Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): A Retrospective Overview

Life cycle analysis (LCA), which is becoming popular as the environmental concerns arise and sustainability becomes a key factor in our life, is an analysis to quantify the potential environmental impacts of product or services. First LCA studies are backed to the 1960s which were mainly aiming the energy analyses in packaging industry. We can define the period between 1970 and 1990 as the concept development of LCA with different approaches and terminologies with a lack of commonality. Following decade experienced an exceptional interest and expansion standardization activities including standards, practices and handbooks. Finally, beginning with the twenty-first century till today, several approaches like Life Cycle Costing (LCC), Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) and Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) have been proposed. This paper aims to review the historical process through which LCA methodology has passed.