The life cycle assessment evaluates the environmental impacts of a product from which perspective?

The life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a product from a "Cradle to grave" perspective. This approach considers the entire lifespan of a product, beginning from the extraction of raw materials (the "cradle") through the various stages of production, use, and ultimately to its disposal at the end of life (the "grave").

By taking into account all phases of a product's life cycle, LCA provides a comprehensive view of how that product interacts with the environment, helping to identify opportunities to minimize negative impacts, improve sustainability, and inform decision-making in product design and policy. This holistic perspective is crucial for understanding not only the direct environmental impacts but also the indirect effects that may arise throughout its entire life cycle.

The other perspectives mentioned, while they represent important parts of the life cycle, do not encompass the complete continuum from resource extraction to waste, which is fundamental to the LCA framework.