Product carbon footprint
GHGs can be emitted and captured throughout the life cycle of a product. The product’s carbon footprint is based on the calculation of GHG emissions throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to end-of-life, including all intermediate stages: production, transport, and consumption.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) steps
A LCA is a systematic analysis of environmental impact over the course of the entire life cycle of a product. A LCA models the environmental implications of the many interacting systems that make up industrial production. When accurately performed, it can provide valuable data that decision-makers can use in support of sustainability initiatives.
The ISO 14040 standard outlines LCA in four stages:
- Defining the objectives,
- Inventorying the life cycle of material and energy flows,
- Assessing the GHG impact, and
- Interpreting the results.
Key objectives
- Enhance your GHG accounting
- Identify the most impactful life cycle stages and set up an emissions reduction plan
- Provide consumers with a basis for comparing the environmental impact of two similar products
- Facilitate the evaluation of alternatives in terms of product design and supply options, production and manufacturing methods, choice of raw materials, transport, and recycling
- Identify areas for improvement in the supply chain
- Prioritise waste recovery and recycling paths
- Prepare exporting companies for the implementation of the CBAM
