For　the　production,　manufacture,　application,　and　disposal　of　materials,　numerous　energy　and　resources　are　consumed,　and　environment　deterioration　occurs　as　a　result.　Life　Cycle　Assessment　(LCA)　is　a　technique　for　systematically　analyzing　a　target　from　cradle　to　grave.　It　is　an　effective　tool　that　not　only　gives　a　detailed　information　of　environmental　profiles　of　a　material　or　a　product,　more　importantly,　the　value　of　life　cycle　thinking　lies　in　its　ability　to　provide　the　decision　making　basis　for　sustainable　development,　making　the　products,　industry　and　even　the　whole　industry　chain　act　more　in　line　with　the　principles　of　sustainable　development.　However,　life　cycle　assessment　method　itself　has　yet　to　be　further　improved.　In　the　aspect　of　the　actual　application,　it　is　required　to　combine　with　the　specific　conditions,　such　as　the　national　level　of　industrial　technology　and　the　phases　of　economic　development,　before　giving　a　full　play　of　the　realistic　role　that　life　cycle　assessment　can　provide　decision　making　basis　for　sustainable　development.　Some　new　progress,　such　as　data　quality,　methodology　localization,　database　and　case　study,　related　to　materials　life　cycle　assessment　research　and　development　in　China　are　introduced　in　this　article.