THE LIFE CYCLE MEASURED BY CATAS

The environmental impact analysis tailored
for the furniture sector

Life Cycle Assessment - LCA is a tool for measuring the environmental impact of a product or service, standardized and recognized worldwide. It is based on ISO standards and adopted by the European Community through the PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) programme.

LCA considers the entire life cycle of the product, from the consumption of resources and materials to the production, use and end of life (cradle to grave approach). It is a precious source of information for the study and improvement of the product from an environmental point of view (eco-design). Furthermore, it is the basis of type III environmental declarations (EPD) and represents a requirement for many environmental certifications (Ecolabel, Level, etc.) and public procurements.




                                                         

Our service consists of a guided path with 3 stages, gradually increasing the degree of in- depth analysis and investment. You may stop at the first stage or continue to the final, obtaining the environmental declaration verified by the third-party certifying body and published onto the programme operator site (environdec.com/library).

1. LCA Screening: draws a first profile of the product from an environmental point of view. It provides a methodological introduction report to the LCA study and an initial measurement of the main impact categories, focusing on activities carried out within the company gates (the core processes). An “LCA Screening” study cannot be verifiied by a third-party nor published.
2. LCA Study: extends the boundaries of the study to external processes (purchase of materials, distribution, logistics). It is functional to an eco-design perspective: the analysis software can be launched several times to study alternative product development scenarios. It provides a comprehensive LCA analysis report.
3. LCA Ready:leads to the environmental product declaration EPD. It provides the complete LCA analysis report and the draft EPD declaration, ready for the critical review and/or audit by the third-party certifying body.

For more detailed info about each one of these stages check our service overview


Contact us for information and find out how we perform LCA on your products!







Some of the EPD certifications achieved by our customers... click on the image!