Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Today, many companies know the carbon footprint of their products. But decisions about materials, packaging, or new technologies require more than a single climate metric. An Life Cycle Assessment, also called Life Cycle Analysis, (LCA) provides a full picture of where environmental impacts occur throughout a product’s life—and where improvements can make the biggest difference.

An LCA takes into account every stage, from raw material extraction and transportation to processing, distribution, use, recycling, and disposal. These boundaries are often called “Cradle-to-Grave.” Unlike a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), which focuses solely on CO₂, an LCA evaluates all relevant environmental impacts, including:

• Climate change (CO₂-eq per functional unit, e.g., kg of product)
• Land use and soil quality
• Water consumption and scarcity
• Acidification of soils and water
• Eutrophication (over-fertilization)
• Ozone depletion and smog formation
• Particulate matter emissions
• Toxicity to humans and ecosystems
• Ionizing radiation
• Resource depletion (fossil, mineral, metallic)

• LCAs have become an essential tool for companies aiming to understand their products holistically and make them more sustainable. Whether comparing alternative materials, assessing new technologies, or shaping a future-ready product portfolio, LCAs provide a fact-based foundation for informed decisions. Following ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, LCAs deliver transparency and credibility. By examining every phase of a product’s life cycle, companies can identify not only CO₂ hotspots but all significant environmental impacts—creating a clear roadmap for targeted improvements.

A Life Cycle Assessment provides companies with a solid foundation for:

• ‍Eco-design & product development
  Compare materials, packaging, production processes, or recycling concepts to make more sustainable product decisions.
• Strategic decision-making
  Evaluate technologies, supply chains, reduction pathways, or investments in more sustainable alternatives.
• Customers, procurement & tenders
  An increasing number of customers, buyers, and public tenders require LCA data that goes beyond CO₂.
• Communication & transparency
  Provide reliable environmental information for product labels, sustainability reports, marketing, or supplier documentation.

1. Goal definition & system boundaries
   Together, we clarify the research question, functional unit, and scope of the life cycle (cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave).

2. Data collection
   We supplement your primary data (energy, materials, transport, use, disposal) with established databases.

3. Modeling & calculation
   We perform assessments according to ISO 14040/14044 across all relevant impact categories.

4. Interpretation & hotspot analysis
   Identify key environmental hotspots and the most effective reduction levers.

5. Reporting & visualization
   Deliver clear reports, graphics, and actionable recommendations.

System boundaries define the framework of an LCA. They determine which process steps, materials, energy flows, and product life stages (cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave, cradle-to-cradle) are included.

Clearly defined system boundaries are crucial because they ensure that:

• Results are transparent and comparable
• No important environmental hotspots are overlooked
• Decisions are based on a solid, scientifically robust foundation