elinkaarianalyyseja

Elinkaarianalyysit, often referred to in Finnish as elinkaarianalyysi or elinkaariarviointi, are systematic assessments of the environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or service over its entire life cycle. Built on cradle-to-grave thinking, they consider stages from raw material extraction and production to use, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal or recycling, enabling comparisons and opportunities for improvement in environmental performance.

The typical elinkaarianalyysiprosessi follows four stages: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory (LCI) to collect data on inputs and outputs, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) to translate those data into environmental effects, and interpretation to draw conclusions and provide recommendations. A functional unit serves as the reference for results, and system boundaries specify which processes and life cycle stages are included or excluded.

Data quality and sources are central to the analysis. Analysts use primary data from producers wherever possible and secondary data from databases and literature. Methods may be attributional LCA, which allocates burdens to a product, or consequential LCA, which explores broader implications of decisions. Standards such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 guide the principles, practices, and reporting of LCAs, contributing to consistency and transparency.

Applications of elinkaarianalyysit include informing product design and process optimization, supporting supply chain management and sustainability reporting, contributing to environmental product declarations and ecolabels, and informing policy decisions. Outputs typically cover impact categories like climate change potential, acidification, eutrophication, and resource depletion, among others, depending on the study’s goals and scope.