Phase 1: Goal and scope: the goal decides which aspects of
the operation are included (setting the system boundaries),
whether all aspects are included or specific aspects such as
energy. The system boundaries are set by the scope definition
and can be divided into four phases: (1) pre-manufacture,
(2) manufacture, (3) packaging and distribution and (4) use
and end of life. Consideration of all phases would be, “cradleto-
grave”, or can be more limited such as, “cradle-to-factory
gate”, which would only include the first two phases. This
phase also decides the purpose of the LCA and for whom
it is being done as this will affect the data collected and its
conversion to meaningful units.