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Discover here the definitions and explanations of key concepts related to our activities and services, to better understand how we can support you in your sustainability journey.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction to end-of-life. This holistic approach allows for the identification and quantification of ecological impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and water pollution, throughout the product's life cycle. By providing an overview of a product's life cycle, LCA helps companies make informed decisions to improve the sustainability of their products, optimize production processes, and reduce their environmental footprint. It also serves as a valuable tool for innovation, helping companies identify eco-design opportunities and develop more sustainable products.
LCA is standardized by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, which provide a precise methodological framework to ensure rigorous and comparable assessments. The ISO 14040 standard defines the principles and general framework of LCA, while the ISO 14044 standard details the requirements and technical guidelines for the analysis. These standards ensure consistency in LCA practices, facilitating their adoption by organizations and governments.
Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) is an extension of traditional Life Cycle Assessment, which evaluates the environmental impacts of a product. It focuses on the social and socio-economic impacts throughout the product's life cycle, taking into account crucial aspects such as working conditions, human rights, health and safety, community well-being, and impacts on consumers.
Social LCA analyzes working conditions in the supply chain, ensuring the respect of workers' rights and safety standards. It also assesses health risks associated with product use, as well as the effects of production on local communities and their quality of life.
By integrating these dimensions into their strategy, companies can identify both the negative and positive social impacts of their products, such as job creation or support for community initiatives. This enables them to adopt more responsible and ethical practices, while enhancing their transparency and accountability towards their stakeholders, thus contributing to sustainable development that respects both the environment and social rights.
Territorial Life Cycle Assessment (TLCA) is an application of LCA that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic impacts at the scale of a specific territory, rather than on an individual product. This method allows for the evaluation of the complex interactions between human activities and the environment within a region, taking into account local particularities, such as available resources, infrastructure, and socio-economic dynamics.
Territorial LCA provides essential data for the sustainable planning and management of local resources, by identifying key issues and opportunities for improvement.
By integrating environmental and social dimensions into their decisions, local authorities can develop strategies to enhance the sustainability and resilience of their territories. This enables them to effectively address local challenges while promoting the well-being of populations and protecting the environment
Economic Life Cycle Assessment (Economic LCA) evaluates the costs associated with all stages of a product's life cycle, from raw material extraction to its end-of-life. It includes direct costs, such as production and transportation, as well as indirect costs related to usage, maintenance, and waste management. This approach helps companies understand the financial implications of their products and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve economic efficiency.
By highlighting often-overlooked aspects, such as environmental costs, Economic LCA enables companies to design more sustainable and cost-effective products while promoting proactive resource management. As such, Economic LCA is a valuable tool for enhancing competitiveness and promoting sustainable economic practices.
The ISO 14040 standard is an international standard that establishes the principles and framework for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It defines the methodological requirements for conducting an LCA, including the definition of goals and scope, the inventory of inputs and outputs, the assessment of environmental impacts, and the interpretation of results. This standard ensures that LCAs are performed consistently and reliably, enabling companies to compare the environmental impacts of different products and identify opportunities for improvement.
The ISO 14040 standard is an international standard that establishes the principles and framework for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It defines the methodological requirements for conducting an LCA, including the definition of goals and scope, the inventory of inputs and outputs, the assessment of environmental impacts, and the interpretation of results. This standard ensures that LCAs are performed consistently and reliably, enabling companies to compare the environmental impacts of different products and identify opportunities for improvement.
The main environmental impacts often assessed in LCAs include carbon footprint, soil and water acidification, aquatic eutrophication, photochemical ozone formation, ozone layer depletion, human toxicity (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic), aquatic (freshwater, marine) and terrestrial ecotoxicity, primary energy consumption (fossil, renewable), use of abiotic resources (minerals and metals), water consumption, particulate matter formation, ionizing radiation, and land use. These impacts are crucial for understanding the cumulative and individual effects of products on the environment.
Eco-design is an innovative approach to product design that incorporates environmental considerations from the development phase. Its primary goal is to reduce negative environmental impacts throughout the product's life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life. To achieve this, eco-design includes various ecological criteria, such as the use of recyclable materials, improving energy efficiency, minimizing waste generated during production, and optimizing product durability.
By adopting this approach, companies can not only reduce their environmental footprint but also meet the growing consumer demand for more environmentally friendly products. This enables them to proactively position themselves in the market, enhancing their brand image and competitiveness while contributing to a more sustainable future. Eco-design thus represents a key strategy for combining economic performance with environmental responsibility.
Research and Development (R&D) is a systematic process of investigation and creation aimed at designing new products, services, or processes, or improving existing ones. R&D is essential for driving innovation and enhancing a company's competitiveness, as it enables the discovery of new technologies, optimization of production processes, and adaptation to evolving market needs. By investing in R&D, companies can not only develop innovative solutions that meet consumer expectations but also improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
This approach is essential for ensuring sustainable technological and economic progress in the long term, thereby contributing to value creation and economic growth. In summary, R&D is a vital strategic lever for companies aiming to remain competitive in an ever-evolving environment.
The criticality of raw materials refers to the assessment of risks associated with the supply of materials essential to industries. This analysis considers several factors, including resource scarcity, geopolitical risks, environmental impacts linked to their extraction and processing, and the economic importance of these materials. Understanding the criticality of raw materials is crucial for companies as it enables them to better manage risks within their supply chain.
By identifying the most vulnerable materials, companies can develop substitution or recycling strategies to mitigate these risks, thereby ensuring the continuity of their operations and their resilience to market fluctuations. This proactive approach also contributes to more sustainable resource management by minimizing the environmental impact associated with the extraction and use of raw materials.
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