Bridging product life cycle gaps in LCA & LCC towards a circular economy

Life cycle gap analysis (LCGA) is a specific technique to interpret life cycle assessment (LCA) results from a circular economy (CE) perspective in order to identify potentials to further improve a product's sustainability. This paper conceptualizes an extension of the methodology by integrating cost assessments. The visualization of the final results in an eco-efficiency diagram indicates barriers and drivers of business models for circular and sustainable products. It therefore supports engineers, product designers and researchers in analyzing the consequences of their innovations and solutions regarding both the vision of CE and sustainable life cycle systems.