Life Cycle Assessment
A systematic methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or packaging throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of packaging across its full lifecycle — from cradle to grave (or cradle to cradle in a circular economy).
LCA stages for packaging:
- Raw material extraction — mining, forestry, oil extraction
- Manufacturing — converting raw materials into packaging
- Transport — moving packaging through the supply chain
- Use phase — how packaging performs during product use
- End of life — recycling, energy recovery, or landfill
LCAs follow ISO 14040/14044 standards and measure impacts including carbon footprint, water use, acidification, and resource depletion. They help producers make evidence-based packaging design decisions rather than relying on assumptions. For example, an LCA might show that a plastic container has a lower carbon footprint than a glass one due to weight differences. LCA results feed into Environmental Product Declarations and support eco-design decisions.
Related Terms
Recyclability
The practical ability of a packaging item to be collected, sorted, and reprocess...
Circular Economy
An economic model that eliminates waste by keeping materials in use for as long ...
Eco-Design
The practice of designing packaging with environmental considerations integrated...
Environmental Product Declaration
A standardised document that transparently communicates the environmental perfor...
Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product or packaging throug...
More compliance Terms
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