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Measuring Environmental Impact to Drive Change

12/01/2026

In today’s world, understanding how our choices aff ect the environment has never been more important. One of the most eff ective ways to achieve this is through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The scientific method measures the environmental impact of a product, service, or process throughout its entire cycle. This means examining every stage: from extracting raw materials to production, use, and eventual disposal.

By using LCA, businesses, governments, and individuals can make more informed decisions to reduce waste, conserve resources, and transition toward a circular economy, where materials are reused and nothing is wasted.

This article explains what LCA is, how it works, and how it is applied to address food waste, with a focus on the ECOFOODCYCLE project. In this project, LCA measures the environmental impact of food waste across the supply chain in selected regions of Italy (Veneto, Abruzzo, Puglia) and Croatia (Primorje–Gorski Kotar, Karlovac, Zadar, Lika–Senj), providing insights to guide practical strategies for reducing waste.

 


 

Understanding LCA Through Food Waste: The ECOFOODCYCLE Approach

In ECOFOODCYCLE, LCA examines the environmental impact of food waste across the entire supply chain: from farms and food processing, to supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, and households. The project focuses on regions where the Mediterranean diet is common. Using this diet as a reference, the LCA calculates the environmental impact of one week of food consumption per adult, providing a consistent and comparable way to measure eff ects across diff erent foods.

The study has led to the development of a Cross-Border Guide for Food Waste Audits, an open source tool that anyone can use to calculate the environmental impact of food waste. The guide helps identify which foods cause the biggest impact and suggests ways to reduce waste. Combined with a Food Waste Audit Report, it reveals the amount of food wasted in each region, where along the supply chain the waste occurs, and the overall environmental consequences.
These insights enable farmers, businesses, policymakers, and citizens to focus on the most important areas for action and adopt more sustainable practices. They also form the basis for educational videos, guides, and materials designed to raise awareness about reducing food waste.

What is LCA and Why Does it Matter?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) measures the environmental footprint of a product or service through every stage of its life - from raw materials to disposal. It looks at the resources used, pollution generated, and overall environmental impacts.

LCA can be applied to almost anything, including products, services, industrial processes, infrastructure, and even entire cities. Its purpose is to provide clear, science-based data to help decision-making, whether by businesses, governments, designers, or consumers.

How LCA Works: Indicators and Data

LCA relies on environmental indicators - measurable categories that show how a product aff ects the planet. Examples include:

● Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions, like CO₂ (carbon dioxide), CH₄ (methane), N₂O (nitrous oxide)

● Acidifi cation: Substances that make soils and water more acidic.

● Eutrophication: Excess nutrients in water causing algae blooms and oxygen loss.

● Resource Use: Consumption of non-renewable energy and materials.

● Water Use: Amount of freshwater consumed.

● Human Toxicity: Potential eff ects on health from chemicals.

To calculate these, LCA utilises databases full of information about materials, energy, and industrial processes. Common databases include Ecoinvent, Agribalyse, and GaBi. LCA software, such as SimaPro or OpenLCA, then models the impacts, helping identify which parts of a product’s life cycle are most harmful.

This data-driven approach allows companies and policymakers to make informed decisions about product design, production methods, and waste management.

Turning LCA into Action: Fighting Food Waste

Food waste is a major environmental problem. Every year, millions of tons of food are wasted, consuming land, water, and energy while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. LCA enables us to see which stages of the food chain cause the most harm - from farms to households - and test solutions, such as composting, recycling, or better logistics.

By highlighting these “hotspots,” LCA guides smarter interventions, reduces waste, and encourages more sustainable behaviours.

The Bigger Picture: LCA as a Tool for Sustainability

LCA is more than a measurement tool - it is a guide for building a circular, low-impact economy. It helps design products that last longer, are easier to recycle, and use fewer resources. It enhances waste management, informs better production and consumption choices, and encourages innovation.

In short, mastering LCA means making informed, responsible decisions that benefi t both the environment and society. It is a practical step toward a cleaner, fairer, and more resilient future, giving people and organisations the knowledge they need to turn environmental challenges into positive change.

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ECOFOODCYCLE
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