Life Cycle Analysis

 What is Life Cycle Analysis?

 Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental
impact of a product through its life cycle encompassing extraction and
processing of the raw materials, manufacturing, distribution, use,
recycling, and final disposal.

 Stages of Life Cycle Analysis

The first stage of a life cycle analysis is called an “inventory
analysis.” In an inventory analysis, the goal is to examine all the
inputs and outputs in a product’s life cycle, beginning with what
product is composed of, where those materials came from, where
they go, and the inputs and outputs related to those component
materials during their lifetime. It is also necessary to include the
inputs and outputs during the product’s use, such as whether or not
the product uses electricity. The purpose of it is to quantify what
comes in and what goes out, including the energy and material
associated with materials extraction, product manufacture and
assembly, distribution, use and disposal and the environmental
emissions that result.

The next stage of a life cycle analysis is the impact analysis, in

which the environmental impacts identified in the previous stage are
enumerated, such as the environmental impacts of generating energy
for the processes and the hazardous wastes emitted in the
manufacturing process.

 Purpose of Life Cycle Analysis

Purpose of the analysis is to evaluate, once the inputs and outputs
are quantified, how the product affects the environment throughout
its lifecycle. Once its general environmental impact is calculated, the
next step is to conduct an improvement analysis to see how impact
of the product on the environment.
The Three R’s(Reduce-Ruse-
Recycle)

 Introduction
We as customers waste a lot of products. Many a times, we have
bought more than we need and then simply tossed some of it in the
dustbin. When we consider it on a larger scale, there is a lot of
rubbish that goes into the landfill and then later on contributes to
the greenhouse gas emissions. And we are not even talking about the
garbage that is lying around in the waterways where it harms our
marine life.

In order to sort this entire thing out, we need to follow the 3 R’s-
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce means to cut down the amount of waste that we are making.

Some following methods are:-

i)Change of Process-By using modern techniques to make the best
out of raw materials.

Example-Using sulphate salts in zinc electroplating instead of

chlorides to cut down the production of cyanides.

ii)Waste Concentration-By using scientific techniques such as

precipitation and evaporation of liquid waste products. Also
Incineration can be used for solid wastes.

iii)Segregation of Waste-By segregating hazardous and non-

hazardous wastes.

The next best option to reducing solid waste altogether is to reuse

as many items as possible.  Reuse can mean purchasing non-
disposable items or it can mean passing an item along to another
person for continued use.

Example:-Footwear made from old tyres, lamps from tin cans, etc
  The Importance of Recycling for Waste
Management

1) Conserving natural resources

Example-Recycling wood and paper saves trees and forests

2)Protecting ecosystems and wildlife

Example- if plastic waste isn't safely put to recycling, it can be

blown or washed into rivers and seas and end up hundreds or
thousands of miles away, polluting coastlines and waterways and
becoming a problem for everyone.

3)Reduces demand of raw materials

4)Saves Energy

Example- Producing new aluminium from old products (including

recycled cans and foil) uses 95% less energy than making it from
scratch. For steel it's about a 70% energy saving.

5)Cuts climate changing carbon emissions

Because recycling means you need to use less energy on sourcing
and processing new raw materials, it produces lower carbon
emissions. It also keeps potentially methane-releasing waste out
of landfill sites.

6)Cheaper than waste collection and disposal

According to a survey it said that recycling is 6 times cheaper to

dispose of recycled waste than general refuse. So, the more you
recycle, and the less you put in the bin, the more money is saved,
which should be good for households, businesses and local public
services.

7)Creating Jobs

According to a TERI expert plastic waste management in India

may create jobs in the country which produces over 15,000 tonnes
of plastic waste per day out of which only 60 percent is recycled.