What is measured by a cradle-to-gate assessment?

A cradle-to-gate assessment focuses on measuring the environmental impacts associated with the stages of a product's life cycle from the extraction of raw materials up until it leaves the factory gate. This includes evaluating the resource extraction, manufacturing processes, and transportation up to that point. It helps to identify the environmental effects related to these initial stages without including the use or disposal aspects, which are considered in other types of assessments such as cradle-to-grave assessments.

This approach is valuable in understanding the impact of material choices and production methods on the environment before the product enters the market. Analyzing these stages can aid in making decisions that enhance sustainability in the manufacturing process and help inform stakeholders about the eco-friendliness of materials being sourced and produced.

In contrast, the other options would encompass broader or different scopes than what is defined in a cradle-to-gate assessment, making them less applicable to this specific evaluation method. For example, a measure of environmental impacts both before and after production would extend beyond the factory gate, which is not the focus of a cradle-to-gate approach. Similarly, assessing the full life cycle would involve additional phases such as usage and end-of-life, while final product usage does not pertain to the manufacturing stage alone.