The LCA method , an essential part of the ISO 14001 process

The data collected at each of these stages makes it possible to determine which ones have the greatest impact and to identify which environmental indicators they most adversely affect—indicators selected in accordance with the planetary boundaries established by the international scientific community:

• soil acidification
• CO2 emissions
• water eutrophication
• depletion of natural resources
• waste generation
• energy consumption
• loss of biodiversity

In LCA terminology, this is referred to as the “cradle-to-grave” approach. The acronym LCA is sometimes used in its English form: LCA (Life Cycle decryptions). This method makes it possible to compare solutions, identify ways to reduce environmental impacts, and demonstrate environmental performance through labels or regulatory disclosures. In business, environmental management, as defined by ISO 14001, establishes the life cycle as a fundamental principle, in that it encourages eco-design. Eco-design involves designing a product in such a way that the environmental impact of its use is minimized starting from the design phase, before it is brought to market.

What is the difference between a life cycle assessment (LCA) and a carbon footprint analysis?

Formerly (and incorrectly) referred to as an “ecobilan,” the LCA method goes beyond a simple carbon footprint. It measures the greenhouse gas emissions released, more or less directly, at various stages of an object’s life cycle. However, when applied to newspaper production, for example, the carbon footprint does not account for the origin of the paper or the quality of the inks—criteria that are nonetheless crucial in determining whether the product is environmentally acceptable. The LCA, on the other hand, inventories all incoming and outgoing material and energy flows at every stage of a product’s life cycle, from cradle to grave or from well to wheel in the case of transportation: raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. It therefore provides a more precise picture of a product’s ecological footprint, beyond its carbon footprint. As with carbon assessments, the AFNOR Group supports organizations in conducting LCA studies compliant with ISO standards through training, methodological tools, and access to reference standards. 

What is the purpose of a Life Cycle Assessment? Applications of LCA

Conducting a life cycle assessment helps achieve several strategic objectives for businesses, public agencies, and manufacturers:

• Compare the environmental impact of products : choosing between two materials, two modes of transport, or two product designs that serve the same purpose (e.g., cardboard packaging vs. recycled plastic)
• Identify areas for improvement : Identify which stages of the life cycle (extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, end-of-life) have the greatest environmental impact so that action can be prioritized
• Leading an eco-design initiative : Incorporate environmental criteria from the design phase to reduce the carbon footprint and resource consumption
• Comply with regulatory requirements : LCA is mandatory for environmental labeling of textiles (European Union) and new buildings in France (RE2020)
• Highlighting Environmental Performance : obtain an Ecoscore, an eco-label, or an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Supported by LCA analyses, the eco-design approach involves balancing economic costs against environmental costs, as well as weighing different environmental impacts against one another. This is referred to as a multi-criteria approach. An example: insulating a building reduces its energy consumption during use. However, the insulation project requires materials, transportation, and energy. Thinking in terms of the life cycle, supported by an LCA, therefore allows us to determine whether the resulting effect is, ultimately, positive or negative. Another frequently cited example is the analysis of an electric car: by eliminating an internal combustion engine and the associated exhaust emissions, and replacing them with a battery made from imported lithium—which will be recharged with electricity that isn’t necessarily green—is it worth the effort? A life cycle analysis provides valuable, objective insights.

The application of these standards ensures an accurate assessment of environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle. Companies can then make informed decisions based on comparable and verifiable results. An LCA conducted using these standardized methods also serves as the starting point for communicating a product’s environmental performance, whether through an eco-score, an eco-label, or a mark required by regulatory environmental labeling requirements (such as those for textiles):

• RE2020: mandatory for new buildings in France (more info here)
• Textile environmental labeling: mandatory in the European Union as of October 2025
• Public procurement: increasingly required in public tenders.
   

What are the four basic steps of an LCA?

To conduct an LCA, you need to follow four main steps:

1. Definition of the objectives and scope of the study
2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
3. impact assessment
4. interpretation of the results

A comprehensive LCA typically takes between 2 and 6 months, depending on the product’s complexity, data availability, and the scope of the analysis. The life cycle inventory (collection of material and energy flows, shown here in the second step) is the most time-consuming step. AFNOR recommends training in the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standardized methods to optimize this time and ensure the reliability of the results. To master all of these steps and thus become an expert in LCA as applied to your industry (construction, manufacturing, etc.), AFNOR also offers training programs.