify hotspots for improvement, and communicate results to customers and regulators. The report typically serves as the basis for environmental product declarations (EPDs) and other disclosures.

A typical LCArapporten follows the standard LCA framework: goal and scope definition, including the functional unit and system boundaries; life cycle inventory (LCI) data collection and calculation; life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) linking inputs and outputs to environmental impact categories; and interpretation, where results are analyzed, uncertainties are discussed, and conclusions and recommendations are stated. Common choices in the report include the functional unit, system boundaries, allocation methods, and data sources.

Standards that guide the preparation of LCArapporten include the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 series, which define principles, framework, and requirements. Product Category Rules (PCR) may be used to harmonize methodologies for specific product groups. Data quality, transparency about assumptions, and limitations are emphasized to ensure credibility.

Applications of LCArapporten span product design optimization, sustainability reporting, supply chain management, and regulatory compliance, with results often used to support environmental product declarations and corporate environmental communication.