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LCASustainabilitySystems AnalysisColumbia University · 2024

Life Cycle Analysis — Steam Iron

Full cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a household steam iron — quantifying environmental impact across manufacturing, use phase, and end-of-life disposal.

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About This Project

Conducted a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a household steam iron using a cradle-to-grave methodology. The analysis quantified environmental impacts across all life stages: raw material extraction and manufacturing, distribution, active use phase (energy consumption over product lifetime), and end-of-life disposal or recycling pathways.

Key impact categories analyzed included global warming potential (GWP), energy demand, water usage, and material toxicity. The use phase was identified as the dominant contributor to overall environmental impact, driven by electricity consumption, highlighting the importance of energy efficiency in product design.

Course
Sustainability & Systems Analysis — Columbia
Year
2024
Skills
LCA Methodology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Systems Analysis
Outcome
Full cradle-to-grave impact report identifying use phase as primary driver