Life Cycle Assessment

The ScreeningLCA is suitable for the initial, rough analysis of existing data. Our many years of experience show that in many cases the results are already so clear that a decision can be made and a detailed analysis is unnecessary.

There are two different approaches:

• LCAnalysis: Analysing a process or product with regard to its relevant, environmentally harmful sources and other factors
• LCACompare: Comparison of several products or processes with regard to their environmental impact

ScreeningLCA is the ideal entry-level module if internal questions need to be answered in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner.

Contact persons

Gavin Roberts

+41 61 206 95 34
E-Mail

Mareike Weiner

+41 61 206 95 38
E-Mail

As an extension of the ScreeningLCA, the CustomLCA is the right tool for complex questions that cannot be fully answered with the existing principles. It is used when detailed data collection and modelling need to be carried out or the assessment methods need to be expanded. This requires an in-depth technical understanding of the analysed systems and detailed knowledge of the fundamentals of assessment methods – knowledge that our employees bring to the table.

CustomLCA is also ideal if the results of the assessment are to be published.

Contact persons

Fabian Elsener

+41 44 552 43 24
E-Mail

Tanja Laube

+41 44 552 43 21
E-Mail

Every organisation uses resources and generates emissions and waste. These factors lead to environmental impacts such as climate change, soil and water pollution and the depletion of natural resources.

More and more companies are motivated to minimise these impacts because it reflects their values, it’s demanded by their customers or is required by law.

The first step towards minimising these impacts is to draw up a corporate carbon footprint. It analyses an organisation’s activities in terms of their impact on the environment and helps to identify the hotspots. In other words, those activities that contribute the most to pollution and where the greatest leverage is available to achieve an improvement.

In addition to recording Scope 1 and 2 emissions (direct and indirect emissions from energy requirements), we specialise in recording Scope 3 emissions in particular. Scope 3 emissions occur in the upstream and downstream value chain, for example in the entire procurement or logistics process. Thanks to our many years of work in life cycle assessment, we have the necessary experience and tools to efficiently record and report Scope 3 emissions.

We support companies in creating a reduction pathway and in participating in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We have a framework agreement with the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) to support qualified companies in applying for funding from SwissEnergy.

We are also happy to review your existing operating balance sheet or your existing reduction path.

Contact persons

Tanja Laube

+41 44 552 43 21
E-Mail

Stefanie Conrad

+41 44 444 20 12
E-Mail

Products use resources. In their development, manufacture, use and disposal. Ecodesign aims to develop products from the outset in such a way that resources are used in the best possible way throughout the entire life cycle, while at the same time maximising the benefits for everyone involved.

Our approach begins with a life cycle assessment. This identifies ecological weaknesses from an environmentally orientated analysis, a stakeholder analysis and benchmarking. To ensure that nothing is overlooked, we not only look at your activities, but also at the upstream and downstream processes – such as the raw material purchasing associated with the production process and the upstream and downstream logistics.

Based on this data, we work with you to develop improvement strategies and measures. Of course, we also support you in the implementation of all the measures devised in product development so that we can bring our expertise into your organisation. In addition, we support the communication of the results both internally and externally.

Contact persons

Gerrit Vorhoff

+41 61 206 95 55
E-Mail

Mischa Zschokke

+41 44 444 20 15
E-Mail

Sustainable solutions should be viable in the long term – ecologically and socially and, in the best case, also financially. It is important to base decisions not only on the purchase price, but also to consider the costs over the entire life cycle of a product or investment. The utilisation costs of long-lasting products in particular can be significantly higher than the acquisition costs.

The aim of life cycle costing (Total Cost of Ownership TCO and Life Cycle Costing LCC) is usually to compare two product alternatives in order to make a purchasing decision. However, it can also be very helpful for budgeting investments in order to estimate future costs.

The calculation of life cycle costs complements the product life cycle assessment if you want to take both ecological and economic criteria into account when deciding between different variants. There are also methods for linking these two types of criteria, e.g. eco-efficiency or the external cost method (in which the environmental impact is expressed in monetary units). In addition, we can take cost changes into account in the model, e.g. through a CO2 tax.

Contact persons

Gerrit Vorhoff

+41 61 206 95 55
E-Mail

Philipp Bolt

+41 44 552 43 20
E-Mail

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14’025 is a type 3 product label that contains the life cycle assessment results of a product in accordance with specified standards. In the building sector in particular, more and more product EPDs are being requested in tenders to declare the environmental impact and are also increasingly being used by planners and architects.

Carbotech AG works with various customers on the creation of EPDs in accordance with EN 15’804+A2 and can draw on a wealth of experience.

EPDs provide a comprehensive list of information, but one difficulty is the evaluation of the large number of indicators. An overall assessment of the environmental impact (environmental footprint) is possible by weighting the results. For this purpose, Carbotech AG has developed an online calculator to compare the environmental footprint of products with a single parameter and to assess the relevance of the indicators given.

Click here for the EPD calculator:

An adapted ILCD Endpoint v1.06 method is used for an initial assessment of the environmental footprint (with the weighting set according to Huppes and van Oers). In some cases, the method was supplemented with simple approximations for an initial assessment of the environmental footprint. Carbotech AG accepts no liability for the analyses created with the calculator and the use of the results.

Contact persons

Mischa Zschokke

+41 44 444 20 15
E-Mail

Cornelia Stettler

+41 61 206 95 33
E-Mail

Carbotech regularly prepares external expert reports for life cycle assessments and corporate balance sheets. These serve to ensure the quality of life cycle assessments and to check whether the system boundary corresponds to the issue at hand and whether adequate data and methods are used. In particular, we check whether:

• the methods used comply with international standards
• the methods used are scientifically and technically valid and applicable
• the data used are appropriate and reasonable for the objectives of the study
• the conclusions take into account the objectives and limitations of the study
• the report is transparent and consistent

Verification by an independent third party increases the credibility of each balance sheet and the measures derived from it, especially if these are communicated externally. We are happy to take on the external review of your study. From simple and pragmatic support and discussion of the relevant aspects through to the ISO 14040/44-compliant review process.

Contact persons

Cornelia Stettler

+41 61 206 95 33
E-Mail

Thomas Kägi

+41 44 444 20 17
E-Mail

Mischa Zschokke

+41 44 444 20 15
E-Mail