What Is Lifecycle Analysis?

Imagine you’re holding a simple paper coffee cup. Feels light, right? Just another disposable thing you’ll toss after finishing your drink. But have you ever stopped to think about where that cup came from and where it’s going? It has a whole journey—one that starts with trees being cut down for pulp, moves through factories using energy to shape it, travels miles to your favourite coffee shop, and finally ends up in either a landfill or a recycling facility. That entire process is what we call lifecycle analysis (LCA).

In a world facing climate change, dwindling resources, and growing consumer awareness, understanding LCA has never been more important. Businesses rely on it to make smarter, more sustainable decisions. Shoppers use it to choose products that align with their values. Lawmakers depend on it to create policies that reduce environmental harm.

LCA isn’t just about data and reports—it’s a powerful tool that helps us see the true impact of the things we use every day. By breaking it down, we can all make better choices for a healthier planet. So, let’s dive in and explore why LCA matters and how it shapes the way we think about sustainability.

Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) is a way to measure the environmental impact of a product, process, or service from start to finish. Think of it as tracing a product’s entire journey, from the moment raw materials are taken from nature to the day it’s thrown away, recycled, or repurposed. It’s often called a “cradle-to-grave” approach because it follows every stage:

Raw material extraction – Harvesting natural resources like wood, metal, or oil.
Manufacturing and production – Turning those raw materials into usable products.
Transportation and distribution – Getting products from factories to stores and homes.
Usage phase – How we use products and the energy they consume over time.
End of life – What happens when we’re done with them—do they end up in landfills, get recycled, or find a second life?

LCA isn’t just about counting carbon emissions. It also looks at water consumption, air pollution, land use, and other environmental impacts. By analyzing all these factors, LCA gives a full picture of how a product affects our planet. This knowledge helps companies design better products, allows consumers to make informed choices, and guides policymakers in creating smarter regulations.

Understanding LCA helps us rethink the way we produce, consume, and dispose of everyday items—pushing us toward a more sustainable future.

Why LCA Matters: Real-World Applications

1. Corporate Sustainability

Major companies like Microsoft and Nestlé use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of their products and operations. Microsoft, for instance, conducts LCAs to measure emissions across the entire lifecycle of its cloud services and hardware. In its 2023 sustainability report, the company identified that data centre energy consumption was a major contributor to its carbon footprint. As a result, Microsoft has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and is exploring sustainable materials for its devices.

Similarly, Nestlé uses LCA to assess the environmental impact of its packaging and ingredients. Through this approach, the company identified dairy production as a key area of emissions and has since invested in regenerative agriculture and alternative proteins to reduce its carbon footprint. These examples show how LCA helps corporations move beyond identifying problems to implementing meaningful sustainability strategies.

LCA Corporate Sustainability — Image by Freepik

2. Consumer Awareness

Have you ever noticed labels like “carbon neutral” or “eco-certified” on products? These aren’t just marketing gimmicks. Many of these claims come from LCA studies that break down a product’s environmental impact. According to a survey by NielsenIQ, 73% of global consumers said they would change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental footprint. When companies share LCA results, it empowers people to make informed, greener choices.

3. Policy and Regulation

Governments also rely on LCA to create effective environmental laws. The European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework uses LCA data to set clear, science-backed eco-labelling standards. This helps consumers easily identify sustainable products and encourages businesses to reduce their impact.

At the end of the day, LCA connects the dots — helping companies act responsibly, guiding shoppers to eco-friendly options, and giving policymakers the data they need to build a greener future.

LCA Policy and Regulation — Image by Freepik

Step-by-Step Process of Conducting an LCA

Let’s walk through how to perform an LCA, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a student, or a sustainability officer.

Step 1: Define the Goal and Scope

Start with the big questions:

What product or process are you analyzing? Is it a pair of jeans, a smartphone, or maybe your company’s packaging?
Why are you doing this LCA? Are you comparing two options to find the most sustainable choice, like paper versus plastic bags? Or are you trying to understand the overall environmental footprint of your product?
What are the boundaries? Will you look at the entire life cycle from cradle to grave (everything from raw materials to disposal), or just cradle-to-gate (up to the point where the product leaves the factory)?

Example: Levi’s conducted an LCA on their iconic 501® jeans and discovered that nearly 70% of water usage came from cotton cultivation and consumer washing. This insight led to initiatives like Water<Less® technology and awareness campaigns to encourage customers to wash jeans less frequently—reducing water consumption and extending garment lifespan.

Step 2: Inventory Analysis (LCI)

Now comes the detective work. This step is all about gathering data — what goes into making your product, and what comes out?

Inputs: How much energy, water, and raw materials are used?
Outputs: What kind of emissions, waste, or byproducts are released into the environment?

It sounds complicated, but there are tools to help. Software like SimaPro or GaBi can crunch the numbers for you.

Case study:

A comprehensive 2021 Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) compared the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) across various regions, including Europe, the United States, China, and India.

The study found that BEVs registered in 2021 had significantly lower life-cycle GHG emissions than comparable gasoline cars:

Europe: 66%–69% reduction
United States: 60%–68% reduction
China: 37%–45% reduction
India: 19%–34% reduction

These reductions are expected to grow as the electricity mix continues to decarbonize. For instance, BEVs projected to be registered in 2030 could see life-cycle emissions reductions of up to 77% in Europe compared to gasoline vehicles.

This data challenges the misconception that electric vehicles are not as environmentally friendly as they appear, reinforcing the role of BEVs in reducing carbon footprints globally.

Step 3: Impact Assessment (LCIA)

Here’s where you turn those data points into real-world impact. Essentially, you answer: “What does all this mean for the planet?” The data is sorted into categories like:

Global warming potential (GWP): How much greenhouse gas is emitted?
Water footprint: How much freshwater is consumed?
Ecotoxicity: How much harm does the product cause to ecosystems?

Think of this step as putting a spotlight on the most damaging parts of your product’s life.

Step 4: Interpretation

Finally, step back and make sense of the findings. Where does the most harm occur? Maybe the raw material phase has the largest footprint, which pushes you to rethink your suppliers. Or perhaps distribution is the biggest culprit, prompting you to switch to cleaner transportation methods.

The goal here isn’t just to collect data for data’s sake. It’s to identify what needs to change and figure out how to make better, greener decisions moving forward.

Comparing LCA Results: Electric vs. Gasoline Cars

Impact Category	Gasoline Car (per km)	Electric Car (per km)	Reduction (%)
CO₂ Emissions (kg)	0.25	0.10	60%
Water Use (L)	3.5	2.1	40%
Energy Use (MJ)	5.6	4.2	25%
Acidification (kg SO₂ eq.)	0.0015	0.0010	33%

Source: International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), 2021 Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Study

Expert Quotes: Insights from LCA Practitioners

Dr Alice Horton, a leading researcher at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, puts it best:

“Lifecycle analysis isn’t just about counting carbon. It’s about understanding the hidden chains of impact, from deforestation in the Amazon to microplastic pollution in oceans.”

What Dr. Horton is saying hits home. Every product has a secret life. Take a simple t-shirt — the cotton may have come from fields in India, dyed with chemicals in a factory in China, and sewn together in Bangladesh before reaching a store near you. Each step in that chain has consequences for the environment, and LCA helps us see these invisible links.

Then there’s Bob Morrish, a member of the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) board and a leader at Ecolab, who emphasizes the business side of things:

“Companies that embed LCA into their strategy don’t just reduce their footprint — they future-proof their business.”

This makes sense. Imagine a company making plastic water bottles. If they rely heavily on virgin plastic and fossil fuels, what happens when those resources become scarcer or when governments impose strict regulations? Without an LCA to highlight these risks, the company might struggle. But those using LCA can pivot — maybe by switching to recycled materials or redesigning their packaging — staying competitive and sustainable.

These quotes remind us that LCA isn’t just a cold, technical process. It’s a way of seeing the ripple effects of human choices, whether you’re a scientist tracing the path of microplastics or a CEO deciding what materials to source.

Challenges and Criticism

Let’s be real — LCA isn’t perfect. It’s powerful, yes, but like any tool, it has its limitations.

Data Gaps: Not every industry is transparent about its environmental footprint. Some companies don’t have precise data on their emissions or resource use, and others might not want to share unflattering details. This creates blind spots in LCAs.
- Example: A tech company using rare minerals in their products might struggle to get accurate data on mining impacts, especially if their suppliers operate in regions with poor environmental reporting.
Time-Consuming: A thorough LCA takes time — often months. It’s not just about plugging numbers into software. Companies must gather data from their entire supply chain, check for accuracy, and run multiple scenarios. For small businesses, this can be overwhelming.
- Imagine a small coffee roaster wanting to switch to sustainable packaging. They might face months of research just to understand the carbon footprint of paper versus bioplastic versus aluminium.
Subjectivity: Here’s a tricky part — LCA involves setting boundaries. Should you count the emissions from a delivery truck transporting your product? What about the impact of your customer using (or misusing) your product? There’s a degree of human judgment involved, which can introduce bias.
- Example: Two LCAs for the same electric car might show different results depending on whether they include battery recycling or not. It’s not black and white.

So how do we work around these issues?

Solution: Use multiple LCAs for comparison and cross-check your data. If one study shows wildly different results than another, dig deeper. Transparency and consistency are key.

How You Can Use LCA: Actionable Advice

For Businesses:

Invest in LCA software: Tools like SimaPro and OpenLCA can simplify data analysis.
Partner with third-party auditors: An external review adds credibility and accuracy.
Embed LCA in product design: Don’t wait until a product is made — use LCA early in the design phase to pick sustainable materials and processes from the start.

For Individuals:

Support brands publishing LCA data: Next time you buy something, check if the company shares its carbon footprint or environmental impact report.
Look for certified eco-labels: Labels like EU Ecolabel or Carbon Trust are often backed by LCA studies, signalling a brand’s commitment to sustainability.
Educate yourself: Use tools like the Carbon Footprint Calculator to understand the impact of your daily choices, from commuting to shopping.

For Policymakers:

Push for mandatory LCA reporting: Legislation can require companies to disclose their environmental impact, helping consumers make informed decisions.
Create incentives for eco-innovation: Tax breaks or grants for businesses using LCA to develop greener products encourage progress.

Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Future with LCA

At its core, lifecycle analysis is about connection — connecting products to their origins, businesses to their impacts, and people to the planet. It’s not just about numbers or carbon charts; it’s about stories.

When you pick up that coffee cup, it’s not just a cup — it’s the tree it came from, the factory that shaped it, the truck that delivered it, and the landfill or recycling centre where it will end up. LCA pulls back the curtain on these stories, giving us the power to make better choices.

For businesses, it means crafting products that don’t just sell but sustain. For individuals, it’s about aligning daily habits with the future we want. And for policymakers, it’s a tool to drive meaningful change.

So, let’s start analyzing, questioning, and transforming — one lifecycle at a time.