ISO 14040
ISO 14040 is an international standard that provides principles and framework for conducting life cycle assessment (LCA), a methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts of products, services, or systems throughout their entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. It establishes guidelines for defining the goal and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation phases of LCA studies. This standard is part of the ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards and is widely adopted in industries, research, and policy-making to support sustainability decisions.
Developers should learn ISO 14040 when working on projects that require environmental sustainability assessments, such as in green technology, manufacturing, or corporate sustainability reporting, to ensure compliance with international standards and improve product eco-design. It is particularly useful in industries like automotive, electronics, and construction, where life cycle thinking is critical for reducing carbon footprints and meeting regulatory requirements. Understanding this methodology helps in integrating environmental considerations into software tools for LCA, data analysis, and decision support systems.