Life cycle analysis

An analysis that involves computation of all costs, from cradle to grave, of a project or enterprise. For example, in manufacturing of a product a life cycle analysis might start with costs of mining of the raw materials used in the product, through the manufacturing process itself, considering labor, transportation, etc., distribution and sales, and then continue through costs accumulated in its use, recycling, and its eventual disposal. These studies generally omit second generation impacts, such as the energy required to transport the bricks for the furnaces used to manufacture the raw material.