Life Cycle Assessment

BasicLCA and AdvancedLCA is a standardised method developed by Carbotech for the calculation of life cycle assessments. The approach is carried out in two different ways:

• LCAcompare: Comparison of two products or processes in terms of their environmental impact
• LCAanalysis: analysis of a process or product with regard to its relevant, environmentally harmful source and other factors.

BasicLCA – for an initial rough analysis

The BasicLCA is suitable for an 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 more detailed analysis is unnecessary. BasicLCA can be used to create the two versions LCAcompare and LCAnalyse.

AdvancedLCA – for detailed analyses

As an extension of BasicLCA, AdvancedLCA is the right tool for complex issues that require the collection of additional data – or if the results of the assessment are to be published.

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.

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.

For taylor-made life cycle assessment studies

We are frequently asked questions that cannot be answered or can only be answered to a limited extent with the existing data bases or methods. In such cases, it is necessary to carry out detailed data surveys and/or expand the assessment methods. This requires not only a great deal of experience in the preparation and calculation of life cycle assessments, but also an in-depth technical understanding of the analysed systems and detailed knowledge of assessment methods. Carbotech AG offers this broad background through its highly qualified employees.

We find the answers to our customers’ questions with innovative and pragmatic solutions. In doing so, we never lose sight of the essentials and remain objective and independent.

A life cycle assessment only ever answers one specific question. In this sense, it is crucial that the system boundaries and the data used correspond to the question. The review method is used to ensure the quality of the life cycle assessment. An independent third party checks whether

• the methods used comply with the international standard
• 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

We are happy to take on the external review of life cycle assessments. From simple and pragmatic monitoring of the study and discussion of the relevant aspects to the ISO 14040/44-compliant review process.

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.

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.