Design and Technology GCSE
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
What Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) means in Design and Technology GCSE, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A systematic method used to evaluate the environmental impact of a product through all stages of its life, from raw material extraction to disposal.
A systematic assessment of the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifespan, from raw material extraction to disposal.
Topics that use Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
- How the critical evaluation of new and emerging technologies informs design decisions (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Investigate environmental, social and economic challenges when identifying opportunities and constraints that influence designing and making (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Carbon Footprint
- Carbon Offsetting
- Design for Disassembly
- Economies of Scale
- Emerging Technologies
- Fair Trade
- Fairtrade
- Inclusive Design
Using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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