Life Cycle Analysis, also known as Life Cycle Assessment, is considered the most comprehensive tool for determining a product’s impact on the environment, and is a decision making framework for making choices during the design and manufacturing stage of product development.

The analysis incorporates all of the inputs and outputs throughout the lifecycle of the product, from design, to raw material extraction, to material product, part production, assembly, sale, use, repair, and final disposal.

This tool can be used by any designer seeking to influence sound environmental choices in the creation of a product, across all disciplines of design: industrial design, fashion design, and graphic design.

The following is a list of resources for those interested in learning about lifecycle analysis.

LCA for designers
EPA Case Studies
Life Cycle Links
Okala EcoDesign by the IDSA

LCA in Europe
The EU has adopted principles of lifecycle analysis into its methods for determining environmental impact of industry
LCA EU guidelines

LCA by industry
Food
Food Climate Action Network LCA case studies
Cleaning Products
LCA at P&G

LCA for beginners
LCA 101
LCA for Mere Mortals
LCA of a CD or DVD links to a PDF
LCA of a cell phone links to a PDF
LCA of a soccer ball links to a PDF

If you have resources to add email j@o2nyc.org