What is a
life cycle
Also known as: product life cycle
In public procurement, a life cycle encompasses every stage a product, service, or works contract passes through — from raw material extraction and production, through transport, use, and maintenance, to disposal or decommissioning. The concept pushes contracting authorities to look beyond the moment of purchase and consider the full impact of what they procure.
How does the life cycle approach work?
EU Directive 2014/24/EU defines the life cycle as all consecutive or interrelated stages of a product or works contract, including research and development, production, trading, transport, use, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal. This definition is mirrored in the EEA procurement regulations.
In practice, a contracting authority may set requirements and criteria that cover any stage of the life cycle. The requirements specification can address production methods, energy consumption during operation, or recyclability at end of life — provided the requirements are linked to the subject matter of the contract.
Why is the life cycle important?
The life cycle perspective underpins several key instruments in EU/EEA procurement law:
- Life cycle costing (LCC) — calculates all costs over the full lifetime, not just the purchase price. See the dedicated article on life cycle costing.
- Life cycle assessment (LCA) — maps the environmental and climate impact at each stage, from raw material extraction to disposal.
- Climate and environmental considerations — award criteria may refer to any stage of the life cycle, and green public procurement is formally defined as procuring goods with reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle.
- Circular procurement — life cycle thinking is the foundation for circular procurement, which aims to extend product lifespans, reduce waste, and promote reuse.
Tools like Cobrief can help suppliers understand which life cycle phases the contracting authority emphasises, so that bids address the right requirements.
The life cycle is more than a legal definition — it is a strategic lens that helps public buyers select solutions delivering the best value over time, both economically and environmentally.