Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Enabling Faster Access to Product Carbon Footprint Information
Understanding the environmental performance of packaging can require detailed product and process information. For brands and packaging buyers, having access to this information earlier can support the evaluation of materials, formats and production options.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a structured approach to evaluating environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle. Since 2021, MM Group has conducted internal LCAs to quantify environmental performance and developed a meta-model to calculate product carbon footprints semi-automatically. This enables MM to provide product footprint information to customers more efficiently, making relevant data available earlier in the packaging development process.
From Product Data to Packaging Assessment
A life cycle assessment brings together information from across a product system to evaluate its environmental impacts. This can include raw materials, energy use, production processes and other relevant stages within the defined scope of an assessment.
For MM Group, the meta-model helps automate part of this process. By using a model to calculate product carbon footprints semi-automatically, MM can make the results available to customers more efficiently.
This can be particularly relevant when different packaging options are being assessed within a defined timeframe. Instead of treating an LCA as an isolated exercise, product footprint information can become part of an ongoing assessment process and provide additional information when evaluating packaging alternatives.
How Life Cycle Assessment Can Inform Packaging Choices
What is life cycle assessment? At its core, LCA provides a framework for examining the environmental impacts associated with a product across its defined life cycle. The methodology considers the product system as a whole rather than focusing on a single material or production stage.
For packaging, this broader perspective can provide additional context when evaluating different options. Material selection, production and energy use may all influence the result, while the relevant boundaries and assumptions determine what is included in the assessment.
MM Group conducts product-level LCAs in accordance with the GHG Protocol and the ISO 14040 framework. This provides a defined methodological basis for the product footprint information generated through its LCA work.
Exploring Packaging Options Through a Circular Economy Lens
The circular economy brings together considerations around how materials are sourced, used and managed throughout their life cycle. For packaging, this can involve questions around fibre-based materials, recycled content, design and end-of-life pathways.
LCA can incorporate these considerations within a broader assessment rather than focusing on a single environmental attribute. Product footprint information can provide additional context when exploring different packaging options and identifying where further analysis may be useful.
The aim is not to assume that one material or format will perform better in every situation. Comparisons need to reflect the relevant product scope, baseline, methodology and available evidence.
From Product Footprint Calculations to Packaging Insights
The value of the meta-model lies in connecting LCA methodology with a more efficient way of accessing product footprint information.
For customers, faster access to product footprint results can make relevant information available earlier in packaging discussions. It can provide additional information for exploring options and identifying where further analysis may be required.
As packaging decisions become increasingly data-driven, tools such as MM Group’s meta-model can support the integration of life cycle assessment information into existing decision-making processes. The result is not a substitute for methodology or expert interpretation, but an additional way of making relevant product information available when required.
Frequently Asked Questions on Life Cycle Assessment
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method for evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with a product, process or service across its defined life cycle. The assessment follows a structured methodology and considers factors such as system boundaries, inventory data, impact assessment and interpretation.
LCA is formally structured around four phases under ISO 14040: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment and interpretation. These phases are iterative and can involve defining the assessment, collecting data, evaluating impacts and interpreting the results.
Life cycle assessment evaluates environmental impacts associated with a product, process or service across its defined life cycle. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) generally examines the potential environmental effects of a proposed project or development. The two approaches therefore have different purposes and scopes.
The time required depends on the scope of the assessment, the product being studied, data availability and the level of detail required. Automating parts of the calculation process can make product footprint information available more efficiently, while the methodology and interpretation remain important.
Life cycle analysis is commonly used as another term for life cycle assessment. Both refer to a systematic approach to evaluating environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle. The terminology can vary, but LCA is the established abbreviation for life cycle assessment.
