LCAstudier

LCAstudier is a term used in Scandinavian contexts to refer to studies based on life cycle assessment (LCA). They involve the systematic evaluation of the environmental impacts of a product, service, or process over its life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. The goal is to inform decision-making in design, policy, and procurement by identifying hotspots and comparing alternatives.

A typical LCAstudie follows the four phases defined by ISO 14040/14044: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory (LCI), life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and interpretation. Data quality, system boundaries, and allocation rules strongly influence results. LCAstudier can be attributional, allocating burdens to outputs, or consequential, considering market- or function-related effects of decisions.

Practitioners often rely on databases and software tools such as GaBi, SimaPro, openLCA, and datasets like Ecoinvent. Results are commonly expressed as environmental indicators (eg, global warming potential, eutrophication) and can support environmental product declarations (EPDs) and sustainability reporting. Limitations include data gaps, methodological choices, and uncertainties, prompting sensitivity and scenario analyses.

LCAstudier are used in product development, supply chain optimization, policy assessment, and circular economy strategies. The field emphasizes transparency, reproducibility, and ongoing data improvement, with growing attention to integrating social and economic dimensions in broader life cycle approaches.