Extending the Boundaries of Life-Cycle Assessment through Environmental Economic Input-Output Models

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a cornerstone of current practice in industrial ecology, linking the product life cycle, from design to disposition, with the environmental impacts generated at each stage. It is one of the ways that industrial ecology brings a systems approach to environmental analysis. LCA aids environmental improvement by revealing the complete impact of a product, rather than just the emissions generated in the usual course of production by the manufacturer. Manufacturers, service providers, and government agencies can use these methods to consider the total impact of their procurement and business activities, and to tailor them to be more environmentally friendly. A number of different approaches to LCA have been developed, with different focus, time, and resource requirements. Key among these are: