Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal or recycling. It quantifies energy and material inputs, emissions, and waste outputs to assess effects like climate change, resource depletion, and toxicity. LCA is widely used in sustainability, engineering, and policy-making to support eco-design and decision-making.
Developers should learn LCA when working on sustainability-focused projects, such as green software development, eco-friendly product design, or environmental compliance in industries like manufacturing, energy, or tech. It helps quantify carbon footprints, optimize resource efficiency, and meet regulatory standards like ISO 14040, making it essential for roles in environmental tech, circular economy initiatives, or corporate sustainability reporting.