Data collection can quickly turn into a \u201chelp-how-should-I-do-this-without-a-headache-moment\u201d.\u00a0We don\u2019t like headaches.\u00a0After reading this article, you\u2019ll know:<\/p>\n
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- Who needs to collect this data;<\/li>\n
- What data you actually need;<\/li>\n
- Where to collect the right data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Let\u2019s go through the phases of data collection in LCA.<\/p>\n
Phase 1. Deciding what to measure in your LCA<\/h2>\n
1. Determine the main person\/department(s) responsible for the measurement project.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Usually this is done by the sustainability manager. If your company doesn\u2019t have a sustainability manager yet, it can covered by a data specialist, product manager, accountant, or the finance department.<\/p>\n
2. Determine what you want to measure.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Which individual product(s)\/product portfolio do you want to measure the environmental footprint for?\u00a0Deciding what and how much you\u2019ll measure is crucial for determining the data you need. Will you focus on one product<\/a>? Or do you need the footprints of a whole portfolio?<\/a><\/p>\n
3. Determine the measurement scope of your product\u2019s lifecycle.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Generally speaking, the product lifecycle consists of five phases:<\/p>\n
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- Raw Material Extraction<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Manufacturing & Processing<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Transportation\u00a0(factory to customers \u2013 but transport can occur in between al phases<\/strong>)<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Usage & Retail<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Waste Disposal<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Based on the phases you\u2019re interested in or have data available on, you can choose to leave in- or take out phases. The data you need differs per scope.\u00a0There are three main lifecycle scopes:<\/p>\n
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- Cradle-to-gate:<\/strong> assesses a product until it leaves the factory gates before it is transported to the consumer (phase 1&2).<\/li>\n
- Gradle-to-grave:<\/strong> includes all the 5 life phases in your measurements. \u2018Cradle\u2019<\/em> is the inception of the product with the sourcing of the raw materials. \u2018Grave\u2019<\/em> is the disposal of the product. It shows a full footprint from start to end.<\/li>\n
- Cradle-to-cradle: <\/strong>is\u00a0a variation of cradle-to-grave<\/em>, but exchanges the\u00a0waste<\/em> stage with a recycling\/upcycling process that makes it reusable for another product. Essentially \u201cclosing the loop\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Choosing your model defines your results and how to communicate them. It\u2019s CRUCIAL to transparently communicate your chosen lifecycle model to your stakeholders. As your results cannot say anything about phase 4 or 5 \u2013 if you didn\u2019t include them.<\/p>\n
![\"Ecochain_Infographic_ProductLifecycleStages\"](\"https:\/\/ecochain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ecochain_Infographic_ProductLifecycleStages.jpg\")
Image 1. Product Lifecycle Models in LCA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 4. Create a project plan with budget, scope, and timeframe.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Phase 2. The data you need for your LCA<\/h2>\n
1. Map out the data you need for your LCA + who holds it.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
For both product portfolio footprints & single product footprints (scope = cradle-to-gate) you need data on:<\/p>\n
a. Company\u2019s energy usage, emissions, and waste. (type + quantity)<\/p>\n
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- Retrieve from: Finance & sustainability department<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
b. Purchased and used raw materials, transport distances in km. (type + quantity)<\/p>\n
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- Retrieve from: Purchasing department & Google Maps<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
c. Per process: product distribution, energy usage, emissions. (type + quantity)<\/p>\n
- \n
- Retrieve from: Process engineer, Product owner<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
d. Production composition \u2013 BOM (bill of materials), unit(s) & weight per product, production quantities.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Retrieve from: Product owner & purchasing department<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Watch our free webinar recording on data collection for LCA \u2013 for the full explanation.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Data](\"https:\/\/ecochain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Data-you-need-for-LCA_Ecochain-1.jpg\")
Image 2. The data you need for performing LCA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 2. Including consumer use and end-of-life in your LCA? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
The use phase and end-of-life can both play a large role<\/strong> in your product\u2019s footprint. Create scenarios based on your product experience (e.g. product usage requirements). Or existing industry standards\/reports on the product\u2019s sector (e.g. standards waste procedures).<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0Aim to work with as much PRIMARY data (from suppliers) possible. <\/b><\/h3>\n
Primary data is raw data<\/strong> that\u2019s collected from main sources. It covers your raw process- and site-specific data, estimates, statistics, and bookkeeping. Creating a list of all the necessary inputs and outputs of your product\u2019s lifecycle. These are then connected to corresponding impacts when you perform an LCA.<\/p>\n
This data also includes raw data from your suppliers and distributors<\/strong>. You can request inventory data from your suppliers, but the best option is to ask for LCA\u2019s of their products (or EPD\u2019s<\/a>).<\/p>\n
Primary data is crucial for LCA:<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- It makes your LCA more credible through accurate raw data that\u2019s specific to your footprint study \u2013\u00a0 instead of relying on averages.<\/li>\n
- It provides you with more reliable, authentic and objective footprint insights. This allows for focused and effective sustainable efforts and gives companies more ownership over their LCA\u2019s.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Retrieve from: Product owner & purchasing department<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Retrieve from: Process engineer, Product owner<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Retrieve from: Purchasing department & Google Maps<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Gradle-to-grave:<\/strong> includes all the 5 life phases in your measurements. \u2018Cradle\u2019<\/em> is the inception of the product with the sourcing of the raw materials. \u2018Grave\u2019<\/em> is the disposal of the product. It shows a full footprint from start to end.<\/li>\n
- Manufacturing & Processing<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Raw Material Extraction<\/strong><\/li>\n