Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the standardized, comprehensive methodology (ISO 14040/14044) used to quantify the total environmental burdens of a product, service, or system across its entire existence—from raw material extraction to final disposal ("cradle-to-grave").

It is executed in four rigorous phases: Goal and Scope definition, Inventory Analysis, Impact Assessment, and Interpretation.

LCA provides crucial, data-driven insights into resource use, global warming potential (carbon footprint), and various forms of pollution. It is an indispensable analytical tool for ensuring the scientific integrity of declarations like EPDs.