The challenge of making the global production and consumption of

food more sustainable is becoming increasingly urgent.

Businesses, governments and NGOs are looking for ways to

tackle this problem to define the contours of a healthy and
sustainable society.

Therefore there is a growing need for a clear, comprehensive

assessment of the sustainability of agricultural products and
foods.

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How to assess the
sustainability of agricultural
products and foods?

Environmental Footprint
LIFE CYCLE Carbon Footprint
ASSESSMENT
LCA

WHAT?
Research method to evaluate
the environmental impact
associated with the life of a
product or service from
cradle to grave.

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WHY EVALUATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?
Insights in the environmental impact: You, your clients
or investors want insights in the environmental impact
of your products or production process.

Cost reduction: You aim to get insights in saving options

for energy and materials which are used in the
production process.

Substantiate a strategic decision: You want to make

certain strategic decisions, which need supporting
information.

Development of innovations: You want to know the

environmental advantages of certain innovation ideas.

Increase market value: You want to increase market

value, for instance by communication about the
sustainability of your products.

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 SOME ADVANTAGES OF AN LCA

Holistic approach

Takes the whole lifecycle Quantifies all inputs and outputs

into account of material flows
Trustworthy and sound
basis for sustainability
claims
• Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
• Water consumption
• Land use
• Fossil depletion
• Fresh water
eutrophication
Investigates multiple Performed according to ISO 14040 and 14044
• And more… environmental impacts international guidelines

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 Types of LCAs

REVIEW/ PROJECT
USE DATA DELIVERABLES
VERIFICATION DURATION

presentation or Approx.
SCREENING LCA internal internal review company specific
report 1,5 months

independent external company specific & presentation Approx.

PRODUCT LCA external
review (1 expert) supply chain specific and/or report 2,5 months

independent external company specific & presentation Approx.

COMPARATIVE LCA external
review (3 experts) supply chain specific and/or report 5 months

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 Steps of an LCA
How to assess the environmental impact?
STEPS OF AN LCA

1 2 3 4

Goal & Scope Inventory analysis: Impact Interpretation

definition Data collection Assessment

APPLICATIONS

Product Product Strategic Public policy Marketing & Et cetera

development improvement planning making Communication

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 • What is the reason for carrying out the study?
• What is the intented application?
• What is the targeted audience of the deliverables?
• What to analyse and how?

Goal & Scope

definition
• Goal of the study
• Primary intentions
• Intended audience
• Involved parties
• Main characteristics of the study
• Definition of product system
• Definition of scope of analysed product system
• Definition of Function and Functional Unit

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 Main part of LCA study

Inventory analysis:
Data collection
Preferably
primary data
• Collection of data
Use of • Data modelling
background
databases
• Result:
Inventory table, an extensive list of environmental interventions

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 3

Impact
Assessment
Dependent on • Determine the environmental impact of
goal & scope
(step 1)
reference flows for different impact
categories
• Translate inventory table into impact
indicator results

NO3-
CH4 CO2 NH3 H2O et cetera

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 4

Interpretation

• Consistency check
• Completeness check
• Contribution analysis
• Sensitivity analysis
• Discussion & conclusions

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 What’s next?
How to implement the results

Results… what’s next?

APPLICATIONS

Product Product Strategic Public policy Marketing & Et cetera

development improvement planning making Communication

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 Some examples
Communication of LCA results

LABEL: EUROPEAN ENERGY LABEL REPORTING: CARBON FOOTPRINT HEINEKEN APP: FRUIT & VEGETABLES CALENDAR

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 Some examples
Communication of LCA results

FACTSHEET: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HUMVI FACTSHEET: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MEATLESS PACKAGING: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CHOCOLATE

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