What is the primary intention of a screening level LCA?

The primary intention of a screening level Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is to provide internal design guidance. This type of LCA is typically conducted early in the design process to help identify potential environmental impacts and opportunities for improvement. It allows designers and decision-makers to get a preliminary understanding of the life cycle impacts of a product or process, facilitating informed decisions on design modifications, materials selection, and overall sustainability strategies.

In contrast, while external reporting, regulatory compliance, and marketing strategies may utilize LCA results, they are not the main focus of a screening level assessment. External reporting tends to require more comprehensive data and a detailed approach, making it more suitable for more advanced LCA methods. Regulatory compliance assessments must meet specific legal requirements, which often necessitate a deeper analysis. Marketing strategies can use LCA data for promoting sustainability but usually rely on a more robust and validated LCA rather than a preliminary screening approach.