Question

In one paragraph, define Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In a second paragraph, define and contrast traditional LCA with the Social LCA. - Choose a product (and a detailed functional unit) and develop BOTH a traditional LCA and a Social LCA - but just the Goals/Scope and framing of Inventory Analysis. Show as two diagrams (one for each).

Use written descriptions of your I LCAs if/as necessary.

Answer 1

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates environmental impacts across a product's life, whereas Social LCA incorporates social aspects. Traditional LCA focuses on environmental endpoints like emissions, while Social LCA considers human welfare. An example is analyzing the lifecycle of a cotton T-shirt, where traditional LCA measures inputs and outputs such as water and emissions, and Social LCA assesses worker and community health and well-being.

Step-by-step explanation:

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique used to assess the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts throughout a product's lifetime (i.e., cradle-to-grave).

Social Life Cycle Assessment (Social LCA) is an extension of traditional LCA that includes social and socioeconomic aspects and impacts. Where traditional LCA focuses on environmental impacts, Social LCA is concerned with human and community implications. The analysis looks at the impacts on workers, local communities, consumers, and other stakeholders throughout the product's life cycle. The contrasts lie in the metrics and endpoints; traditional LCA has endpoints like global warming potential, while Social LCA might consider worker safety and community well-being.

For example, consider a cotton T-shirt as the product, with a functional unit detailed as 'the full lifecycle of a standard 200-gram cotton T-shirt designed for everyday wear.' The traditional LCA Goals and Scope would include the cultivation of cotton, processing and manufacturing of the T-shirt, distribution, use-phase, and end-of-life disposal. The Inventory Analysis would quantify inputs like water, energy and outputs such as emissions. In contrast, the Social LCA Goals and Scope would look into fair labor practices, the impact on local communities' livelihoods, and consumer health and safety. The Inventory Analysis in Social LCA would gather data on working conditions, wages, and community health impacts.