Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
A Life Cycle Assessment measures the environmental impact of a product or service from cradle to grave.
When assessing the impact of a product, our scientific team calculates the greenhouse gas emissions from raw material extraction and processing (the cradle); manufacturing, distribution and use; and recycling or disposal of the materials that compose it (the grave).
An effective LCA must include carbon emissions generated in the full upstream and downstream supply chain.
Why choose Pangolin for your LCA
Clear reporting and a more cost-effective approach.
The energy and materials inputs for the creation and use of a product makes an LCA complex and expensive. We have developed an innovative, hybrid approach that makes an LCA, and the commitment to carbon neutrality, cost effective for our clients. We use financial data (the cost of creating and supplying a product or service) to calculate carbon emissions in the full supply chain, from cradle to grave.
LCA’s and carbon neutral certification for products and services
Climate Active is the Australian Government-recognised carbon neutral certification program. An LCA is a requirement for certifying an organisation’s product or service. Applicants must undertake a greenhouse gas assessment that captures all associated scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
We have worked with over half of the carbon neutral certified organisations in Australia, several of these required an LCA. We also help with the next step for certification, an Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS). These strategies often include:
- Sustainable or circular product design,
- Supply chain carbon management,
- Identifying and increasing energy efficiencies.
Applicants must demonstrate proof of emissions reductions for all types of certifications, whether certifying a product, service, event, building, organisation or precinct. Read more about Climate Active.
Compliance with international standards
We comply with the following:
- ISO 14040:2006 – Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and frameworks,
- ISO 14044:2006 – Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines,
- PAS 2050 – Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.
Examples of LCA’s
Some of our clients have undertaken an LCA for the Climate Active program. Here are a few examples:
- BioPak (case study) – BioPak PDS
- Frasers Properties International, Real Utilities (case study) – Climate Active PDS
- Ross Hill Wines (case study) – Climate Active PDS
- Keith Tulloch Wines (winery website), Climate Active PDS
- NAPCO (Five Founders Beef) (media release), Climate Active PDS
- Sustainable Living Fabrics (client website) – Climate Active PDS
- Sensis (client website) – Climate Active PDS
Related services
Climate Active
Climate Active is genuine assurance for your clients, stakeholders, and supply chain that yours is a net zero carbon business. We've helped more than half of the certified businesses. Find out how you can get there too.
Carbon Footprints
Measure then act. Our GHG Assessments calculate your emissions in detail. We’ll provide a comprehensive report and help you reach your targets, or meet liabilities.
Carbon Credits (Offsetting)
We match the right projects for your business and budget. We’ll manage the entire process for you, transparently. Measure, reduce, then offset with carbon credits.