What is the main goal of a screening level Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

The main goal of a screening level Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is to provide internal design guidance. This type of assessment serves as a preliminary analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with a product's life cycle. By identifying hotspots and areas of concern early in the design process, a screening level LCA helps teams make informed decisions to improve sustainability before significant investments are made or before the product reaches the market.

This approach allows organizations to incorporate sustainability principles during the initial phases of product development, shaping strategies and design choices that could minimize environmental impacts. It is less comprehensive than a full LCA, focusing instead on guiding internal practices rather than evaluating compliance with regulations or conducting market comparisons. Hence, while other options might have their merits in different contexts, the primary purpose of a screening level LCA is centered around supporting internal design processes.