What Is E-Con LCA?
E-Con LCA likely stands for “Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment.” It’s a methodological approach used in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the production, use, and disposal of products or services, while also considering economic aspects.
In traditional life cycle assessment, the focus is primarily on the environmental impacts of a product or service, such as its carbon footprint, energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation. However, economic input-output LCA expands this analysis by incorporating economic data into the assessment.
How E-Con LCA Works?
Here’s how it generally works:
Input-Output Analysis: This method utilizes input-output tables, which provide data on the economic transactions between different sectors of the economy. These tables show how much output (goods and services) each sector produces and how much input (materials, energy, labor) is required from other sectors to produce that output.
Linking Environmental Data: Environmental data, such as emissions or resource use associated with each economic sector, are linked to the input-output tables. This allows analysts to estimate the environmental impacts associated with the production and consumption of goods and services across various sectors of the economy.
Assessment of Economic and Environmental Impacts: By combining economic and environmental data, E-Con LCA allows for the assessment of both economic and environmental impacts associated with a product or service throughout its life cycle. This can help identify trade-offs between economic efficiency and environmental sustainability and inform decision-making to achieve more sustainable outcomes.
Overall, E-Con LCA provides a holistic view of the sustainability performance of products or services by considering both economic and environmental aspects simultaneously. It’s particularly useful for policymakers, businesses, and researchers seeking to understand the full implications of their activities on both the economy and the environment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life-cycle_assessment