One of the biggest misunderstandings in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is that all LCAs are the same. In reality, the system boundary you choose completely changes the outcome, the emission totals, and even the business decisions that follow.
The 4 most common LCA boundary types and use case for each type:
| LCA Type | Coverage | Exclusions | Use case for Industries |
| Cradle-to-Gate | Raw material extraction, processing, manufacturing, factory gate (A1–A3) | Product use phase, maintenance, disposal (B, C & D) | EU CBAM & other Carbon regulatory compliance reporting, supplier comparison, supply chain reporting, embodied carbon assessment |
| Gate-to-Gate | Only a specific process or unit operation (within the factory – A3) | All upstream & downstream stages (A, B, C & D) | Identifies hotspots, R&D optimisation, process improvement reducing operational cost, supports capex justification |
| Cradle-to-Grave | Raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use, end-of-life (A–D) | - | Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Green building materials, provides full environmental transparency for FMCG & electronics, enables corporate sustainability reports |
| Cradle-to-Cradle | All stages + recycling/ reuse loops (material recirculation) | - | Demonstrates circular design, C2C certification, recycled-content design, reduces Scope 3 emissions & strengthens sustainability claims |
Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study
A steel manufacturer engaged us to perform a Cradle-to-Gate LCA (A1–A3) for its reinforcement steel product lines.
Through this study, the company:
- Published a verified EPD for their rebar products to meet global buyer requirements
- Successfully positioned itself as a “Green Steel” supplier under India-specific low-carbon steel rating initiatives facilitating green procurement
- Identified a ~25% reduction opportunity in GWP by switching to higher scrap content and renewable energy source
- Prepared with the embedded carbon values to EU customers for CBAM definitive phase reporting requirements
Cradle-to-Grave LCA: A Case study
A manufacturer of Natural Fibre Composite boards, wanted to enter green building supply chains in India (LEED & IGBC). We performed a Cradle-to-Grave LCA, covering manufacturing, transport, installation, use-phase, and end-of-life. This enabled the company to publish a third-party verified EPD, support project certifications under LEED & IGBC programs.
- Demonstrated low embodied carbon through scenario modelling (virgin raw materials from different geographies)
- Avoided Stubble Burning: Use of Agri-residues as raw-materials avoids emissions from open field burning
- Buy-back & Reuse Program: 25% of the products are returned and reused, reducing need for fresh production
- Avoided Landfilling of Biowaste: Prevents methane emissions from anaerobic decomposition of organic waste
- Preserved Carbon Sequestration: Avoiding virgin wood helps maintain the CO₂ absorbing capacity of forests
