Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) serves as a basis for developing a baseline of environmental impacts, identifying environmental hotspots, and as a decision-making tool to enhance the new product development process. To conduct an effective LCA, detailed information on various aspects of the product life cycle is essential.
Types of Life Cycle Assessments
Life Cycle Assessment:
Methodology that evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle.
The study is developed to ISO 14040/ISO 14044 standards.
Cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-gate with options, cradle-to-grave
Conduct third-party critical review (required if the study will be shared externally)
Life Cycle Assessment Optimized:
Calculates and compares environmental impacts of a new generation of a product or process.
Cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-gate with options, cradle-to-grave (match the boundary of the original study)
Develop study to ISO 14040/ISO 14044 standards
Conduct third-party critical review of optimization results
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment:
Calculate the environmental impacts of two distinct products or processes intended for comparative assertions.
Cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-gate with options, cradle-to-grave (system boundary must be inclusive of all material considerations)
Develop study to ISO 14040/ISO 14044 standards
Include primary data for both systems
Ensure apples-to-apples comparison
Conduct third-party critical review by a three-person panel (required if the study will be shared externally)
Why Choose SSC?
SSC has over 23 years of experience in developing and delivering valuable LCAs based on international standards (ISO 14040/14044, ISO 14025, ISO 21930, and EN 15804) and market demands. We have successfully completed LCAs across a diverse range of industries including building and construction, industrial minerals, polymers, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and more.
LCA studies have several internal and external benefits, such as:
Identifying areas of improvement in processing and materials (and potential alternatives)
Identifying environmental hot spots in the lifecycle
Providing information to marketing and sales teams
Providing an effective response to customer information requests
Providing input to internal training and communication campaigns for employees
Not All LCA Practitioners are Created Equal
Leveraging our 23 years of experience, we work hand-in-hand with your team and provide the level of support required to collect the data and information necessary to develop a robust and accurate LCA model. We recognize the challenges your team may face with data tracking and that is why we work to accommodate your method of tracking.
We not only use the results of the LCA to develop an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), but we also use the results as part of developing a comprehensive sustainability program with mutually supporting initiatives. SSC is committed to excellence and listed below are just a few of the benefits of choosing SSC as your LCA Practitioner:
ACLCA Certified Staff
DEDICATED PROJECT MANAGER AND ON-DEMAND SUPPORT
iso-compliant lca report
Model Ownership
The Connection Between LCA and Scope 3 Emissions
LCA is essential for accurately identifying and quantifying environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle. This comprehensive analysis is crucial for understanding and reducing Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
By leveraging the insights gained by an LCA, businesses can make informed decisions on sustainable sourcing, manufacturing, and product design, leading to overall reductions in Scope 3 emissions.
Life Cycle Assessment of U.S. Soybeans, Soybean Meal, and Soy Oil
This LCA is designed to be used by the United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) to better understand the current state and environmental impact of the U.S. soybean industry’s farming, processing, and oil refining operations. This report documents the methodology, data, details, and results of the LCA on the impacts of soybeans, soybean meal, crude soy oil, and refined soy oil produced in the United States.
Resources
From Assessment to Action: Integrating LCAS and epds
In this document, we discuss the transformative approaches in Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), outline the three types of LCAs, provide a readiness assessment you should answer prior to engaging in an LCA study, and much more. Click the button below to download!
KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Definitions of key terms and acronyms.
Podcast Episode
Deep Dive Into LCA,EPD, and PCF
LCA FAQs
Answers to 10 frequently asked questions.
Webinars
Need Support?
Contact One of Our LCA Certified Professionals
At SSC, our employees come from a diverse range of backgrounds including chemical, mechanical, environmental, and civil engineering. We always try and match our clients with a team member that best meets the needs of your industry.
Furthermore, our staff includes LCA Certified Professionals (LCACPs). Achieving LCACP certification requires an LCA practitioner to demonstrate expertise in LCA practice and have a thorough understanding of the International Standards for Life Cycle Assessment, ISO 14040, and ISO 14044. Having an LCACP involved in your project will help ensure your model and assessment are conducted in accordance with International Standards.
