Sustainable design means having enough resources for future generations and developing products that will not compromise the future of the environment. This also means not wasting resources, polluting the land and contributing to global warming. Life Cycle Assessment Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis are the methods by which the impacts of products are evaluated and then assessed. The LCA Calculator takes the entire product lifecycle into account – from cradle to grave.
The LCA Calculator measures the life cycle of a product from the moment the raw materials are mined or extracted, following it through to the processing of the materials and the manufacturing of the product. The LCA Calculator will then take into account the transport that is used to carry it from one point to another as well as all the energy the product will use in its lifetime. It will also measure the materials it consumes and how it is disposed of at the end of its life.
By measuring each of the steps you can understand and estimate the total impact of the product. In many cases it will be one specific area that tends to have the biggest impact and the LCA Calculator will point that area out so that a change in the design can be made.
By understanding all the impacts that each design decision contributes to the overall impact one can take necessary measures to reduce the environmental impact and make the process more sustainable and environmentally friendly. As well as for in-depth analyses of existing products, the LCA Calculator can also be used to quickly assess ‘what if?’ scenarios and identify changes and improvements to new product lines.
The LCA Calculator aids in understanding the impact your product has on the environment therefore allowing you to make changes, which will inevitably make the process and the product more sustainable.
