An overview on life cycle inventory leads to green manufacturing: Methods and modifications

Green manufacturing requires methods to measure and compare the environmental impacts of products throughout its entire life cycle. Life cycle inventory (LCI) is a tool for green manufacturing which deals with the compilation and quantification of the inputs (i.e. raw materials) and outputs (emissions) for a given product throughout its life cycle. The three main classifications of LCI are: Process oriented modeling, Input output analysis and Hybrid method. In this paper, literatures on methodological evolution of LCI methods are reviewed and the advantages and limitations and applicability of these methods are also presented. Finally, conclusions are drawn, combined with development scope of these inventory compiling methods in green manufacturing.