Various options are available to assess the environmental impact of products or production processes, depending on the purpose and envisaged size of the project. There are therefore a number of different products we offer in this respect: a Quickscan LCA, Exploratory/Screening LCA and a Full LCA (conform ISO/EN standards) and a CO2 footprint according to the GHG Protocol (scope 1, 2 & 3).
Quickscan LCA
An abbreviated LCA to provide a global insight into the impact of a product or system mapping and identify focal points within it. A Quickscan LCA provides an intital insight into a number of environmental indicators in a more simplified and faster way. It can be used to identify the environmental bottlenecks within a process.
Lead time: ± 1 to 3 months
Exploratory / Screening LCA
An Exploratory / Screening LCA involves examining an existing or future product/system in more detail. The scope and detail level of this service also makes it possible to map the impact of several scenarios. Ideal for parties that want to understand the impact of other choices in the field of energy, raw materials but also, for example, end-of-life routes.
Lead time: ± 3 to 6 months
Full LCA
The most comprehensive option, in which the main processes are mapped and the effects of the process steps are included for a large number of indicators.
An LCA can provide support in finding the total impact of products, make a comparison between products or by optimizing process steps and associated impacts. In principle, a full LCA study consists of four phases: Definition of the Goal & Scope, Life Cycle Inventory, Life Cycle Impact Assessment and Interpretation. It is important to clearly define the intended purpose and scope of the study in advance, as many of the choices made in the LCA process depend on this definition. In the (data)inventory phase, the input and output flows from the product system are collected. In the next phase, the impact of each of the flows is determined on the basis of a number of impact categories. The fourth and final phase runs simultaneously with the entire process and is used to check assumptions and reliability, draw conclusions and make recommendations. The standards for a full LCA are described in the ISO 14040 series.
In addition, we can convert an LCA into an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). This concise and standardised ”impact report” can be of interest when your customers ask for environmental impact-related data. EPDs are used across Europe within various industries. See also Environdec’s website.
Lead time: ±3 to 7 months
Lead time LCA report according to ISO standard: ±5 to 8 months
Sectors for which we have conducted impact analyses in the past:
- Agri & food sector
- Potatoes & sugar beet
- Oils and fats
- Fermentation
- Agriculture & farming sector
- Flax
- Hemp
- Roadside grass
- Waste wood
- Biogas / green gas
- Consumer goods
- Electronic devices
- Dog snacks
- Plastics & Chemistry
- Biobased plastics (e.g. PLA)
- Biodegradable plastics (e.g. PHA)
- Circular plastics (e.g. recycled PP)
- Chemical- & mechanical recycling
- Chemical building blocks (biobased & fossil)
- Food & beverage packaging
- Building & infrastructure
- Circular concrete
- Sheet / board material
- Signage
- Composite materials
- Insulation materials
- Textiles
- Polyester
- Linen
- Cotton
- Public sector
- Material flow- & impact analysis
- Impact of various biomass valorisation routes
