1. LCA: assessment of a product's environmental impact over its life cycle.

1.1 Principles of LCA

LCA is a method for assessing the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle. By focusing on the service rendered, it enables the comparison of different technical solutions. All the elements required to provide the service are considered. This method is both multi-stage, from cradle to grave, and multi-criteria, with a set of environmental impact categories reflecting the product's issues being assessed.

This methodology is defined by international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 of 2006. These standards are supplemented by the work of the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC). In 2011, the JRC published the ILCD Handbook, which today serves as a reference for LCA practitioners.

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