Life cycle assessments

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) provide a method of determining the cumulative energy requirements for products, looking at their carbon footprint and environmental impact during their lifetime. The process usually begins with evaluation of raw materials and then follows through to product design and manufacturing stages, which will consider factors such as energy and water use. These initial stages make up the intrinsic properties of a product. 

The product is then packaged, sold and distributed to our customers for further processing and use. The life cycle assessment here will consider the energy that is required for application of the product, as well as the benefits that the product can bring about through its use. These are known as extrinsic sustainability benefits and include improved efficiency, emissions reduction, or equipment lifetime extension. The life cycle assessment also looks at what happens to a product at the end of its life. Is it reused, recycled, or simply disposed of? Where do the products we make end up?

We calculate LCAs so that we have a greater understanding of our carbon absorption and emissions resulting from product manufacture. This helps to identify 'hotspots' and therefore areas of improvement during the product design phase.