Abstract
Life cycle analysis (LCA), which is becoming popular as the environmental concerns arise and sustainability becomes a key factor in our life, is an analysis to quantify the potential environmental impacts of product or services. First LCA studies are backed to the 1960s which were mainly aiming the energy analyses in packaging industry. We can define the period between 1970 and 1990 as the concept development of LCA with different approaches and terminologies with a lack of commonality. Following decade experienced an exceptional interest and expansion standardization activities including standards, practices and handbooks. Finally, beginning with the twenty-first century till today, several approaches like Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) and Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) have been proposed. This paper aims to review the historical process through which LCA methodology has passed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
About Pre/Our Story, (2022). https://pre-sustainability.com/about/our-story/
Basler & Hofman Ingenieure und Planer. (1974). Studie Umwelt und Volkswirtschaft: Vergleich der Umweltbelastung von Behältern aus PVC, Glas, Blech und Karton. Eidgenössisches Amt für Umweltschutz.
Bjørn, A., Owsianiak, M., Molin, C., & Hauschild, M. Z. (2018). LCA History. In M. Hauschild, R. Rosenbaum, & S. Olsen (Eds.), Life cycle assessment. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3_3
Brusseau, M. L. (2019). Sustainable development and other solutions to pollution and global change. In M. L. Brusseau, I. Pepper, & C. Gerba (Eds.), Environmental and pollution science, section 32 (3rd ed.). Academic Press.
Bundesamt für Umweltschutz (BUS). (1984). Ökobilanzen von Packstoffen (Life-cycle assessment of packaging materials, in German) (Schriftenreihe Umweltschutz No. 24).
Cooper, S. J., & Fava, J. A. (2006). Life-cycle assessment practitioner survey—Summary of results. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 10(4), 12–14.
Curran, M. A. (2006, May). Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and practice. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA/600/R-06/060.
Deloitte. (2012). Enhancing the value of life cycle assessment. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/process-and-operations/us-consulting-enhancingthevalueoflifecycleassessment-112514.pdf. Accessed 6 Aug 2022.
Dhaliwal, D. (2016). A look back: The evolution of LCA and life cycle impact assessment. TriplePundit. https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2016/look-back-evolution-lca-and-life-cycle-impact-assessment/22321. 2022. Accessed 06 May 2022.
Ecoinvent. (2022). Ecoinvent: History. https://ecoinvent.org/the-ecoinvent-association/history/. Accessed 6 May 2022.
EC-JRC (2010). European Commission-Joint Research Centre—Institute for Environment and Sustainability: International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook—General guide for Life Cycle Assessment—Detailed guidance. First edition March 2010. EUR 24708 EN. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
Franke, M. (1984). Umweltauswirkungen durch Getränkeverpackungen—Systematik zur Ermittlung der Umweltauswirkungen von komplexen Prozessen am Beispiel von Einweg-und Mehrweg-Getränkebehältern (Environmental impacts from beverage packaging—Methodology for analysis of environmental impacts from complex processes with the example of oneway and returnable beverage containers, in German). EF-Verlag für Energie- u. Umwelttechnik.
Goedkoop, M.J., Spriensma, R. (2000). Eco-indicator 99, a damage oriented method for lifecycle impact assessment, methodology report (update April 2000).
Guinée, J. (2012). Life cycle assessment: Past, present and future. In International symposium on life cycle assessment and construction.
Guinée, J. (2016). Life cycle sustainability assessment: What is it and what are its challenges? In R. Clift & A. Druckman (Eds.), Taking stock of industrial ecology. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20571-7_3
Heijungs, R., Guinée, J., Huppes, G., Lankreijer, R. M., Haes, H. A., Sleeswijk, A. W., Ansems, A. M. M., Eggels, P. G., van Duin, R., & Goede, H. P. (1992). Environmental life cycle assessment of products—Backgrounds.
Hunt, R. G., Sellers, J. D., & Franklin, W. E. (1992). Resource and environmental profile analysis: A life cycle environmental assessment for products and procedures. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 12(12), 245–269.
IEA (International Energy Agency). (2021). Net Zero by 2050—A roadmap for the global energy sector. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/deebef5d-0c34-4539-9d0c10b13d840027/NetZeroby2050-ARoadmapfortheGlobalEnergySector_CORR.pdf. Accessed 24 Aug 2022.
ISO. (2006). ISO 14044:2006 environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Requirements and guidelines.
Klöpffer, W. (2008): Life cycle sustainability assessment of products. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 13(2), 89–94.
Leontief, W. (1970). Environmental repercussions and economic structure. An input-output approach. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 52, 262–271.
Lundholm, M. P., & Sundström, G. (1985). Resource and environmental impact of Tetra Brik Carton and refillable and non-refillable glass bottles. Tetra Brik Aseptic Environmental Profile, AB Tetra Pak.
Margni, M.. Life cycle impact assessment. CIRAIG. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/19b8/f4468688c353472a5d0f82c6470fd2c35d5f.pdf. Accessed 06 May 2022.
Mazzi, A. (2020). Chapter 1—Introduction. Life cycle thinking. In J. Ren & S. Toniolo (Eds.), Life cycle sustainability assessment for decision-making (pp. 1–19). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818355-7.00001-4. ISBN 9780128183557.
McManus, M. C., & Taylor, C. M. (2015). The changing nature of life cycle assessment. Biomass and Bioenergy, 82, 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.04.024
Mekel, O. C. L., & Huppes, G. (1990). Environmental effects of different package systems for fresh milk (CML-Mededelingen no. 70). Centrum voor Milieukunde, Rijksuniversiteit.
Menoufi, K. A I. (2011). Life cycle analysis and life cyle impact assessment methodologies: A state of the art. http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/45831
Pommer, K., Hillersborg, A. S., Hirsbak, S., Hoffman, L., & Schmidt, A. (1991) Environmental assessment of milk packaging. Return bottles in polycarbonate compared to disposable cartons (in Danish). Environmental project No. 168. Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
PRé Sustainability. (2022). https://pre-sustainability.com/customer_clients/procter-gamble/. Accessed 06 May 2022.
Scientific Applications International Corporation. (SAIC). (2006). Life cycle assessment: Principles and practice. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA.
SETAC: In: Fava, J., Denison, R., Jones, B., Curran, M.A., Vigon, B., Selke, S., Barnum, J. (eds.). SETAC Press (1991). SETAC Workshop Report: A Technical Framework for Life-Cycle Assessment. Smugglers Notch, Vermont, August 18–23 1990.
SETAC: Guidelines for Life-cycle Assessment: A “code of Practice”: (1993b). from the SETAC Workshop Held at Sesimbra, Portugal, 31 March-3 April 1993. SETAC Brussels and Pensacola.
Sundström, G. (1971). Investigation of energy requirements from raw material to garbage treatment for four Swedish beer and packaging alternatives. Rigello Pak AB.
Teixeira, R., & Pax, S. (2011). A survey of life cycle assessment practitioners with a focus on the agri-food sector. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15, 817–820. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00421.x
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (1974). Resource and environmental profile analysis of nine beverage container alternatives—Final report. EPA/530/SW-91c.
Volvo Trucks. (2022). Environmental footprint calculator. https://www.volvotrucks.com/en-en/trucks/alternative-fuels/environmental-footprint.html. Accessed 06 May 2022.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Coban, K., Ekici, S., Karakoc, T.H. (2024). Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): A Retrospective Overview. In: Karakoc, T.H., Ekici, S., Dalkiran, A. (eds) Life Cycle Assessment in Aviation. Sustainable Aviation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52772-2_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52772-2_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52771-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52772-2
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)