Resources · Glossary

LCA glossary

Plain definitions of the terms that come up in life cycle assessment and carbon footprinting.

C

CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)The CSRD replaces the NFRD and significantly expands the number of companies required to report on sustainability.Carbon IntensityUnlike absolute emissions, carbon intensity allows companies to measure efficiency.Carbon OffsettingWhile offsetting (e.g., planting trees or investing in renewable energy) can help reach "Net Zero," most sustainability frameworks (like SBTi) prioritize carbon reduction over offsetting.Circular EconomyUnlike the traditional "take-make-waste" linear model, a circular economy focuses on repair, reuse, refurbishment, and recycling.Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C)In an LCA context, C2C represents a closed-loop system. Instead of a product ending up in a landfill (Cradle-to-Grave), the materials are recovered and reused for a new product, significantly lowering...Cradle-to-GateCradle-to-Gate is a common boundary for LCAs in the B2B sector. It includes the carbon footprint of raw materials and manufacturing but excludes distribution, use, and end-of-life phases.

E

EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)An EPD is a Type III environmental declaration based on ISO 14025 standards. It is verified by a third party and provides data on global warming potential, energy use, and resource depletion.Emission FactorFor example, an emission factor might tell you that burning 1 liter of diesel releases 2.68kg of $CO_2$.

F

Functional UnitThe functional unit is the "common denominator" that allows for a fair comparison between two different products. For example, in a study comparing hand dryers vs.

G

GWP (Global Warming Potential)Green Claims DirectiveThis directive ensures that environmental labels and claims (like "eco-friendly" or "carbon neutral") are reliable, comparable, and verifiable across the EU.

L

LCA DatabaseHigh-quality LCA software relies on verified databases like Ecoinvent or GaBi.LCA PractitionerWhile Pilario's software makes LCA accessible to sustainability teams, advanced "Practitioners" often use the tool to perform deep-dive "Eco-design" scenarios, testing how changing one ingredient in a...Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to measure a product or service's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.

P

PCF (Product Carbon Footprint)Calculating a PCF allows companies to identify "hotspots" in their production process.PEF (Product Environmental Footprint)PEF is the EU's attempt to harmonize LCA studies. It goes beyond just carbon to look at 16 different environmental impact categories, including water use, land use, and resource depletion.Primary DataHigh-maturity LCA practitioners move from "Secondary Data" (industry averages) to "Primary Data" (actual energy bills from their specific plastic supplier).

S

Scope 3 EmissionsScope 3 emissions often represent the largest portion of a company's carbon footprint (up to 90%).

U

Upstream vs. DownstreamUpstream includes raw material extraction and supplier transport. Downstream includes product distribution, customer use, and final disposal.

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