LCA is a method for systematically and quantitatively describing the consumption of various resources and energy and the emission of pollutants throughout the lifecycle of materials and products, and for evaluating their comprehensive environmental impacts. It serves as the methodological foundation for other environmental management tools, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and product carbon footprints.

EPD (also known as Type III Environmental Declaration or Environmental Product Declaration) is based on the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and provides a quantitative environmental information report based on the entire lifecycle process.

Carbon footprint is likewise based on LCA and quantitatively evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions of a product throughout its entire lifecycle.

Because EPD and carbon footprint can provide consumers, distributors, and other parties with scientific, verifiable, and comparable environmental information related to products, they are considered the most powerful supporting tools for government green procurement and product eco-design.