The Importance of Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) for Sustainable Products

At Envirowise, we understand that sustainability isn’t just about choosing the right product—it’s about understanding its entire environmental impact. That’s why we conduct Life Cycle Impact Assessments (LCIA) for the products we list and help to sell.

What is LCIA?

Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is a crucial component of the broader Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) process. While LCA provides a comprehensive overview of a product’s environmental impacts across its entire life cycle—from raw material extraction to disposal—LCIA specifically focuses on assessing and categorizing these environmental impacts. It’s important to note that LCIA is not limited to specific steps within the LCA process but rather acts as an essential subset, necessary for a complete understanding of environmental impacts. LCIA allows us to delve deeper into the effects on various environmental categories, such as climate change, resource depletion, and ecosystem quality, ensuring that we don’t overlook any critical aspects.

What is LCA?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodical approach to evaluating the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. However, while LCA provides a comprehensive overview of major environmental impacts, it may not cover every aspect of a product’s environmental footprint in detail. Instead, it focuses on identifying and mitigating significant impacts in selected areas. The LCA process involves four main steps:

1. Defining Goals and Scope
   Establish the assessment’s purpose and set the boundaries for analysis.
2. Cataloging Inputs and Outputs
   Identify all resources used and emissions produced during each phase of the product’s life.
3. Assessing Environmental Impacts
   Evaluate effects on the environment, such as energy consumption, water usage, and emissions.
4. Interpreting Results for Decision-Making
   Use the results to guide improvements in product design, manufacturing, and material choices.

Figure 1: This diagram shows the stages of a product’s life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal, emphasizing the importance of recycling and reuse to minimize environmental impact.

Source: Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU), 2022

Why We Need LCA for Sustainable Products

1. Holistic View: LCA provides a full picture of a product’s environmental footprint, identifying significant impact areas beyond just usage.

2. Informed Choices: It helps consumers and businesses make better, more sustainable decisions by comparing products based on their environmental performance.

3. Regulatory Compliance: As sustainability regulations and market demands grow, LCA helps us and our partners meet these requirements and stay competitive.

Why Consider the Entire Life Cycle?

1. Uncover Hidden Impacts: Impacts can occur at any life stage, not just during product use. LCA ensures all stages are considered, preventing unintended consequences.

2. Identify Improvement Opportunities: A life cycle view highlights areas for enhancement, such as better materials or more efficient production processes.

3. Support Circular Economy: Understanding the full life cycle aids in designing products that are easier to recycle or repurpose, fostering a more sustainable system.

Introducing EnviroRating

At Envirowise, we are committed to offering products that make a difference. To further this commitment, we are developing EnviroRating, a system designed to evaluate and select products based on their environmental performance. LCIA plays a crucial role in our EnviroRating system, as it allows us to assign higher grade points to products with superior environmental profiles. By integrating LCIA into our evaluation process, we can offer more informed and sustainable choices to our customers.

Our Services: LCA, LCIA, and Consulting

Beyond offering sustainable products, Envirowise provides comprehensive services to support businesses in their sustainability journey. We offer Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Life Cycle Impact Assessments (LCIA), and consulting services, backed by our collaboration with experts from leading universities. Our goal is to help businesses not only comply with sustainability regulations but also enhance their products’ environmental performance, driving the shift toward a more sustainable future.

Ready to make more sustainable choices? Explore our range of environmentally responsible products and learn how our Life Cycle Impact Assessments and consulting services can help you contribute to a greener future.