Life Cycle Assessment Framework: ISO 14040

This lecture introduces the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework according to ISO 14040, covering the principles, objectives definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. It explains the interaction between the technosphere and ecosphere, the boundaries of a product system, and the evaluation of environmental impacts. Examples of inventory data and impact categories are discussed, along with the interpretation of LCA results for decision-making. The lecture also presents the international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, emphasizing the importance of LCA in environmental management.