7. Final Considerations
By engaging the entire product life cycle, LCA provides a global view of the product system, providing a better understanding of the interaction between industrial activity and the environment, assisting in decision making and strategic planning of the organization. Therefore, it can be used in the product development process, aiming to improve the impacts caused by the developed product.
In this perspective, this article proposed a methodology approach for integrating LCA into the product development process. The proposed methodology takes into account the environmental profile obtained by LCA for a reference product and later the results originated for the impact categories are inserted throughout the PDP, to develop a new product with better characteristics.
Information originated by LCA can be used in all development phases. In the planning one, LCA can basically be used to identify improvement strategies based on hotspots. In the conceptual design phase, to help in choosing the best solution (strategy) for the product through the elaboration of scenarios. In the detailed design phase, to identify improvements in the environmental performance of the product relative to the reference one. In the testing/prototype phase to review if the environmental objectives and approaches for the product have been met. In the market launch phase, to provide a basis to publish environmental information about the product. And finally, in the product review phase, to assess the results of LCA integration in the PDP.
