# Explain why a life cycle assessment (LCA) is not a purely objective process.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.10.2 Life cycle assessment and recycling · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Allocating numerical values to pollutant effects is not straightforward
2. Value judgements are required (when assessing pollutant effects)
3. Selective or abbreviated LCAs can be produced / only part of the life cycle may be included
4. Selective LCAs can be misused, e.g. to support advertising claims / to make a product appear more environmentally friendly than it is

## Key terms

- [life cycle assessment (LCA)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/life-cycle-assessment-lca)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-a-life-cycle-assessment-92112de2) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.