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  • November 2023 (Revised August 2024)
  • Background Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview

By: Willy C. Shih, Michael W. Toffel and Kelsey Carter
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:9
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Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a holistic approach to quantifying the environmental impacts—including resources consumed and wastes produced—associated with the entire life cycle of a product, from the production or extraction of the raw materials used in its creation, to its end-of-use disposition. LCAs are often used to better understand how choices made in a product’s design (e.g., materials, assembly, energy sources, energy efficiency) would affect its overall environmental impact. This note provides an overview of the different types of LCAs, LCA methodology, and LCA tools and databases.

Keywords

Life-cycle; Environmental Performance; Design; Environmental Management; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Measurement and Metrics; Standards; Accounting; Environmental Accounting

Citation

Shih, Willy C., Michael W. Toffel, and Kelsey Carter. "Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview." Harvard Business School Background Note 624-052, November 2023. (Revised August 2024.)
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About The Authors

Willy C. Shih

Technology and Operations Management
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Michael W. Toffel

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • November 2023 (Revised August 2024)
    • Faculty Research

    Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview

    By: Willy C. Shih, Michael W. Toffel and Kelsey Carter
Related Work
  • Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview By: Willy C. Shih, Michael W. Toffel and Kelsey Carter
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