Life-Cycle Assessment

A systematic, documented method for quantifying environmental inputs, outputs and potential impacts associated with all relevant stages of a product or building's life — from raw material acquisition through manufacture, transport, use, maintenance, and end‑of‑life treatment (recycling, disposal) — under a specified functional unit and system boundary.

A systematic, comparative method to identify, compile and evaluate the environmental inputs, outputs and potential impacts associated with a product system throughout its life cycle—from raw-material acquisition through manufacture, use, and end-of-life—under an explicitly stated scope and functional unit.