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Is it really worthy to measure product carbon footprint performing LCA?

Carbon Management

Explore the advantages of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) over Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for sustainable business practices and decision-making.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps businesses measure environmental impacts across a product's entire lifecycle - from raw materials to disposal.
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) focuses on carbon emissions, offering a simpler, faster way to address climate-related goals.
LCA provides deeper insights, helping identify "hotspots" (e.g., supply chains contributing 80% of impacts) and guiding smarter design choices.
Consumers care: 60% are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, and 32% trust brands with transparent supply chains.
Costs can be high (€5,000–€100,000+), but tools like Devera automate the process, making it faster and affordable for small businesses.
Real-world results: MUD Jeans cut CO₂ by 66% and water use by 80% using LCA insights.

Quick Comparison: LCA vs. PCF

Aspect	Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)	Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
Scope	Broad (multiple environmental factors)	Narrow (carbon emissions only)
Time Investment	More time-intensive	Faster execution
Standards	ISO 14040, 14044	ISO 14067
Applications	Supply chain optimization, compliance	Carbon labeling, emissions cuts
Expertise Needed	Higher	Lower

Both methods have their place: PCF is ideal for quick wins, while LCA is better for comprehensive sustainability strategies. Start small, focus on high-impact areas, and leverage automated tools to simplify the process.

Life Cycle Assessment: Core Functions

Understanding the main functions of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps determine its value as an investment. LCA systematically evaluates and minimizes environmental impact, aligning with the expectations of 81% of consumers who prioritize corporate sustainability.

LCA Step-by-Step Process

The ISO 14040 and 14044 standards outline four key phases for conducting a thorough LCA:

Phase	Key Activities	Role in Decision Making
Goal and Scope Definition	Define boundaries and functional units	Pinpoints which production aspects to analyze
Life Cycle Inventory Analysis	Gather data on materials, energy, and emissions	Provides measurable metrics for improvement
Impact Assessment	Assess environmental effects and carbon equivalents	Highlights areas for reduction efforts
Results Interpretation	Evaluate findings and create action plans	Informs strategic sustainability initiatives

For example, during the inventory analysis phase, companies track raw materials, energy consumption, emissions, and waste. These steps demonstrate how LCA provides actionable insights into environmental performance.

Benefits of LCA

LCA offers businesses practical advantages, including:

Spotting Carbon Hotspots: In T-shirt production, nearly half of carbon emissions stem from electricity used in manufacturing, while cotton fiber production accounts for about 18%.
Informed Design Choices: Data from LCA helps assess materials and production processes to create more sustainable products.
Strategic Planning: Understanding the full environmental footprint enables companies to focus on adopting green energy and optimizing processes.

Real-World Examples of LCA

Practical applications highlight the value of LCA. For instance, MUD Jeans' 2019 assessment showed that raw materials and manufacturing each contributed 42% to their overall impact. Using these insights, they achieved:

66% lower CO₂ emissions compared to Levi’s equivalent products
80% reduction in water usage
48% decrease in land use

Similarly, Nike's Considered Design shoe project identified ways to incorporate environmentally preferred materials and processes, significantly reducing the environmental impact of their footwear compared to standard models.

These examples illustrate that while LCA requires resources, it delivers actionable insights that lead to measurable environmental improvements and competitive advantages.

Common LCA Obstacles

While LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) offers numerous advantages, its implementation often comes with challenges related to data, costs, and regulatory compliance. These hurdles can make adoption difficult for many organizations.

Data Challenges

Collecting and managing data is one of the biggest obstacles in LCA. Without standardized databases for environmental impact data, conducting accurate assessments becomes a significant challenge.

Here are some common data-related issues:

Challenge	Impact	Possible Solution
Data Quality	Incomplete or outdated data can distort results	Implement systematic data collection processes
Format Inconsistency	Different file formats complicate analysis	Use standardized software platforms
Database Variations	Emission factors vary across sources	Focus on collecting primary data

These data issues often lead to further complications when combined with the time and financial demands of LCA.

Time and Financial Constraints

The cost of conducting an LCA can be a major barrier, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A simplified LCA typically costs between €5,000 and €20,000, while a more detailed analysis can exceed €50,000–€100,000. For SMEs, which are responsible for 60–70% of global environmental pollution, these costs can be prohibitive. Additionally, 72% of SMEs report lacking trained LCA staff, and 41% face difficulties in acquiring the necessary data.

Navigating Standards and Regulations

Complying with international standards adds another layer of complexity. The ISO 14040 series requires strict adherence to standardized methodologies, including detailed documentation of data collection methods, assumptions, and calculations.

For example, California's Buy Clean Act mandates that state agencies incorporate embodied carbon considerations into infrastructure materials via verified LCAs. While specialized software can help automate calculations and streamline compliance, it also requires additional investment in training and infrastructure. These regulatory demands highlight the importance of efficient tools and methods for conducting LCAs effectively throughout the product lifecycle.

Making LCA Easier

New tools are simplifying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), addressing earlier challenges like data handling, costs, and regulatory hurdles. These advancements make the process faster, more affordable, and precise.

Devera: Automated LCA Platform

Devera tackles common LCA obstacles for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its AI-driven system reduces the need for manual data collection.

"This tool can replace costly consulting services"

Traditional LCA	Devera Automated LCA
6‑month completion time	Faster processing
Manual data collection	Automated data capture
High consulting costs	Flexible pricing
Limited reassessment	Simple updates

Other platforms also use automation to make LCA easier and more efficient.

Software Solutions for LCA

One Click LCA showcases automation through these steps:

Import: Pull design data directly from BIM, energy models, or spreadsheets
Process: Automatically align LCA results with certification standards
Optimize: Use built-in tools to pinpoint areas for improvement

Tips for Small Businesses

Automated tools aren't just about simplifying assessments - they help small businesses take meaningful action based on sustainability insights:

Use LCA templates to define goals and analyze data inventories
Build a system for collecting industry-relevant data to ensure accuracy
Monitor progress with standardized templates for easy comparisons

"This product is a powerful differentiator for e-commerce businesses and brands aiming to outshine their competitors"

Platforms like Devera can increase assessment capacity dramatically - up to 1,000 times more - making LCA accessible for businesses of every size.

LCA vs PCF: Key Differences

Understanding the differences between Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is crucial for businesses aiming to measure and manage their environmental impact effectively.

Scope and Focus

LCA examines a wide range of environmental factors, including water usage, acidification, human toxicity, and resource depletion, providing a broad analysis of environmental impacts. For instance, studies show that electric vehicles emit over 60% fewer pollutants than gas-powered cars over their lifetime when analyzed through LCA.

PCF, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions, measured in CO2 equivalents. This makes it a practical choice for companies aiming to address climate-related goals quickly and communicate results clearly to stakeholders. However, its narrower focus may miss other environmental concerns.

Method Comparison Table

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main differences between PCF and LCA:

Aspect	Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)	Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Primary Focus	Carbon emissions only	Multiple environmental impacts
Time Investment	Faster execution	More time-intensive
Standard Compliance	ISO 14067	ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
Typical Applications	Carbon labeling, emissions reduction	Regulatory compliance, supply chain optimization
Resource Requirements	Lower expertise needed	Higher expertise required
Analysis Depth	Single impact metric	Comprehensive environmental assessment

PCF is a quicker and simpler tool for targeting carbon emissions, making it ideal for businesses with specific climate goals. LCA, however, provides a more detailed and holistic view, helping organizations avoid shifting problems from one environmental area to another. This makes LCA particularly valuable for crafting well-rounded sustainability strategies.

Making the Decision

Key Factors to Consider

Before diving into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), take a close look at these important factors:

Decision Factor	What to Think About
Data Availability	Do you have access to reliable primary data? How good is the existing data quality?
Resource Investment	Can your budget cover tools, expertise, and the time needed for implementation?
Business Goals	Does LCA align with your sustainability targets and any regulatory requirements?
Product Complexity	How many components and how deep is your supply chain?
Market Demands	Are customers or competitors driving the need for LCA adoption?

These factors highlight the core elements to evaluate when considering LCA. It's worth noting that up to 90% of a consumer product company's environmental impact comes from the production and sale of its products.

Practical Recommendations

Once you've evaluated the factors above, here are some actionable steps to get started:

Start Small: Begin with a pilot project focused on your most critical product line. This helps manage costs and build internal expertise.
Focus on High-Impact Areas: Prioritize "hotspots" where improvements can make the biggest difference.
Use the Right Tools: Look into automated solutions like Devera, which can simplify the process while ensuring compliance with ISO standards.

Tailor your LCA approach to your company's unique needs. For example, Dow Chemical's 10-year S-ROI plan is projected to save the company $1 billion.

The Future of LCA

LCA is evolving quickly, driven by new technologies and stricter regulations.

"By using LCA correctly and adhering to international standards, LCA can be one of the most important tools for sustainability managers to consider when setting out the sustainability strategy for your company".

"LCA doesn't just offer surface-level insights. It dives deep into every stage of a product's life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal, showing businesses where they can make impactful changes".

Informed decisions are the foundation of successful LCA implementation. By understanding the full life cycle of your products, you can uncover opportunities for meaningful improvements.