Environmental Assessment Types

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)Raw Data CollectionGHG InventoryEmissions TrackingProduct Carbon FootprintProduct-Specific GHG ImpactEPDVerified Declaration.

Relationship between different types of environmental assessments

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

Life Cycle Analysis is the most comprehensive environmental assessment methodology, evaluating environmental impacts across a product's entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through end-of-life disposal ("cradle-to-grave").

• Considers multiple environmental impact categories (climate change, acidification, water depletion, etc.)
• Follows ISO 14040 and 14044 standards
• Includes impact assessment and interpretation phases
• Can be used to support decision-making and product development

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)

A Life Cycle Inventory is a detailed accounting of all inputs and outputs associated with a product or process throughout its life cycle. It serves as the foundation for other assessments.

• Raw data collection of material and energy flows
• Quantifies resources, emissions, and waste
• Does not include impact assessment
• Often used as input for LCA and PCF calculations

Greenhouse Gas Inventory

A GHG inventory is a comprehensive accounting of an organization's greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes (1, 2, and 3) over a specific time period.

• Focuses specifically on greenhouse gas emissions
• Usually calculated annually
• Follows GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
• Used for corporate sustainability reporting and target-setting

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

A Product Carbon Footprint focuses specifically on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a single product throughout its life cycle.

• Based on LCI data but focuses only on climate impact
• Follows standards like PAS 2050 or ISO 14067
• Can be partial (cradle-to-gate) or complete (cradle-to-grave)
• Often used for product labeling and marketing

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized, third-party-verified document that communicates transparent and comparable information about a product's environmental impact.

• Based on LCA results
• Follows Product Category Rules (PCRs)
• Requires third-party verification
• Used in green building certification and procurement

Key Insight: While these different types of environmental assessments serve different purposes, they are interconnected and often build upon the same underlying data. A well-designed data collection and management system like CarbonSig can support all these assessment types while ensuring consistency and efficiency.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

Challenges:

• Data Gaps: Missing or incomplete data for certain life cycle stages
• Boundary Setting: Determining appropriate system boundaries
• Allocation: Deciding how to distribute impacts among co-products

Solutions:

• Use industry-average data to fill gaps while working to collect primary data
• Follow ISO standards for boundary setting decisions
• Document allocation decisions clearly and perform sensitivity analyses

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)

Challenges:

• Data Collection: Gathering detailed data from suppliers
• Data Quality: Ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Time Sensitivity: Keeping data current

Solutions:

• Implement supplier engagement programs with clear data requirements
• Establish data quality rating systems and verification procedures
• Use automated data collection systems with regular update schedules

GHG Inventory

Challenges:

• Scope 3 Emissions: Tracking indirect emissions throughout the value chain
• Data Ownership: Accessing data from different departments and entities
• Emission Factors: Selecting appropriate factors for calculations

Solutions:

• Prioritize major emission sources and develop specific tracking methods
• Establish clear data collection protocols and responsibilities
• Document emission factor selections and update regularly

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

Challenges:

• Product Variations: Handling different versions or configurations
• Use Phase: Estimating consumer behavior and usage patterns
• End-of-Life: Predicting disposal scenarios

Solutions:

• Develop modular calculation approaches for product variations
• Conduct user research and scenario analysis
• Use sensitivity analysis for different end-of-life scenarios

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Challenges:

• PCR Compliance: Meeting specific Product Category Rule requirements
• Verification: Managing the third-party verification process
• Updates: Maintaining current declarations

Solutions:

• Engage with PCR development processes in your industry
• Build verification requirements into data collection systems
• Implement systematic review and update procedures

How CarbonSig Addresses These Challenges

CarbonSig provides integrated solutions for these common challenges through:

• Automated data collection and validation processes
• Built-in quality control measures and data verification tools
• Standardized calculation methodologies aligned with relevant standards
• Flexible reporting capabilities for different assessment types
• Regular updates to emission factors and calculation methods
• Supplier engagement tools for upstream data collection
• Version control and documentation features