Life Cycle Data for Stainless Steel
Independent, science-based environmental data supporting sustainability assessment, material selection and responsible decision-making.
Why life cycle data matter
Sustainability decisions should be based on reliable evidence. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a comprehensive method for evaluating environmental impacts across a product’s entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and production through use and end-of-life recovery.
For stainless steel, these assessments help demonstrate the material’s durability, recyclability and contribution to a circular economy.
Understanding Life Cycle Inventory and Assessment
Sustainability is increasingly influencing how products and materials are designed, manufactured and selected. To understand a product’s environmental performance, it is important to consider impacts across its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and production to use and end-of-life management. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a recognised framework for doing so. At the heart of every Life Cycle Assessment is a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). An LCI quantifies the resources used and emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle, providing the data needed for a comprehensive environmental assessment.
For stainless steel, life cycle data help provide a complete understanding of environmental performance by considering not only production impacts, but also factors such as durability, long service life and recovery at the end of use.