The Current Status and Future Tasks on Life Cycle Assessment(LCA).

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology for assessing the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product or service during its life cycle. The methodology of LCA is now being standardized as ISO 14040 series. According to ISO 14040, LCA framework consists of 4 elements：1)Goal and Scope definition, 2)Inventory analysis, 3)Impact assessment, 4)Interpretation. First, the goal and scope of an LCA study shall be clearly defined and consistent with the intended application. In inventory analysis, carried out the compilation and quantification of inputs and outputs are for a given product system throughout its life cycle. Impact assessment is a phase aimed at understanding and evaluating the magnitude and significance of the potential environmental impacts of a product system. In interpretation, the findings of either the inventory analysis or the impact assessment, or both, are combined consistent with the defined goal and scope in order to reach conclusions and recommendations. It is recognized that LCA is still at an early stage of development. Some phases of the LCA technique, such as impact assessment, are still in relative infancy. Considerable work remains to be done and practical experience gained in order to develop the level of LCA practice further. The current status and futute tasks on LCA are reviwed in this paper.