Written by Fabien Hammerer, 5REDO CTO.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is increasingly recognized by businesses as a critical tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of their operations. By measuring indicators across human health, environment, and resource categories, LCA provides decision-makers with a comprehensive understanding of potential impacts, helping them avoid “bad good ideas” that seem beneficial but are actually harmful.
However, there’s a common misconception that LCA is too costly to perform before production begins. While it’s true that conducting an LCA on an established production line can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, waiting until this stage can be risky. At this point, businesses may have already invested millions in a pilot plant or new production line, only to discover through LCA that their impacts are no better—or even worse—than industry standards. This leaves companies financially vulnerable.
A smarter approach, , which we implement through our circularity integration process,, is to integrate LCA early in the project’s lifecycle through screening LCAs. These smaller studies, relying on secondary data from industry standards and databases, offer an early glimpse into potential impacts. Though not as precise as a full LCA, they are far cheaper and can help companies identify risks and opportunities at the design stage.
Here are a few ways screening LCAs can guide businesses:
- Material selection: Different materials have varying environmental impacts and energy requirements. Our sustainable materials R&D services help evaluate alternatives before committing to production. Screening LCAs help weigh these factors before investing in expensive equipment.
- Supply chain optimization: Proximity of suppliers isn’t the only factor; the energy sources used in production can also vary by location. Screening LCAs can help refine your sourcing strategy.
- Eco-design: End-of-life considerations like composting, recycling, or waste-to-energy are complex. Screening LCAs allow you to assess which options align with your environmental goals.
- Plant location: Operational impacts like material delivery and resource use are influenced by location. Screening LCAs provide early insights into how site choice affects sustainability.
Additionally, screening LCAs help reduce the cost of conducting a full-scale LCA later on. By encouraging businesses to start gathering relevant data early in the process, screening LCAs make it easier to collect the detailed primary data needed for a comprehensive LCA. This proactive data collection minimizes the time and resources required down the line, ultimately making the full LCA more cost-effective and efficient.
Moreover, conducting screening LCAs aligns with the ISO-compliant iterative spirit of LCA, where assessments are refined and updated as more information becomes available. This approach ensures that businesses can continuously improve their environmental strategy in a structured, standards-driven manner.
By adopting an early LCA stance, companies can avoid costly surprises and make informed decisions that support their long-term environmental strategy.
Check 5REDO’s Screening LCA packages on our website and schedule a meeting to learn more.
Originating from Barcelona, Laia’s educational journey led her to pursue secondary studies in the south of France. Her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Management allowed her to develop an analytical mindset. During her Master’s in International Business and Management, she engaged in numerous research study cases and actively participated in the creation of different business plans. This helped her develop an ability to critically analyze and address the strategic challenges that companies encounter.
Andre has over 5 years of industry experience in project management, polymer and composite processing, materials characterization, and product development. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where he focused on Polymer and Composite materials. In 2012, he founded a design and manufacturing company specializing in biocomposites made with natural fibers, which he successfully sold in 2015.
As an expert in sustainability, life cycle assessment, circular economy, and green chemistry, Nicolas possesses valuable skills and knowledge that can assist companies in developing and implementing sustainable and environmentally-friendly business models. They can achieve this by utilizing eco-friendly materials, improving manufacturing processes, reducing waste and hazardous chemical use, and advocating for the use of safer and more sustainable alternatives.
Karan is an experienced professional who has worked in multiple geographies and roles along his career. He holds a total of 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, and has focused his efforts towards finding solutions for waste recovery and making recovery economical for industries. 
With several years of research experience in France and Canada, Fabien lends his expertise and passion for enzymology and microbiology to 5REDO’s sustainability innovation plans. 
With her significant hands-on experience in developing and characterizing biological and chemical systems, Vicky plays a key role in 5REDO’s efforts toward developing novel products and technologies that offer improved circularity and sustainability to the industry and society. 
As a recent graduate of chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo, Kyle brings his passion for impactful innovation and his experience with novel recycling processes to 5REDO to support our technology development initiatives. 
As our Senior Research Scientist, Hormoz draws on his eight years of industrial and nine years of academic research experience in the areas of polymer science and engineering to develop new solutions for advancing circularity and sustainability.
Shauna is a freelance journalist that covers a wide range of topics, including health, education, the environment, travel, lifestyle trends, and more. She holds a Master of Journalism from Carleton University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Global Development from Queen’s University.
By leveraging her expertise in life cycle analysis and process engineering, Ophela helps 5REDO to take a holistic approach to the development of circular solutions and technologies. 
As the co-founder of 5REDO, Forough brings her expertise in supply chain management, business operations, inventory control, and revenue management to support the implementation of circular solutions within different industry sectors.
With a passion for driving change and creating impact, Mahdi co-founded 5REDO to promote circular economy principles in Canada. He’s an alumnus of the 2021 Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s ‘From Linear to Circular Programme.’ Mahdi played a pivotal role in developing and managing the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Circular Economy Seed Funding program, fostering partnerships between companies and academic researchers to co-create circular solutions.