Σύγκριση μεθόδων

	Ανάλυση Ροών Υλικών (MFA)	Ανάλυση Κύκλου Ζωής (LCA)
Πεδίο	Βιωσιμότητα	Βιωσιμότητα
Οικογένεια	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline
Έτος προέλευσης	2004	2009
Δημιουργός	Brunner & Rechberger	ISO 14040 framework; Finnveden et al.
Τύπος	Quantitative systems accounting method	Environmental impact accounting pipeline
Θεμελιώδης πηγή	Brunner, P. H., & Rechberger, H. (2004). Practical Handbook of Material Flow Analysis. Lewis Publishers. ISBN: 978-1-56670-604-9	Finnveden, G., et al. (2009). Recent developments in life cycle assessment. Journal of Environmental Management, 91(1), 1–21.
Εναλλακτικές ονομασίες	Substance Flow Analysis, Bulk-MFA, Material Flux Analysis, Malzeme Akış Analizi	Life Cycle Analysis, Cradle-to-Grave Analysis, Ecobalance, Yaşam Döngüsü Değerlendirmesi
Συναφείς	3	3
Σύνοψη	Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is a systematic method for quantifying the flows and stocks of materials within a defined system boundary over a specified time period. Introduced comprehensively by Paul H. Brunner and Helmut Rechberger in their 2004 handbook, MFA applies mass-balance principles to track how raw materials, products, wastes, and emissions move through industrial, urban, or national metabolisms, enabling evidence-based resource management and waste policy.	Life Cycle Assessment is a systematic, ISO-standardized methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across its entire life span — from raw material extraction through production, use, and end-of-life disposal. Codified in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, and comprehensively reviewed by Finnveden et al. (2009), LCA enables decision-makers to compare alternatives, identify environmental hotspots, and support eco-design, with applications spanning products, buildings, energy systems, and public policy.