A life cycle analysis (LCA) is the evaluation of a product and its related processes at all stages of its life cycle (see diagram below).
Its main purpose is to allow organizations to target actions more easily, in order to strategically reduce the negative impact on the environment or society at large.
The LCA requires the manufacturer to follow a standardized and rigorous process. In order to guarantee the quality of the analysis carried out, the manufacturer must comply with the requirements of internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14 040.
From a more global perspective, the results of a product LCA greatly facilitate the LCA of the building as a whole. Since the information is more precise, the calculation is more accurate.