# Sustained: Full Content > AI-augmented sustainability and environmental intelligence platform for food manufacturers. The full text of every blog post and help-centre article follows. # Site Pages ## Home Source: https://www.sustained.com/ AI-augmented LCA platform ### Go from weeks to minutes of automated insights Sustained is the environmental intelligence platform that helps food manufacturers assess, reduce, and report product-level environmental impact, without the consultancy wait. Book a Demo PEF & GHG Protocol methodologies4,000+ ingredient library Trusted by food manufacturers assessing thousands of products Why Sustained #### Rigour and speed, without the trade-off Traditional life-cycle assessment is slow, fragmented, and hard to report. Sustained replaces it with automated, credible environmental intelligence, so your team moves from gathering data to making decisions. ##### Beyond carbon 16 environmental impact categories in a single score, revealing the trade-offs a CO₂e-only number hides. ##### Grounded in recognised science Built on EU PEF (EF 3.1), the GHG Protocol and IPCC AR6, with trusted datasets. Traceable, audit-ready numbers. ##### Built to remove the data burden APIs, bulk upload, AI-assisted creation and intelligent matching turn weeks of data collection into minutes. ##### From measurement to action Hotspots, real-time eco-design, targets and progress tracking in one place, so insight becomes reduction. Climate & nature risk ##### The same data, now a risk model Your existing product footprints power a physical climate and nature risk engine, so the world's impact on your supply chain becomes a number you can plan around. Explore the risk model → ##### Eight physical hazards Flood, heat, cyclone, drought, water stress, wildfire, soil and frost, scored at every sourcing location from recognised climate datasets. ##### Calibrated, and honest about it The headline hazards carry genuine return-period probabilities fitted to real crop-insurance losses; weaker signals stay clearly marked as exposure indices. ##### Revenue-at-risk in euros Hazard scores become expected annual loss, with typical, 1-in-25 and 1-in-100-year exposure a CFO recognises. ##### Hotspots and scenario resilience Risk decomposed to supplier, origin and commodity, then stress-tested against a high-warming 2050 future. Platform #### Six capabilities that transform your sustainability workflow Explore all features in detail Flagship ##### Product Impact Assessment Automated, audit-ready LCAs and product carbon footprints across food and packaging, with full life-cycle visibility, not estimates. Product LCAsPackaging LCAs4,000+ ingredientsHotspot analysis See impact assessment ##### Product Innovation Redesign products and packaging to cut impact with real-time modelling and scenario testing. Real-time modellingNested scenarios ##### Data Sharing & Reporting Credible data sharing and reporting for commercial and compliance needs, from Scope 3 to B Corp. LCA reportsESG exports Early access ##### Climate & Nature Risk Model eight physical hazards across your supply chain and turn exposure into revenue-at-risk, on the product data you already have. 8 hazards modelledRevenue-at-risk ##### Automate Data Onboarding Streamline data collection and product setup through automated ingestion and AI-assisted creation. Ingestion APIAI-assisted setup ##### Enterprise Deployment Deploy across brands, teams, and markets with full integration, SSO, and organisational control. REST APIsSSO login ##### See it on your products Bring two SKUs to a demo and we'll model their footprint live. Book a Demo #### Accurate environmental impact with full life-cycle visibility Calculate product-level LCAs and carbon footprints for food and packaging. Leverage a library of 4,000+ ingredients and materials with PEF and GHG Protocol methodologies. - Product-level LCAs and PCFs for food and packaging - Full packaging system impact calculations - Hotspot analysis to identify highest-impact areas See impact assessment #### Redesign products with real-time impact modelling Iterate at speed with real-time environmental impact modelling. Test scenarios, compare variants, and forecast manufacturing impacts before committing to change. - Real-time product impact modelling - Nested scenario testing: model within a model - Volume forecasts of manufacturing impact Explore eco-design modelling Chicken Tikka MasalaSaved ↓ -5% total Original impact 6.9M Impact points Modelled impact 6.54M Impact points ↓ -2.1k kg CO₂ eq Impact change by category Climate Change-2.1kkg CO₂ eq Resource use, fossils-11.8kMJ Acidification-21.1mol H+ eq Land Use-50.1kPt Ecotoxicity, freshwater-54kCTUe Water Scarcity-5.3km³ depriv. Early access #### Assess climate & nature risk across your portfolio Go beyond carbon footprinting. Sustained models eight physical hazards across your sourcing, from flood and extreme heat to drought and wildfire, and translates exposure into revenue you can plan around, all on the product data you already have. - Eight hazards modelled, three as calibrated probabilities and five as exposure indices - Revenue-at-risk and expected annual loss for the monetised hazards - Risk hotspots by origin and commodity, with AI-assisted reformulation to act Explore climate & nature risk ##### Climate & nature risk Beta VolumeRevenue 8 of 8 factors · cyclone · drought · flood · frost · heat · soil · water stress · wildfire ✦ What climate & nature risk could cost you In a typical year €14.24M ≈ 1.1% of revenue In a bad year · 1-in-25 €132.89M worst single hazard In an extreme year · 1-in-100 €447.13M worst single hazard Mitigate top risks → Baseline 0.45 →High-warming 0.65 =Impact ↑ +0.20 #### Up and running in three steps 01 ##### Connect your data Onboard product data via API, bulk CSV upload, or AI-assisted product creation. System defaults accelerate setup so you can start in minutes. 02 ##### Assess & innovate Run product-level LCAs, model eco-design scenarios, identify hotspots, and compare product variants, all in real time. 03 ##### Report & share Generate detailed LCA reports and scorecards. Export data for Scope 3, ESG, and B Corp frameworks. Set targets and track progress. Customer story “The Sustained Impact platform is helping us tangibly reduce the impact that our food products have on the environment & help us reach our Net Zero ambitions. We’re excited that our teams are now empowered to take environmental impact into account during the design and workflow stages of each new or existing product design. Ultimately, we hope that this initiative will be replicated by all food manufacturers so that together we can create a more secure global food system.” David MooreESG Director, The Compleat Food Group Built for enterprise #### Deploy across brands, teams and markets, with control Trusted by some of the world's largest food companies as a global eco-design tool. Sustained gives IT, procurement and sustainability teams the integration, security and governance an enterprise rollout demands. Explore enterprise features ##### Single sign-on & secure access SSO including enterprise identity providers, plus secure, key-based access for partner integrations. ##### Workspaces for brands & markets Structure the platform to mirror your brands, markets and divisions, with clean separation of data. ##### Roles & granular permissions Control who can see and do what, down to individual folders and resources. ##### Supplier & facility management Manage suppliers and production sites centrally and reuse them across your portfolio. ##### REST & ingestion APIs Connect PLM, ERP and partner systems for automated, system-to-system data flow. ##### Custom secondary datasets Bring your own secondary data to reflect the specifics of your supply chain. Validated by recognised standards & methodologies PEF (EF 3.1)GHG ProtocolIPCC AR6EU Circular Footprint FormulaISO 14040/44SSO / SAML --- ## Features Source: https://www.sustained.com/features/ Features ### Everything you need to assess, reduce and report environmental impact One platform that turns weeks of manual life-cycle assessment into minutes of automated, audit-ready insight, across your whole product portfolio. Book a Demo Explore the platform 16 environmental impact categoriesPEF & GHG Protocol4,000+ ingredients & materials Impact Assessment Eco-design Reporting Climate Risk Data Onboarding Enterprise Built on recognised science #### Credible methods. Trusted data. Traceable numbers. Sustained is not a black box. Footprints are calculated with published, internationally recognised methodologies and respected life-cycle datasets, and every result can be traced back to its inputs and pinned to a methodology version. ##### Methodologies & frameworks The calculation engine implements the standards that regulators, retailers and auditors recognise. EU PEF (EF 3.1)GHG ProtocolIPCC AR6 (GWP-100)EU Circular Footprint FormulaISO 14040 / 14044 ##### Data foundation Industry-standard life-cycle inventory data, combined with a curated library built for food and packaging. Best-in-class LCIA databases4,000+ ingredient & material library 01 / 06 #### Product Impact Assessment An accurate, audit-ready picture of environmental impact with full product life-cycle visibility, from raw materials to end-of-life. Measure the whole footprint, not just carbon. Chicken Pot PiePEF Total impact · per unit 465.8 Impact points 16 categories Impact by life-cycle stage Raw materials58% Production17% Packaging11% Distribution8% Consumer use4% End-of-life2% ##### Credible product footprints - Product-level LCAs and carbon footprints for food and packaging - Full packaging-system impacts, down to each component - Production step-level impact modelling - A library of 4,000+ ingredients and materials ##### Multi-impact analysis - All 16 EU PEF environmental categories, not just carbon - A single, normalised impact score to compare like for like - PEF and GHG Protocol methodologies, side by side - Results per unit, per serving or per kg; at the factory gate or in the consumer's hands ##### Transparency & hotspots - Hotspot analysis that pinpoints the highest-impact stages and inputs - Dataset visibility for every ingredient, material and process - Primary vs. secondary data quality tiers, made explicit - Methodology-versioned results for reproducible, defensible numbers 02 / 06 #### Product Innovation & Eco-design Redesign products and packaging to cut impact and strengthen resilience. Iterate in real time and see the environmental consequences of a change before you commit to it. Chicken Tikka MasalaSaved ↓ -5% total Original impact 6.9M Impact points Modelled impact 6.54M Impact points ↓ -2.1k kg CO₂ eq Impact change by category Climate Change-2.1kkg CO₂ eq Resource use, fossils-11.8kMJ Acidification-21.1mol H+ eq Land Use-50.1kPt Ecotoxicity, freshwater-54kCTUe Water Scarcity-5.3km³ depriv. ##### Real-time impact modelling - Model recipe, packaging and sourcing changes and see category-by-category deltas instantly - Recipe-only modelling, without standing up a full product record - Nested scenarios: model a change within a model ##### Compare & decide - Side-by-side comparison of products and variants - Consumer eco-label grade (A+ to G) comparison - Reduced-impact matrices across lifecycle stages ##### Forecast the impact of change - Volume forecasts of manufacturing impact - Test reformulations against your reduction targets before rollout 03 / 06 #### Data Sharing & Reporting Credible data sharing and reporting for commercial and compliance needs, from retailer requests and Scope 3 to ESG and B Corp. Turn your footprints into shareable, audit-ready outputs. Beef Lasagne 400gConsumer label B Eco-impact grade Better than 64% of products in its category Per serving · based on EU PEF A+ A B C D E F G ##### Commercial data sharing - Detailed LCA reports and product scorecards - Consumer eco-labels (A+ to G grades) - Versioned, shareable PDF reports - CSV and Excel exports ##### Carbon & corporate reporting - GHG Protocol carbon footprints: Scope 1, 2 and the product-relevant Scope 3 categories - Corporate and volume footprints rolled up from real product data - Per-emission lineage back to supplier, facility and process ##### Targets & progress - Set a baseline year and track against it - Reduction targets: year-over-year or long-term - Progress tracking with on-track / off-track status - Exports to support Scope 3, ESG and B Corp submissions 04 / 06Early access #### Climate & Nature Risk Assessment Go beyond footprinting. Understand the physical threats to your supply chain and how your products contribute to environmental stress, translated into revenue you can plan around. Eight hazards, modelled from recognised climate datasets and scored to the confidence each one earns. Explore climate & nature risk ##### Climate & nature risk Beta VolumeRevenue 8 of 8 factors · cyclone · drought · flood · frost · heat · soil · water stress · wildfire ✦ What climate & nature risk could cost you In a typical year €14.24M ≈ 1.1% of revenue In a bad year · 1-in-25 €132.89M worst single hazard In an extreme year · 1-in-100 €447.13M worst single hazard Mitigate top risks → Baseline 0.45 →High-warming 0.65 =Impact ↑ +0.20 ##### Physical hazard modelling - Eight hazards: flood, heat, cyclone, drought, water stress, wildfire, soil and frost - Three calibrated as annual probabilities, five as relative exposure indices - Built on recognised hazard products and reanalysis data, not estimates - Contributory risk from PEF environmental-pressure analysis ##### Business-impact quantification - Revenue-at-risk and expected annual loss for the monetised hazards - Typical, one-in-25 and one-in-100-year exposure - Risk hotspots ranked by origin, supplier and commodity - Scenario resilience under a high-warming 2050 future ##### From risk to action & disclosure - AI-assisted reformulation toward lower-risk, lower-impact recipes - EUDR deforestation-exposure screening against the regulation cut-off - CSRD and TNFD packs, plus per-product PDF and CSV exports - Role-based lenses with AI insights and routed action briefs 05 / 06 #### Automate Data Onboarding Remove the biggest barrier to LCA at scale: the data burden. Bring product data in automatically and let the platform do the heavy lifting of structuring and matching it. ##### Automated data collection - Ingestion API for system-to-system data transfer - Bulk upload via CSV and Excel - AI-assisted product creation from supplier spec sheets (Beta) ##### Intelligent, accelerated setup - Intelligent matching of ingredients and materials to the reference library - Confidence-graded matches that flag what is known vs. inferred - System defaults that auto-complete a model so it is calculable fast - Reusable data mappings, so repeat onboarding stays consistent 06 / 06 #### Enterprise Deployment Deploy across brands, teams and markets with the integration and organisational control large businesses need. Trusted by some of the world's largest food companies. ##### Integration & access - REST and ingestion APIs for partner and internal systems - Single sign-on (SSO), including enterprise identity providers - Secure, key-based access for partner integrations ##### Organisation & control - Workspaces that mirror your brands, markets and divisions - User management with roles and granular permissions - Centralised supplier and facility management - Custom secondary database support Why Sustained #### Rigour and speed, without the trade-off ##### Beyond carbon 16 environmental impact categories in a single, comparable score, not a carbon-only number. See trade-offs (water, land, biodiversity pressure) that CO₂e alone hides. ##### Grounded in recognised science Built on EU PEF (EF 3.1), the GHG Protocol, IPCC AR6 and the EU Circular Footprint Formula, drawing on trusted datasets. Every number is traceable and methodology-versioned. ##### Built to remove the data burden APIs, bulk upload, AI-assisted product creation and intelligent matching collapse the weeks of data collection that make traditional LCA slow and costly. ##### From measurement to action Hotspots, real-time eco-design modelling, climate risk and AI-assisted reformulation, targets and progress tracking live in one place, so insight turns into reduction and resilience, not just a report. --- ## Climate & Nature Risk Source: https://www.sustained.com/risk/ Climate & Nature RiskEarly access ### The climate risk to your supply chain, quantified Footprinting tells you your impact on the world. Risk tells you the world's impact on you. Sustained models physical climate and nature hazards across your sourcing, and turns them into revenue you can plan around. Book a Demo See the science 8 hazards in the risk scoreBuilt on recognised climate datasetsRevenue-at-risk in euros ##### Climate & nature risk Beta VolumeRevenue 8 of 8 factors · cyclone · drought · flood · frost · heat · soil · water stress · wildfire ✦ What climate & nature risk could cost you In a typical year €14.24M ≈ 1.1% of revenue In a bad year · 1-in-25 €132.89M worst single hazard In an extreme year · 1-in-100 €447.13M worst single hazard Mitigate top risks → Baseline 0.45 →High-warming 0.65 =Impact ↑ +0.20 The hazards Beyond the score Revenue-at-risk Risk hotspots From risk to action A lens per team Compliance The science One platform, one dataset #### The next layer on the data you already have Risk is not a separate tool with a separate data burden. It runs on your existing Sustained product records: every product footprint, ingredient and sourcing origin you have already modelled becomes the substrate for risk scoring, automatically. - Your full PEF footprints and supply-chain origins flow straight in - Risk is computed per product and rolled up to workspace, report and company - Reformulated recipes flow back as saved models in your platform Portfolio hazard exposureEarly access 8 hazards 3 modelled probabilities5 exposure indices FloodProbabilityHigh Extreme heatProbabilityHigh CycloneProbabilityModerate DroughtExposureHigh Water stressExposureModerate WildfireExposureModerate Soil degradationExposureLow FrostExposureLow Built on recognised climate datasets · calibrated to real losses The hazards #### Eight hazards, scored to the confidence they earn Every sourcing location is scored against eight physical hazards. Three are modelled as calibrated annual probabilities; five as relative exposure indices. The engine keeps that distinction explicit, so a confident number and a directional signal are never confused. ##### Flood Probability Riverine and coastal-surge flooding at each sourcing location. ##### Extreme heat Probability Damaging heat extremes, benchmarked to crop heat thresholds. ##### Cyclone Probability Tropical-cyclone wind at or above damaging strength. ##### Drought Exposure Frequency of severe meteorological drought from rainfall deficit. ##### Water stress Exposure Structural water scarcity, distinct from episodic drought. ##### Wildfire & smoke Exposure Burn likelihood combined with chronic smoke and air quality. ##### Soil degradation Exposure Soil erosion and salinity that erode land productivity. ##### Frost Exposure Frost-day frequency for cold-sensitive crops. Probability hazards (flood, extreme heat, cyclone) carry a calibrated annual likelihood. Exposure hazards are relative indices, weighted down in the headline score so an uncalibrated signal cannot dominate a confident one. Beyond the headline score #### The signals we deliberately keep out of the score The eight hazards make up the headline risk number. The engine computes several more signals and holds them out of it on purpose: each is a different kind of measure, a standing condition, an operational disruption, a compliance fact, that would distort a calibrated event probability if it were averaged in. Two sit here on their own cards. The biodiversity and ocean-acidification surfaces, and the EUDR deforestation screen, are the others, shown under Compliance & disclosure. Standalone surface ##### Logistics & infrastructure stress Disruption risk at the gateways your goods actually move through: coastal surge at the nearest cargo port, the marine choke-points that gate it (Suez, Panama, Hormuz, Malacca) and the freight-river reaches that serve each origin. Standalone surface ##### Deforestation activity Ongoing forest-loss intensity at each sourcing location: a land-use pressure tracked in its own right, kept distinct from the post-2020 EUDR compliance screen. Revenue-at-risk #### From a hazard score to a number on the P&L For the three calibrated hazards, risk becomes expected annual loss: revenue exposed in a typical year, and in one-in-25 and one-in-100 bad years. Tail years are reported as the worst single hazard, never summed, and mixed-currency portfolios are labelled, never converted at an invented rate. - Expected annual loss for flood, heat and cyclone - Typical, one-in-25 and one-in-100-year exposure - Scenario resilience under a high-warming 2050 future Loss curves are fitted to US crop-insurance records; we report the modelled skill openly. The other five hazards remain exposure indices and are not expressed in euros. ##### Climate & nature risk Beta VolumeRevenue 8 of 8 factors · cyclone · drought · flood · frost · heat · soil · water stress · wildfire ✦ What climate & nature risk could cost you In a typical year €14.24M ≈ 1.1% of revenue In a bad year · 1-in-25 €132.89M worst single hazard In an extreme year · 1-in-100 €447.13M worst single hazard Mitigate top risks → Baseline 0.45 →High-warming 0.65 =Impact ↑ +0.20 Risk hotspots #### Know exactly what is driving it A portfolio number is only useful if you can act on it. Sustained decomposes total risk down to the suppliers, sourcing countries and commodities that contribute most, and names the dominant hazard behind each, so mitigation starts where it matters. - Contribution ranked by origin, supplier and commodity - The dominant hazard behind each hotspot - Weighted by supply-chain mass share, not just raw hazard Where your risk concentratesTop 5 Almonds · Spain24% Drought Durum wheat · Italy18% Heat Coffee · Vietnam15% Flood Cocoa · Ghana12% Heat Rice · India9% Water stress Contribution = hazard probability × supply-chain mass share From risk to action #### Don't just flag risk, design it out Risk links straight into eco-design. AI-assisted reformulation proposes lower-risk, lower-impact ingredient swaps, then re-scores the whole recipe for environmental impact, nutrition and cost, so you can see the trade-offs before committing to a change. - Substitutions proposed against your reduction and risk targets - Full life-cycle re-scoring of each candidate recipe - Nutrition and cost compared side by side with the original Chicken Tikka MasalaSaved ↓ -5% total Original impact 6.9M Impact points Modelled impact 6.54M Impact points ↓ -2.1k kg CO₂ eq Impact change by category Climate Change-2.1kkg CO₂ eq Resource use, fossils-11.8kMJ Acidification-21.1mol H+ eq Land Use-50.1kPt Ecotoxicity, freshwater-54kCTUe Water Scarcity-5.3km³ depriv. A lens for every team #### One model, six points of view The same underlying risk model, read through the lens each stakeholder needs. AI insights turn the numbers into plain-English findings and recommended actions, which can be routed to the right team as a brief. ##### Business Portfolio risk and the revenue exposed behind it. ##### ESG Nature pressures and disclosure-ready summaries. ##### Product SKU-level risk profiles to prioritise redesign. ##### Procurement Sourcing-origin and supplier risk concentration. ##### Insurance Expected annual loss and tail-year exposure. ##### Investor Scenario resilience across a warming future. Compliance & disclosure #### Built for the questions regulators ask Risk and nature signals feed the disclosures your customers and regulators increasingly expect, with the same traceable data behind them. ##### EUDR deforestation screening Screen sourcing regions for forest loss after the EUDR cut-off date, flagging where plot-level geolocation is still needed. A screening signal, not an automated due-diligence filing. ##### CSRD & TNFD exports Generate disclosure-ready packs and per-product PDF and CSV exports from the same underlying risk and impact data. ##### Nature signals Standalone biodiversity-intactness and ocean-acidification surfaces sit alongside the physical-risk score for a fuller nature picture. Built on recognised climate science #### Calibrated, return-period based, and honest about it The risk engine draws on published hazard products and reanalysis data, inverts real return-period curves, and is calibrated against actual crop-insurance losses. Where the evidence does not support a probability, we say so. ##### Return periods, not ramps For flood, heat and cyclone, risk is derived from genuine one-in-N-year event frequencies by inverting published intensity curves, not from a saturating intensity score. ##### Calibrated to real losses The calibrated hazards are fitted against more than two decades of US crop-insurance loss records, with spatially cross-validated skill that we report openly rather than hide. ##### Honest about confidence Where a hazard could not be calibrated honestly, we keep it as an exposure index rather than dress it up as a loss probability, and weight it accordingly in the score. Why Sustained for risk #### Risk that connects to the rest of your sustainability work ##### Runs on data you already have Risk is computed on your existing Sustained product records: every footprint, ingredient and sourcing origin flows in automatically. There is no separate data project to stand up. ##### Physical and contributory, together See the physical threats to your supply chain alongside how your products contribute to environmental pressure, both grounded in the same life-cycle data. ##### Quantified in business terms Hazard scores become revenue-at-risk and expected annual loss for the monetised hazards, so the conversation moves from a heat map to a number a CFO recognises. ##### From insight to action Risk links straight into eco-design and reformulation, and routes recommended actions to the right team, so a finding becomes a change rather than a chart. --- # Blog ## Ingredient Mapping in LCA: The Story Behind Every Proxy Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/ingredient-mapping-in-lca-the-story-behind-every-proxy/ Published: 2026-05-13 · Author: Matthias Reich ## How Modern LCA Tools Handle Ingredients That Aren't in Any Database Here's a situation every sustainability lead recognises. You're working on a new product line, and a key regional botanical extract isn't in any commercial Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) database. The scientifically rigorous thing to do would be to request all necessary data, ideally a verifiable LCA, of the production of said compound from your supplier. You attempt this, but you realise that your supplier is facing a similar issue with its supplier in turn and does not have any of their records of energy or water use of their production site at hand. And in any case, they hinted that they are not inclined to follow your request based on the stated weeks or months of effort to come up with the needed data. Unless you represent a massive portion of their revenue, they are unlikely to dedicate the required weeks to generating this data. Your hope is, rightly so, that other customers, maybe larger ones too, will request the same data in the future and they will provide primary data for their production. Until that is the case though, you need a different approach. In a world where companies and LCA practitioners operate with limited resources, fully modelling every detailed material or sub-version from scratch simply isn't a realistic standard. It's tempting to treat database gaps as a temporary problem, something the next database update will solve. In reality they're a permanent condition of LCA, and any methodology that doesn't account for them is incomplete. Coverage improves over time, but it's an asymptote, not a finish line. So until we approach a situation of abundant LCAs across supply chains, the question becomes 'how do we handle data gaps in a way that is defensible, scalable, and transparent?' This post explores how ingredient mapping LCA works in practice, why proxy methodology is a necessity, and why automated product footprinting platforms are uniquely positioned to make product-level LCA work at scale for food and beverage manufacturers. ## Why No LCA Database Is, or Will Ever Be, Complete Primary data and proxies aren't the only options. The whole point of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases is to make much of the individual data collection redundant, by providing standardised reference datasets. But even here, there is an issue of scale. There are various LCI databases available each with thousands of datasets. Some are general and some are specific to certain sectors. Even considering their overlap, this sums up to a huge number of secondary datasets available. Nevertheless, this represents only a tiny fraction of the global economy’s count of unique goods and services provided. And for the ones it has, it might have many fruits or vegetables, but not all as conventional or organic forms. Or it might have a given plastic of virgin and recycled origin, but not all different kinds of recycling options. And while it provides many regionalised datasets, it still often only offers a handful of locations. Even institutions and consultants whose full-time job is to research and model LCI datasets will never fully represent the real world. So they, and by extension all of us, sometimes have to rely on proxies. Given the pace of new developments, from alternative proteins and fermentation-derived ingredients to new chemicals and processing technologies, one might argue that the world is outpacing database coverage. Ultimately, database completeness isn't a roadmap milestone we will eventually hit; it's an asymptote. ## The Proxy Selection Because employable resources are finite, using proxies is a daily reality for LCA practitioners. What separates a scientifically defensible LCA from a back-of-the-napkin estimate is not least methodological consistency. When comparisons between two LCAs are made, whether across time or across different products, both need to rely on consistent, standardised proxy selection processes. Consistency is arguably as important as the choice itself. Two sensible proxies might both be defensible choices. But if a product is assessed using one, then re-assessed two years later using the other, comparability breaks down. A suitable proxy should reflect all environmental impacts as closely as possible. The factors that matter vary by sector. One we're setting aside here is regional approximation, where for example a Spanish apple is approximated with a South African one. That decision tends to be made separately and is graded separately in many Data Quality Rating (DQR) systems. For agricultural products, the following all play a part in the proxy selection: ![proxy_selection_factors](/images/blog/ingredient-mapping-in-lca-the-story-behind-every-proxy/01.jpg) - Plant or animal taxonomy: As a first indicator, it usually is advisable to consider plants or animals of the same taxonomy order, starting with the genus and family and going upwards. So for example if there is no dataset for broccoli, one for cauliflower, or alternatively cabbage, could be selected, as they all belong to the species Brassica oleracea. - Cultivation methods: Comparing cultivation methods is important, too. This includes considering whether a plant is perennial or non-perennial, the seasonality, what the yield per area tends to be, whether it tends to be cultivated in static monoculture, with crop rotation, or in polycultures. This also includes the question of whether a crop is even cultivated or harvested in the wild. For example, if there is no dataset for lemongrass or another plant in its family, a dataset for basil might be used. - Cultivation technologies: Another important aspect is the technological aspects of the cultivation. This includes how much water tends to be used for irrigation and what form of irrigation tends to be used. This includes whether the product tends to be grown in greenhouses, under foil or on open fields. This also includes application of fertilisers, pesticides, or manure. Consider for example tomatoes and cucumbers, which are often grown under cover or in greenhouses, and are both frequently cultivated on vertical trellising (a string/wire structure to allow them to grow upwards) or on rockwool. ## Transparency of Proxies A well chosen proxy from a peer-reviewed database can actually be more transparent than a custom-built model. Most published LCAs list the database, the flows and the amounts, but not the specific datasets used. Being explicit about which datasets are in use, and which of them are proxies, is what makes an LCA reproducible and trustworthy. At Sustained, we already show in the modelling tool if the employed databases have a dataset for the selected ingredient and location combination. And in the overview of datasets in use, we flag which flows rely on a proxy and which specific dataset has been chosen. And we also clearly indicate in the overview of datasets in use, we flag which flows rely on a proxy and which dataset has been used. ![datasets_in_use](/images/blog/ingredient-mapping-in-lca-the-story-behind-every-proxy/02.jpg) ## Beyond the Standard Library: How Gaps Actually Get Closed The standard proxy is the floor of ingredient mapping LCA, not the ceiling. When an ingredient warrants more confidence (perhaps because of its strategic importance, because it's a major impact contributor, or because of higher-stakes use) there are graduated mechanisms to close the gap. None of them require sending the customer to a six-month consultancy engagement. Before getting to those, it's worth noting that coverage improves in the background. LCI databases release regular updates, often with meaningful improvements in both coverage and methodology, and Sustained incorporates these as they ship. A dataset that didn't exist last year may exist this year, and an existing dataset may be substantially refined between releases. Beyond that baseline, if a better fitting dataset is needed sooner, an ingredient can be modelled from a published scientific paper covering its LCA. Many ingredients have such papers, though not all. A model built this way warrants more scepticism than one from a peer-reviewed secondary database, but it can be substantially closer to the real ingredient than a distant proxy. There is also an option to override only a part of an ingredient's impact. If a supplier has for example conducted an extensive carbon footprint accounting exercise, but cannot provide primary data for any of the other impact categories, the option of overriding only the available category exists. ## What This Means for What You Can Claim There are clear boundaries to how proxy data should be used. Flagged and well selected proxies are generally well suited for hotspot identification, internal reformulation, portfolio screening, and order-of-magnitude reporting. However, flagged proxies, especially of dominant ingredients or flows, are not the right basis for single-SKU public comparative claims under ISO 14044. For those types of claims, a deeper primary-data study is the right tool. Proxies aren't going away at portfolio scale, and pretending otherwise produces worse LCAs, not better ones. The work is in handling them transparently, flagging confidence, and offering a route to higher rigour where it matters. Manual LCA can do this for a single product. Automated product footprinting can do it for a thousand. ### Methodology Standard Compliance Sustained's ingredient mapping methodology aligns with PEF and ISO 14044 data quality requirements. Every mapping decision is documented, traceable, and reproducible. Confidence is surfaced inline at the data point, not buried obscurely in methodology documentation. This is screening-level LCA done transparently: the right tool for portfolio hotspot identification, with clear signposting when a deeper primary-data study is the right next step. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What happens when an ingredient I use isn't in the LCI database?** A: Modern tools handle it through a documented mapping methodology, the closest defensible match, identified, flagged, and visible to the user. In Sustained, there is the additional option to add a placeholder and thus flag an ingredient for further investigation by Sustained. **Q: Are mapped proxies reliable for sustainability reporting?** A: For screening, hotspot identification, and reformulation, yes, provided the methodology is transparent. For single-SKU public comparative claims, such as PEF and ISO 14044, a higher bar typically requires a primary-data study and a certain level of accuracy in the respective Data Quality Rating. **Q: What if a standard proxy isn't accurate enough for a strategically important ingredient?** A: There are two additional mechanisms beyond the standard library: literature-derived modelling and primary data override (where supplier data or internal measurements override secondary mapping from LCI databases). **Q: Can I request that a new ingredient be added?** A: Yes, Sustained’s library expands continuously based on customer requests; new mappings become available to all customers once added. **Q: What's the difference between primary and secondary data in food LCAs?** A: For a deeper dive into this topic, read our post on [Balancing Primary and Secondary Data in Life Cycle Assessment](/blog/balancing-primary-and-secondary-data-in-life-cycle-assessment). --- ## How The Restaurant Group is Collecting Product-Level Emissions Data Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-the-restaurant-group-is-collecting-product-level-emissions-data/ Published: 2026-03-26 · Author: Emily Deeks How [The Restaurant Group](https://www.trggroupltd.com/) built a partnership model that's scaling product-level footprinting across their supply chain - and what it means for the future of supply chain transparency. Most hospitality businesses ask their suppliers for emissions data. The Restaurant Group (TRG) decided to help them measure it. As one of the UK's leading hospitality businesses, operating brands including Wagamama, Barburrito, and Brunning & Price, TRG recognised early that reaching their Net-Zero by 2040 target would require bringing suppliers along on the journey. But there was a problem: most suppliers didn't have the tools, expertise, or budget to measure product-level emissions. So TRG built the infrastructure to make it possible. ## The Challenge: Moving Beyond Spend and Activity Based Emissions Estimates Rather than simply requesting data, TRG created a three-part framework: **Clear requirements:** A tiered carbon maturity framework across four categories; Footprints, Targets, Product Data, and Action Plans, so suppliers know where they stand and what progression looks like. **Contractual support:** Requirements integrated into tender processes and supplier contracts, with lead times that give suppliers time to build capability. **Discounted access:** Partnerships with providers like Sustained to offer suppliers affordable access to footprinting tools, removing cost as a barrier. The result? Suppliers aren't being asked to do the impossible - they're being given the tools to do what's necessary. ## What it looks like in practice Two TRG suppliers illustrate the model working: **Tazaki Foods** has footprinted over 1,000 products and is now sharing granular emissions data with their own suppliers - turning a reporting requirement into upstream collaboration. **Harvey and Brockless (Compleat Food Group)** moved from manual, time-intensive footprinting to automated calculations at scale, making product-level data a core capability, not a niche exercise. All three suppliers gained more than compliance. They gained operational insights, competitive advantages, and in some cases, new business. ## Why this matters beyond TRG TRG's model demonstrates that supply chain transparency isn't a zero-sum game. When buyers invest in supplier capability rather than just issuing requirements, the benefits flow both ways: - **For TRG:** Actual product-level emissions data feeding into Scope 3 reporting, enabling credible decarbonisation tracking and joint reduction planning. - **For suppliers:** Affordable tools, competitive differentiation, and insights they can use across their entire customer base. TRG is creating a template for how buyer-supplier sustainability partnerships can work at scale, not through demands, but through enablement. **In the full case study, you'll find:** - How TRG structured their supplier requirements framework across four categories - Detailed supplier spotlights: Tazaki Foods, Harvey & Brockless - What suppliers gain beyond compliance - How the model is scaling and what's next ## Read the full case study Access the complete story, including supplier insights and the framework TRG built to make product-level footprinting scalable. [**> Click here to Download <**](https://www.sustained.com/download-trg-success-story) **[](https://www.sustained.com/download-trg-success-story)** --- ## EF3.1: What the Product Environmental Footprint Update Means for You Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/ef3.1-what-the-product-environmental-footprint-update-means-for-you/ Published: 2026-03-20 · Author: Matthias Reich ## Why Characterisation Factor Updates Matter When the EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) updates characterisation factors in the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method, it reflects genuine advances in life cycle assessment science. These updates ensure that the way we measure and compare environmental impacts stays aligned with the best available knowledge. With the transition from EF3.0 to EF3.1, several important changes have been introduced that affect how product-level footprints are calculated and reported. At Sustained, we automated the EF3.0 to EF3.1 update across our platform, ensuring that all assessments reflect the latest scientific consensus without requiring manual recalculation from our users. ## LCA Fundamentals: A Quick Refresher ![Diagram showing how supply chain process modelling becomes unwieldy just a few levels down.](/images/blog/ef3.1-what-the-product-environmental-footprint-update-means-for-you/01.png) Life Cycle Assessment quantifies environmental impacts across a product's entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. The PEF method standardises this process across the EU, providing a common framework for environmental claims and comparisons. **Characterisation factors** are the conversion coefficients that translate inventory data (e.g., kilograms of CO2, grams of methane) into impact category results. They are the bridge between what a process emits and what that emission means for the environment. ## What Changed in EF3.1 The EF3.1 update includes several significant revisions: - **IPCC AR6 Global Warming Potentials**: The climate change category now uses the latest GWP values from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report. This adjusts the relative weighting of greenhouse gases, for example, the GWP of methane has been updated to reflect new atmospheric chemistry research. - **Metals consolidation**: Several metal-related impact categories have been consolidated and recalibrated to better reflect resource scarcity and toxicity pathways. - **Normalisation and weighting revisions**: The reference values used to normalise impact results have been updated to reflect more recent global and European emission inventories. These changes can shift product footprint results, sometimes significantly, even when the underlying product and supply chain have not changed. ## What This Means for Your Business If you are reporting PEF-compliant environmental data, the transition to EF3.1 is not optional, it is a matter of staying current with the regulatory framework. Results calculated under EF3.0 are no longer directly comparable to EF3.1 results, so consistency across your portfolio matters. For companies managing hundreds or thousands of SKUs, manually updating characterisation factors is impractical. Automation ensures that your entire product portfolio is recalculated consistently and promptly when the methodology evolves. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is the PEF method?** The Product Environmental Footprint method is the EU's standardised approach to measuring and communicating the environmental performance of products across 16 impact categories. **Do I need to recalculate all my footprints?** Yes. If you are reporting under the PEF framework, your results should reflect the latest characterisation factors to remain compliant and comparable. **How do characterisation factors affect my results?** They determine how raw emissions and resource use translate into impact scores. Even small changes in characterisation factors can shift the relative importance of different impact categories and alter which ingredients or processes are your biggest hotspots. **Will EF3.1 change my product rankings?** It can. Products with high methane-intensive supply chains, for instance, may see shifts in their climate change scores relative to products dominated by CO2 emissions. --- ## Automating LCA for Multi-Ingredient Food Products Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/automating-lca-for-multi-ingredient-food-products/ Published: 2026-03-20 · Author: Matthias Reich ## The Scale of the Problem Consider a single lasagne. It might contain 35 or more distinct components, pasta sheets, multiple cheeses, minced beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, seasoning blends, béchamel sauce ingredients, and packaging layers. Each component has its own supply chain, agricultural practices, processing steps, and transport routes. Conducting a rigorous manual Life Cycle Assessment for this single product typically takes **four to six weeks** of expert time. Now multiply that by a product portfolio of 500 or 1,000 SKUs, and the impossibility of manual LCA at scale becomes clear. ## The Data Granularity Problem ![Screenshot illustrating the ingredient complexity of a multi-ingredient food product.](/images/blog/automating-lca-for-multi-ingredient-food-products/01.png) Not all tomatoes are equal. Tomatoes grown in open fields in southern Spain have a fundamentally different environmental profile from those produced in heated greenhouses in northern Europe. The energy source for those greenhouses, the irrigation method, the fertiliser regime, and the transport distance to the processing facility all matter. Manual LCA struggles with this granularity because: - **Sourcing varies seasonally**: the same product may use ingredients from different origins at different times of year - **Supplier-level data is inconsistent**: some suppliers provide detailed information, others provide almost none - **Proxy data choices introduce bias**: the analyst must decide which database entry best represents each ingredient, and those choices compound across a complex recipe ## Methodological Consistency When multiple analysts work on different products in a portfolio, methodological drift is almost inevitable. Key areas where inconsistency creeps in include: - **Allocation decisions**: How do you split the environmental burden of a dairy farm between milk and beef? Different analysts may apply economic allocation, mass allocation, or system expansion, each yielding different results. - **System boundary choices**: Does the assessment include retail refrigeration? Consumer cooking? End-of-life packaging treatment? Inconsistent boundaries make cross-product comparisons meaningless. - **Database version mismatches**: If one product was assessed using Ecoinvent 3.8 and another using 3.9, the underlying data differs even for identical processes. ## Scalability and Modelling Automation addresses these challenges by encoding methodological decisions once and applying them uniformly across every product in the portfolio. A well-designed automated system: 1. Maps each ingredient to the most appropriate background dataset based on origin, production method, and processing 2. Applies consistent allocation rules, system boundaries, and impact assessment methods 3. Handles multi-level recipes (a sauce within a lasagne within a meal deal) without losing granularity 4. Runs sensitivity analyses across the entire portfolio simultaneously ## Sensitivity Analysis at Scale One of the most powerful advantages of automation is the ability to run **sensitivity analyses** across hundreds of products in minutes rather than months. This reveals which assumptions matter most and where primary data collection would most improve result quality. For example, automated sensitivity analysis might reveal that for 80% of your chilled ready meals, the single largest driver of uncertainty is the origin of the dairy ingredients, directing your data collection efforts precisely where they will have the greatest impact on result confidence. ## Manual vs. Automated LCA: A Comparison | Dimension | Manual LCA | Automated LCA | |-----------|-----------|---------------| | Time per product | 4-6 weeks | Minutes to hours | | Methodological consistency | Analyst-dependent | Systematically enforced | | Portfolio coverage | 10-50 products feasible | 1,000+ products feasible | | Sensitivity analysis | Rarely performed | Standard practice | | Update frequency | Annual at best | Continuous | | Cost per product | High | Dramatically lower at scale | ## Frequently Asked Questions **Does automation mean less accurate results?** No. Automation applies the same scientific methodology as manual LCA but does so consistently and at scale. The quality of results depends on the quality of the underlying data and the rigour of the methodological framework, not on whether a human or a system performs the calculations. **What about primary vs. secondary data?** Automated systems can incorporate primary data wherever it is available and fall back to high-quality secondary data where it is not. The key advantage is that as primary data becomes available from suppliers, it can be integrated across all affected products simultaneously. **How does automation help prevent greenwashing?** By enforcing consistent methodologies, maintaining full audit trails, and enabling portfolio-wide sensitivity analysis, automation makes it much harder to cherry-pick favourable assumptions or selectively report results. Every product is assessed on the same basis. --- ## How Tazaki Foods Scaled Product-Level LCAs to Drive Supplier Transparency Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-tazaki-foods-is-turning-product-carbon-data-into-supplier-engagement/ Published: 2026-03-17 · Author: Emily Deeks ## The Challenge As major UK supermarkets increasingly demand product-level emissions data from their suppliers, food businesses face a clear imperative: measure, or be left behind. Tazaki Foods, a leading Japanese food supplier to UK retailers, found themselves in this position, needing to provide carbon footprint data across their extensive product range but lacking the baselines to do so. Without product-level carbon footprints, Tazaki had no way to identify which products carried the heaviest environmental burden, which ingredients drove the most emissions, or where reformulation could deliver meaningful reductions. ## Selecting the Right Platform Tazaki Foods selected Sustained's platform to footprint their product portfolio at scale. The goal was not just to generate numbers for retailer reporting, but to build genuine understanding of where emissions originate across their supply chain. ## Key Results The results were significant: - **Over 1,000 SKUs footprinted** across their product range - **Hotspot identification** revealed which ingredients and processes contributed most to each product's environmental impact - **Reformulation opportunities** were uncovered that could reduce impact without compromising product quality ## The Supplier Opportunity What set Tazaki's approach apart was their decision to share impact breakdowns directly with their suppliers. Rather than simply reporting aggregated numbers upstream to retailers, Tazaki used the granular data to engage their supply chain in meaningful conversations about emissions reduction. > "Visualising emissions by raw material and process gives suppliers the insights they need to understand where emissions originate and what actions matter." > > **Maasa Kanai, Tazaki Foods** By making emissions data transparent and actionable at the supplier level, Tazaki transformed what could have been a purely compliance-driven exercise into a collaborative effort to reduce impact across the value chain. ## Looking Ahead Tazaki's experience demonstrates that product-level LCA at scale is not just feasible, it is a powerful tool for supplier engagement. When suppliers can see exactly how their ingredients and processes contribute to a product's footprint, the conversation shifts from abstract sustainability targets to concrete, measurable actions. --- ## Part 2: Reading Your LCA Through a Planetary Boundaries Lens Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/reading-your-lca-through-a-planetary-boundaries-lens/ Published: 2025-11-28 · Author: Matthias Reich ## From Framework to Practice In [Part 1](/blog/part-1-planetary-boundaries-and-pef-understanding-the-framework), we introduced the Planetary Boundaries framework and its relationship to PEF impact categories. Now we move from theory to practice: how do you actually read your LCA results through a planetary boundaries lens? With seven of nine planetary boundaries now exceeded, understanding how your products contribute to these transgressions is no longer an academic exercise, it is a strategic necessity. ## PEF-to-Planetary Boundaries Mapping ![Chart of PEF environmental impact indicators used for prioritisation.](/images/blog/reading-your-lca-through-a-planetary-boundaries-lens/01.jpg) ![Diagram mapping PEF indicators to their connected planetary boundaries.](/images/blog/reading-your-lca-through-a-planetary-boundaries-lens/02.jpg) Six PEF impact categories connect directly to planetary boundaries: - **Climate change** maps to the Climate Change boundary - **Acidification** and **Eutrophication (marine and freshwater)** map to Biogeochemical Flows - **Land use** maps to Land-System Change - **Water use** maps to Freshwater Use - **Ozone depletion** maps to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion - **Ecotoxicity** and **Human toxicity** relate to Novel Entities This mapping allows you to translate product-level impact scores into a broader Earth-system context. ## A Practical Five-Step Exercise ### Step 1: Identify Boundary-Connected Impacts ![Visual showing how to identify LCA impacts connected to planetary boundaries.](/images/blog/reading-your-lca-through-a-planetary-boundaries-lens/03.png) Start by reviewing your product's PEF results and flagging the impact categories that map to transgressed planetary boundaries. If your product scores highly in land use and eutrophication, you are contributing to two boundaries that are already in the danger zone. ### Step 2: Find Hotspots Within each flagged category, identify which ingredients, processes, or supply chain stages are the primary drivers. A dairy-heavy product might show land use driven by feed crop cultivation and eutrophication driven by manure management. ### Step 3: Assess Risk Evaluate the degree of transgression for each relevant boundary. Boundaries that are deeply transgressed (like Biogeochemical Flows) represent higher systemic risk than those only recently crossed. ### Step 4: Compare and Prioritise Across your portfolio, compare products on boundary-connected impacts. This reveals which products pose the greatest planetary risk and where reformulation or sourcing changes would have the most systemic benefit. ### Step 5: From Analysis to Action Translate your findings into concrete strategies: - **Supplier engagement**: Share boundary-connected impact data with key suppliers to drive targeted improvements - **Risk mitigation**: Prioritise reformulation for products with high exposure to deeply transgressed boundaries - **Monitoring**: Track boundary-connected impacts over time to measure progress and respond to new scientific assessments --- ## Part 1: Planetary Boundaries and PEF - Understanding the Framework Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/part-1-planetary-boundaries-and-pef-understanding-the-framework/ Published: 2025-11-28 · Author: Matthias Reich ## Two Frameworks, One Planet The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method evaluates products across 16 environmental impact categories, providing a granular view of a product's environmental performance. The Planetary Boundaries framework, introduced by Johan Rockström and colleagues in 2009, takes a fundamentally different perspective, defining the safe operating space for humanity by identifying nine critical Earth-system processes and their thresholds. Understanding how these two frameworks relate is essential for anyone who wants to move beyond product-level metrics and understand what their LCA results mean for the planet. ## The Nine Planetary Boundaries The Planetary Boundaries framework identifies nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system: 1. **Climate Change**: atmospheric CO2 concentration and radiative forcing 2. **Biosphere Integrity**: genetic diversity and functional diversity 3. **Land-System Change**: proportion of global land cover converted to cropland 4. **Freshwater Use**: global consumptive water use 5. **Biogeochemical Flows**: nitrogen and phosphorus cycles 6. **Ocean Acidification**: carbonate ion concentration in surface seawater 7. **Atmospheric Aerosol Loading**: aerosol optical depth 8. **Stratospheric Ozone Depletion**: stratospheric ozone concentration 9. **Novel Entities**: release of synthetic chemicals, plastics, and other novel materials ## Seven Boundaries Transgressed As of the latest scientific assessments, **seven of these nine boundaries have been transgressed**. Climate Change, Biosphere Integrity, Land-System Change, Freshwater Use, Biogeochemical Flows, Novel Entities, and Atmospheric Aerosol Loading all exceed their safe operating thresholds. Only Ocean Acidification and Stratospheric Ozone Depletion remain within safe limits. ## How Planetary Boundaries Relate to LCA The PEF method and the Planetary Boundaries framework operate at different scales, product-level versus planetary, but they share a common scientific foundation. Many PEF impact categories directly correspond to planetary boundary processes, which means that product-level LCA results can be interpreted in the context of Earth-system thresholds. This connection is powerful because it transforms abstract impact scores into something more tangible: a product's contribution to transgressing the boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity. ## Technical Appendix: Boundary Definitions and Thresholds ![Table defining each planetary boundary and its control variables and thresholds.](/images/blog/part-1-planetary-boundaries-and-pef-understanding-the-framework/01.jpg) - **Climate Change**: Pre-industrial CO2 was 280 ppm; the boundary is set at 350 ppm; current levels exceed 420 ppm - **Biosphere Integrity**: Measured as species extinction rate; boundary set at 10 E/MSY (extinctions per million species-years); current rate exceeds 100 E/MSY - **Land-System Change**: Boundary at 75% of original forest cover remaining; currently at approximately 62% - **Freshwater Use**: Boundary at 4,000 km3/year consumptive use; current levels approaching 2,600 km3/year but with severe regional transgressions - **Biogeochemical Flows (N)**: Boundary at 62 Tg N/year; current industrial fixation exceeds 150 Tg N/year - **Biogeochemical Flows (P)**: Boundary at 11 Tg P/year flow to oceans; current levels approximately 22 Tg P/year - **Ocean Acidification**: Boundary at ≥80% of pre-industrial aragonite saturation; currently at approximately 84% - **Stratospheric Ozone Depletion**: Boundary at 275 DU; currently recovering toward this threshold - **Novel Entities**: No single quantitative threshold; assessed as transgressed based on the scale and persistence of synthetic chemical releases --- ## Food Systems, Planetary Boundaries, and Product Strategy Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/food-systems-planetary-boundaries-and-product-strategy/ Published: 2025-10-30 · Author: Emily Deeks ## A New Mandate for Food Systems The EAT-Lancet Commission's October 2025 report delivered a stark assessment: feeding 10 billion people by 2050 within planetary boundaries will require fundamental transformation of global food systems. For food companies, this is not a distant policy discussion, it is a signal that the competitive landscape is shifting now. ## Plant-Forward Is Becoming Mainstream The data is clear: **42% of UK consumers report reducing their meat consumption**, and this trend is accelerating across Europe and North America. Plant-forward products are moving from niche to mainstream, driven not just by environmental concern but by health awareness, cost sensitivity, and simple curiosity. For product developers and portfolio managers, this shift creates both opportunity and urgency. Companies that build credible plant-forward ranges now, backed by robust environmental data, will be better positioned as consumer preferences continue to evolve. ## Ultra-Processing Under Scrutiny The scientific and regulatory conversation around ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is intensifying. While the environmental footprint of processing varies enormously, the intersection of health and sustainability concerns is creating new pressure on heavily processed product categories. Companies should be prepared to demonstrate not only the environmental credentials of their products but also how processing choices affect both nutritional outcomes and environmental impacts. ## Measure Impact Across Multiple Dimensions The EAT-Lancet framework reinforces what the Planetary Boundaries science tells us: **carbon is not the only metric that matters**. Food systems drive land-system change, freshwater use, biogeochemical flow disruption, and biodiversity loss. A product that performs well on carbon but poorly on land use or water is not genuinely sustainable. Comprehensive multi-impact measurement, across all relevant PEF categories, is the foundation for credible product strategy. ## Waste Reduction as a High-Impact Win Food waste accounts for roughly 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing waste across the supply chain, from farm-level losses to consumer-facing shelf life, represents one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost opportunities for environmental improvement. Strategies include: - **Shelf-life extension** through reformulation or packaging innovation - **Supply chain optimisation** to reduce spoilage in transit and storage - **Portion sizing** aligned with actual consumption patterns ## The Economics of Transformation The investment case for food system transformation is compelling. Estimates suggest that **$200-500 billion in investment** could unlock **$5 trillion in benefits** through reduced healthcare costs, improved ecosystem services, and avoided climate damages. Companies that lead this transformation will capture a disproportionate share of the value created. ## How Market Leaders Move Faster The companies pulling ahead are those that integrate environmental data into everyday product decisions, not as a separate sustainability workstream, but as a core input to R&D, procurement, and portfolio management. They measure comprehensively, act on the data, and communicate credibly with retailers and consumers. --- ## Why Product Sustainability No Longer Means Choosing Speed or Accuracy Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-speed-vs.-accuracy-is-no-longer-a-trade-off-in-lca/ Published: 2025-10-20 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin ## The Old Trade-Off For years, companies faced an uncomfortable choice when it came to product sustainability assessment. You could commission a detailed manual LCA, rigorous, defensible, but slow and expensive, or use a rapid screening tool that delivered speed at the cost of accuracy and depth. Comprehensive portfolio coverage seemed impossible because neither approach scaled effectively. ## The Problem with Traditional Approaches **Manual LCA** delivers scientific rigour but cannot keep pace with product development cycles. By the time a manual assessment is complete, the product may have already been reformulated, the supply chain may have shifted, and the data is stale. **Quick screening tools** offer speed but typically rely on highly aggregated data and simplified models that cannot capture the nuances that drive real environmental impact, things like specific sourcing origins, processing methods, or packaging configurations. ## Technology Bridges the Gap Modern LCA platforms have eliminated this trade-off. By combining comprehensive background databases with sophisticated automated modelling, it is now possible to deliver results that are both fast and methodologically sound. A concrete proof point: **complete packaging system modelling with multi-level transport packaging**. This means modelling not just the primary packaging a consumer sees, but the secondary packaging (e.g., shelf-ready trays), tertiary packaging (e.g., pallets and stretch wrap), and the interactions between them, all automatically, all consistently, all at speed. ## The Business Impact When speed and accuracy coexist, entirely new capabilities emerge: - **True portfolio coverage**: Assess every product in your range, not just a representative sample - **Dynamic management**: Update assessments as ingredients, suppliers, or processes change - **Stakeholder confidence**: Present results that withstand scrutiny from retailers, regulators, and NGOs - **Strategic agility**: Run scenario analyses for reformulation, sourcing changes, or new product development in hours rather than months --- ## How Smart Reformulation Unlocks Hidden Environmental Wins Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-smart-reformulation-unlocks-hidden-environmental-wins/ Published: 2025-09-30 · Author: Emily Deeks ## Beyond Carbon Tunnel Vision ![Iceberg visualisation showing visible carbon emissions above the waterline and hidden environmental impacts of food production below](/images/blog/how-smart-reformulation-unlocks-hidden-environmental-wins/01.png) When food and beverage companies think about reformulation for sustainability, carbon is almost always the starting point, and often the ending point. But Life Cycle Assessment across all 16 PEF impact categories consistently reveals that **the largest environmental improvement opportunities frequently lie in categories that companies are not even measuring**: eutrophication, land use, water scarcity, or ecotoxicity. Focusing exclusively on carbon can lead to reformulations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while inadvertently increasing impacts elsewhere, a phenomenon sometimes called "burden shifting." ## Four Strategic Reformulation Opportunities ### 1. Multi-Impact Ingredient Swaps Replacing a single ingredient can shift performance across multiple impact categories simultaneously. For example, substituting a high-impact dairy ingredient with a plant-based alternative may reduce not only carbon emissions but also land use, water consumption, and eutrophication potential. The key is assessing swaps across all relevant categories to ensure net improvement. ### 2. Shelf-Life Extension Extending a product's shelf life by even a few days can dramatically reduce food waste across the supply chain and at the consumer level. The environmental benefit of waste avoidance often outweighs the marginal impact of a preservative or packaging change, but you need multi-impact data to confirm this. ### 3. Packaging-Product Integration Reformulation and packaging redesign are traditionally separate workstreams, but they are deeply interconnected. A reformulation that changes a product's viscosity, moisture content, or pH may enable different packaging materials or formats that carry their own environmental benefits. ### 4. Process-Driven Reformulation Sometimes the biggest wins come not from changing what is in the product but from changing how it is made. Adjusting cooking temperatures, blending sequences, or drying methods can reduce energy consumption and emissions while maintaining product quality. ## The Multiplier Effect When these four strategies are pursued together, informed by comprehensive multi-impact data, the results multiply. A reformulation that combines an ingredient swap with a shelf-life extension and a process optimisation can deliver environmental improvements far greater than the sum of its parts. ## The Business Case for Comprehensive Environmental Design Smart reformulation is not just an environmental strategy, it is a business strategy. Reducing resource-intensive ingredients lowers procurement costs. Extending shelf life reduces waste-related losses. Optimising processes cuts energy bills. And having the data to prove genuine environmental improvement builds credibility with retailers and consumers who are increasingly sceptical of vague sustainability claims. The companies that treat reformulation as a multi-impact design challenge, rather than a single-metric compliance exercise, will find both the largest environmental wins and the strongest commercial returns. --- ## From Pellet to Product: How Packaging Can Reduce Environmental Impact Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/from-pellet-to-product-how-packaging-can-reduce-your-environmental-impact/ Published: 2025-09-17 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin ## The Untapped Opportunity When companies look to reduce the environmental footprint of their products, they typically focus on ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturing processes. Packaging is often treated as an afterthought, a cost to minimise rather than a lever to optimise. This is a missed opportunity. Packaging decisions, material selection, weight, format, recyclability, and transport configuration, can meaningfully shift a product's overall environmental profile without requiring any change to the product itself. ## Packaging Manufacturers Can Lead with Data Packaging manufacturers sit at a critical juncture in the value chain. By providing **environmental footprint data for their materials and formats**: from raw pellet through conversion to finished packaging, they enable their customers to make informed choices. A packaging manufacturer that can demonstrate the comparative environmental performance of different material options, thicknesses, or production processes gives brands the information they need to optimise without guesswork. ## For Brands, Packaging Is a Clear Opportunity Brands that integrate packaging into their environmental assessment process unlock several advantages: - **Identifying high-impact packaging components** that may be disproportionate to their functional role - **Comparing material alternatives** on a like-for-like environmental basis - **Optimising transport packaging**: secondary and tertiary packaging often contributes more to a product's footprint than the primary packaging consumers see - **Supporting recyclability and circularity goals** with data rather than assumptions ## Creating a Common Language One of the biggest barriers to progress is the lack of a common environmental data language between brands and their packaging suppliers. When both parties work from the same LCA methodology and data standards, conversations about packaging improvement become specific, actionable, and measurable. This shared foundation turns packaging from a compliance checkbox into a genuine strategic lever for environmental improvement across the entire value chain. --- ## Environmental Resilience for F&B: Reducing Risk, Securing Operations Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/environmental-resilience-for-fb-reducing-risk-and-securing-operations/ Published: 2025-09-10 · Author: Matthias Reich ## The Blind Spot Companies across the food and beverage sector increasingly recognise the importance of measuring their environmental impact. Regulatory pressure, retailer demands, and consumer expectations all point in the same direction. But many companies fail to grasp a critical connection: **their contributions to environmental degradation are not just ethical concerns, they are sources of direct business risk.** ## Two Key Risk Types Environmental risk in food and beverage operates on two distinct axes: ### Exposure Risk Exposure risk is the risk that environmental changes, climate shifts, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, disrupt your supply chain, increase your input costs, or reduce the availability of key ingredients. This is the risk that happens **to** you. ### Contribution Risk Contribution risk is the risk that arises from your own environmental impacts. This is the risk you create **for yourself** by contributing to the very environmental degradation that threatens your operations. ## Forms of Contribution Risk **Legal risks** are accelerating. Environmental regulations are tightening across the EU and beyond. Companies that cannot demonstrate they are measuring, managing, and reducing their environmental impacts face increasing exposure to compliance penalties, market access restrictions, and litigation. **Reputational risks** are equally significant. In an era of increasing transparency, companies whose environmental claims do not withstand scrutiny face backlash from consumers, retailers, and investors. Greenwashing allegations can cause lasting brand damage. ## How LCA Reveals Supply Chain Vulnerabilities Life Cycle Assessment does more than quantify your environmental footprint. When read through a risk lens, LCA data reveals exactly where your supply chain is most vulnerable: - **Ingredients sourced from water-stressed regions** carry both environmental impact and supply security risk - **High land-use ingredients** may face future sourcing constraints as deforestation regulations tighten - **Energy-intensive processes** are exposed to carbon pricing and energy cost volatility By connecting environmental impact data to business risk, companies can move from reactive compliance to proactive resilience, securing their operations against the environmental changes they are helping to drive. --- ## Turning Impact Data Into Risk Insight And Resilience Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/turning-impact-data-into-risk-insight-and-resilience/ Published: 2025-08-21 · Author: Emily Deeks ## Beyond the Footprint In 2025, the bigger question for food and beverage companies is not just "what is our footprint?" but **"where are we exposed?"** Environmental impact data, when analysed through a risk lens, becomes the foundation for identifying supply chain vulnerabilities before they materialise as financial losses. ## Impact Data as the Foundation for Risk Insight An estimated **80% of a product's environmental impact is determined at the design stage**: in the choice of ingredients, sourcing origins, processing methods, and packaging. This same design stage also determines the product's exposure to environmental and supply chain risks. When you know which ingredients drive your environmental impact, you also know which ingredients are most likely to face climate-related disruption, regulatory restriction, or reputational scrutiny. ## Climate-Related Price Volatility The connection between environmental impact and financial risk is already playing out in commodity markets. **Cocoa prices surged over 200%** in recent years, driven by climate-related crop failures in West Africa. Companies with high cocoa dependency and no diversification strategy absorbed enormous cost increases. Similar dynamics are emerging across other climate-sensitive supply chains, from coffee and vanilla to wheat and rice. The question is not whether these disruptions will continue, but which of your ingredients is next. ## Insurance and Operational Costs Beyond commodity prices, environmental risk is showing up in **insurance premium increases** for companies with high exposure to climate-related supply chain disruption. Insurers are increasingly using environmental data to assess risk, and companies that cannot demonstrate they understand and are managing their environmental exposures face higher costs. **Supply chain disruption**: from extreme weather events, water scarcity, or regulatory changes in sourcing regions, is becoming more frequent and more costly. ## Dual-Factor Risk: Exposure and Contribution The most sophisticated risk assessment considers both dimensions: - **Exposure**: How vulnerable is your supply chain to environmental change? - **Contribution**: How much are your operations contributing to the environmental changes that create that vulnerability? Companies with high scores on both dimensions face compounding risk, they are most exposed to the very disruptions they are helping to create. ## From Insight to Action Turning impact data into resilience requires three steps: 1. **Map your exposure**: identify which ingredients, processes, and supply chains carry the highest environmental and climate risk 2. **Quantify your contribution**: understand how your products and operations contribute to the environmental changes driving that risk 3. **Act on the intersection**: prioritise interventions where exposure and contribution overlap, delivering both environmental improvement and risk reduction simultaneously --- ## Balancing Primary and Secondary Data in Life Cycle Assessment Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/balancing-primary-and-secondary-data-in-life-cycle-assessment/ Published: 2025-07-07 · Author: Matthias Reich ## The Data Challenge The single biggest challenge in Life Cycle Assessment is access to **primary data**: the specific, measured data from your actual supply chain operations. No company, regardless of size or resources, can audit its entire supply chain from raw material extraction to end-of-life. The supply chains of food and beverage products are simply too complex, too fragmented, and too dynamic. This means that every LCA involves a blend of primary data (from your own operations and direct suppliers) and **secondary data** (from databases like Ecoinvent, Agribalyse, or WFLDB that represent industry averages or modelled processes). The question is not whether to use secondary data, but how to find the right balance. ## Finding the Right Balance The appropriate mix of primary and secondary data depends on the purpose of the assessment and where you are in your sustainability journey. ### Screening and Internal Use For initial portfolio screening, identifying hotspots, prioritising action areas, and building internal understanding, secondary data is often sufficient. A screening LCA using high-quality secondary data can reveal which products, ingredients, and processes merit deeper investigation, allowing you to focus primary data collection where it will matter most. ### Improving What You Control Primary data delivers the most value for processes you directly control: your own manufacturing operations, energy use, waste generation, and direct logistics. This is where primary data is most readily available and where it most directly informs operational improvement. ### Engaging Suppliers For upstream supply chain stages, agricultural production, ingredient processing, packaging manufacturing, primary data requires supplier engagement. This is a gradual process: - Start with your **highest-impact suppliers** (those providing ingredients identified as hotspots in screening assessments) - Request **specific, verifiable data points** rather than comprehensive LCI datasets - Build capability over time, recognising that data quality will improve iteratively ### Reporting and Compliance ![Diagram of Sustained's guidance on the primary data journey, showing progression from secondary to primary data](/images/blog/balancing-primary-and-secondary-data-in-life-cycle-assessment/01.jpg) For external reporting and regulatory compliance, data quality requirements are more stringent. The PEF method includes **Data Quality Rating (DQR)** requirements that assess the temporal, geographical, and technological representativeness of data used. Meeting these requirements typically demands a higher proportion of primary data for foreground processes. ## A Pragmatic Path Forward The most effective approach is iterative: 1. **Screen broadly** with secondary data to understand your portfolio 2. **Prioritise** primary data collection for highest-impact areas 3. **Engage suppliers** progressively, starting with the most material contributors 4. **Improve continuously** as data availability and quality increase over time Perfection is not the goal. Informed decision-making is. A well-constructed LCA using a thoughtful blend of primary and secondary data is far more valuable than no assessment at all, and far more practical than waiting until every data point is measured directly. --- ## Understanding the New B Corp Certification Standards for 2025 Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/understanding-the-new-b-corp-certification-standards-for-2025/ Published: 2025-05-21 · Author: Emily Deeks ## A Significant Shift B Corp certification received its **seventh major update in April 2025**, representing the most significant structural change in the certification's history. For companies currently certified or considering certification, understanding these changes is essential for planning and preparation. ## Two-Stage Structure The new standards introduce a **two-stage structure**: 1. **Foundational Requirements**: Mandatory minimums that every certified B Corp must meet. These are non-negotiable and cover governance, transparency, and baseline environmental and social performance. 2. **Impact Topic Requirements**: Deeper requirements across specific impact areas where companies must demonstrate meaningful performance and continuous improvement. ## From Points to Minimums The most fundamental change is the shift **from a points-based system to mandatory minimum requirements**. Under the previous framework, companies could accumulate points across various categories, potentially compensating for weak performance in one area with strong performance in another. The new structure eliminates this flexibility, every company must meet the minimum threshold in every foundational area. This change raises the bar significantly and ensures that B Corp certification represents a consistent baseline of performance across all dimensions. ## Expanded Environmental Requirements ![Promotional graphic inviting readers to explore B Lab's new B Corp standards](/images/blog/understanding-the-new-b-corp-certification-standards-for-2025/01.jpg) The environmental requirements have been substantially expanded, with two primary focus areas: ### Climate Action Companies must demonstrate credible climate commitments backed by measurement and action, not just aspirations. This includes: - **Greenhouse gas measurement** across relevant scopes - **Reduction targets** aligned with science-based pathways - **Progress tracking** with verifiable data ### Environmental Stewardship Beyond climate, the new standards address broader environmental performance: - **Resource efficiency** in operations - **Waste reduction** and circular economy practices - **Biodiversity and ecosystem impact** considerations ## Size-Specific Requirements The new standards introduce **size-specific requirements** that scale expectations with company size and capacity. Larger companies face more demanding requirements, reflecting their greater impact and greater resources for measurement and management. ## New Focus on Supply Chains Perhaps the most significant expansion is the new focus on **supply chain responsibility**. Companies are now expected to demonstrate understanding of and engagement with environmental and social impacts across their supply chains, not just within their own operations. For food and beverage companies, this means having credible data on the environmental impacts of sourced ingredients and materials, making product-level LCA not just a sustainability tool but a certification requirement. --- ## The Power of LCA for Data-Driven Differentiation Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/the-power-of-lca-for-data-driven-differentiation/ Published: 2025-05-14 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin ## Make Sustainability Verifiable The market is flooded with sustainability claims, "eco-friendly," "planet-positive," "carbon neutral." Consumers and retailers are increasingly sceptical, and regulators are cracking down on unsubstantiated environmental marketing. In this environment, the companies that will differentiate successfully are those that can **back their claims with verifiable data**. Life Cycle Assessment provides that data. A product assessed across all relevant environmental impact categories has a defensible, quantified story to tell, one that goes far beyond marketing language. ## Go Beyond One-Off Analyses A single LCA report, however thorough, becomes outdated as ingredients change, suppliers shift, and methodologies evolve. True data-driven differentiation requires **continuous assessment**: an always-current view of your product portfolio's environmental performance that can be updated as your products and supply chains evolve. This is what separates genuine sustainability leadership from one-time certification exercises. ## Communicating Your Sustainable Story With robust LCA data, you can communicate with confidence: - **To retailers**: Provide the product-level environmental data they increasingly require for listing and ranging decisions - **To consumers**: Make specific, quantified claims about your products' environmental performance - **To investors**: Demonstrate measurable progress on environmental metrics that increasingly influence valuation ## How to Use the Comparison Feature One of the most powerful applications of LCA data is **product comparison**. By comparing the environmental profiles of different products, formulations, or sourcing scenarios, you can: - Demonstrate the environmental advantage of a reformulated product versus its predecessor - Show retailers how your product compares to category averages - Identify which product variants offer the best environmental performance across multiple impact categories ## Sustainability That Stands Up to Scrutiny The EU's Green Claims Directive is making unsubstantiated environmental claims illegal. Companies that invest in robust, methodology-aligned LCA data now are building a foundation that will withstand regulatory scrutiny, retailer audits, and consumer investigation. Data-driven differentiation is not just a competitive strategy, it is becoming a legal requirement. --- ## The Sustainability Tightrope: Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/the-sustainability-tightrope-cutting-costs-without-cutting-corners/ Published: 2025-05-08 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin ## The Balancing Act Food and beverage companies face a persistent tension: pressure to reduce costs, pressure to meet market demands for sustainability, and pressure to comply with tightening environmental regulations. These forces often feel contradictory, sustainability is perceived as a cost, not a saving. But the data tells a different story. Research from Rabobank indicates that **integrating sustainability into procurement can cut costs by up to 16%**. The key is knowing where to look. ## Targeted, Data-Driven Efficiency The biggest cost-reduction opportunities are often invisible without environmental data. LCA reveals where resources are being wasted, where processes are inefficient, and where ingredient or sourcing changes could deliver both financial and environmental savings. Rather than broad cost-cutting measures that risk compromising quality or sustainability performance, a data-driven approach enables **targeted interventions** that improve both the bottom line and the environmental profile. ## Four Strategies for Cost-Effective Sustainability ### Strategic Sourcing Environmental data reveals which sourcing origins and suppliers deliver the best combination of cost, quality, and environmental performance. Shifting sourcing based on this data can reduce both procurement costs and supply chain emissions. ### Supply Chain Optimisation LCA data often reveals inefficiencies in logistics, storage, and distribution that carry both financial and environmental costs. Optimising transport routes, reducing cold chain energy use, or consolidating shipments delivers savings on both dimensions. ### Ingredient Substitution Some ingredient swaps reduce cost and environmental impact simultaneously. For example, replacing a high-impact, expensive ingredient with a lower-impact, lower-cost alternative, without compromising product quality, is a win on every metric. ### Eco-Design for Value Designing products with environmental performance in mind from the start avoids costly retrofitting later. Products designed for resource efficiency, minimal waste, and optimal packaging tend to be cheaper to produce and distribute. ## Sustainability as Competitive Advantage Companies that master this balance, cutting costs through sustainability rather than despite it, build a durable competitive advantage. They operate more efficiently, face lower regulatory risk, command stronger positions with sustainability-conscious retailers, and build resilience against the resource scarcity and price volatility that will define the coming decade. The tightrope is real, but the data shows it can be walked. The companies that invest in understanding where cost and sustainability align will find that the path forward is wider than it appears. --- ## Add Sustainability Insights To The Tools Your Teams Already Use Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/add-sustainability-insights-to-the-tools-your-teams-already-use/ Published: 2025-04-30 · Author: Emily Deeks ## Sustained’s API Integrations If your team manages product data in a PLM or ERP system, you already have the source of truth for all of your products. Using Sustained’s flexible API integrations, you can embed powerful environmental impact data directly into the systems your teams already work with, no extra platforms or added complexity. Keep your workflows connected, avoid duplication, and put sustainability insights right where they’re needed most. ## Why Integrate Sustained Into Your Existing Tools? Sustained connects seamlessly with your existing platforms, delivering environmental insights directly into the tools your teams already use, whether for costing, formulation, procurement, or ingredient management. With our API, you can push real-time environmental impact data into your PLM or ERP systems. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) results, Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs), and other key sustainability metrics sit alongside your product data. This makes environmental performance part of everyday decision-making without disrupting workflows. ## What makes Sustained's API different? ✅ **Enterprise-grade LCA engine**Run full lifecycle assessments using best-in-class databases and methodologies. 🧠 **AI-powered data mapping**Automatically match your data to secondary datasets, even for complex and nested recipes. 📊 **Real-time reporting**Generate on-demand PCFs and PEF-aligned reports and feed those insights back into your core systems. 🌱 **Primary data ready**Incorporate supplier-specific emission factor data for more accurate Scope 3 and product-level reporting. ## Common Use Cases 1. **Product development & reformulation**Measure and reduce environmental impact early in the design process to respond to briefs efficiently and avoid late stage costly design changes. 2. **Supplier collaboration**Strengthen Scope 3 visibility by leveraging shared ingredient and packaging data. 3. **Sustainability & ESG reporting**Automate Scope 3 reporting by pulling data from the systems you already use, no spreadsheets required. **Using TraceGains or RecipeProfessor?** Sustained already integrates directly with both [TraceGains](https://tracegains.com/) and [Point74’s RecipeProfessor.](https://www.point74.co.uk/) If you're a customer of either, you can enable the integration today. Just reach out to your account manager for next steps. **Sustained meets your team where they work**No system switch. No duplicated effort. Just sustainability data delivered directly into your existing processes. 👉 [Get in touch](/help-centre/contact) to discuss integrating Sustained with your PLM or ERP --- ## Allocating Environmental Impact in LCA: Physical vs Economic Methods Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/lets-talk-about-allocation-in-lca/ Published: 2024-11-12 · Author: Matthias Reich ## ⌛ At a Glance 1. **The Importance of Allocation in LCA** Allocation divides environmental impacts among a process's multiple outputs, providing crucial insights for effective Life Cycle Assessments. 2. **Physical Allocation Explained** Distributes impacts based on each product’s physical quantity—ensuring proportional, straightforward allocation. 3. **Economic Allocation Overview** Assigns impact according to each output’s economic value, linking environmental responsibility to demand but adding complexity. 4. **Weighing the Pros and Cons** Physical allocation is simple but might miss underlying motivations, while economic allocation depends on market factors and can lead to biases. 5. **Current Guidelines from Key Standards** Standards like ISO and PEF prioritise physical allocation, though economic methods are allowed in certain cases to ensure relevance. ## 🔎 Full article What is Allocation in LCA, and Why Does it Matter? Anyone creating or reading Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies will eventually encounter the concept of allocation. Put simply, allocation is about dividing the environmental impacts of a process between its multiple outputs. Let’s break this down with an example: imagine an orange processing facility that produces two main outputs—orange juice and leftovers / peel and pulp . They are sold to a neighbouring company for uses like pectin production. ![Mass flows v2](/images/blog/lets-talk-about-allocation-in-lca/01.jpg) Because the facility produces two outputs, we need to distribute the environmental impacts of orange production, such as water used for irrigation, diesel for machinery, and land for growing oranges, between the juice and the pulp. The same applies to impacts from the processing facility prior to the point where they split paths, like the electricity used in pressing. The simplest approach to allocation would be to split the impacts equally between each output. For instance, if there are two outputs, each would receive half of the impact; with three, each would get a third, and so on. However, this uniform allocation approach doesn’t account for the actual quantity or significance of each output, so it’s not typically used in LCA studies. So, what other options are there? Physical Allocation: Measuring Impact by Production Output In Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental impacts are usually scaled based on physical properties. For instance, the impact of building and dismantling a power plant is spread across its total expected lifetime energy output. Similarly, an apple farm’s annual diesel use is divided by the total kilograms of apples produced to calculate the impact per kilogram. Accordingly, physical allocation distributes impacts according to the physical production amount of each output. In our example of the orange processing facility, that means allocating impacts proportionally to the mass of the two outputs (orange juice and pulp). This means that the environmental impact—represented by arrows in the Sankey diagram below—“flows” in proportion to the mass of each output. These arrows illustrate abstracted impacts rather than the actual material mass as in the previous diagram. ![Physical allocation v2](/images/blog/lets-talk-about-allocation-in-lca/02.jpg) As shown, the impact flows split according to the physical distribution of each product, aligning with the quantity of each output produced. Economic Allocation: Impact Allocation Based on Value So far, this physical allocation method makes intuitive sense. However, some argue that it doesn’t reflect the social responsibility tied to the demand for a product. The idea here is that if an output is more valuable than another one, it should bear a larger share of the environmental impact, as its higher value suggests it is the larger driver for producing the goods in the first place. In the case of orange juice and its co-products, let’s consider example prices: orange juice at $1,500 per ton and usable leftovers at $100 per ton. Since orange juice is worth 15 times more (i.e. 15/16 of the total), this approach would allocate the majority of the environmental impact to the juice rather than the lower-value co-products. ![Economic allocation v2 -1](/images/blog/lets-talk-about-allocation-in-lca/03.jpg) As shown in the diagram, most of the impact is assigned to the orange juice, while the co-products (and any resulting products like pectin) carry a much smaller portion of the impact. This value-based allocation results in a significantly reduced environmental impact associated with the peel and pulp co-product. Pros and Cons of Physical vs. Economic Allocation Both physical and economic allocation methods offer useful perspectives but come with distinct limitations. Physical allocation, while straightforward, doesn't capture the motivations behind a process—why it’s carried out in the first place—and becomes challenging when outputs have different physical units, like a factory producing goods but selling excess heat to nearby customers. Economic allocation, though it incorporates value and motivation, faces its own hurdles. It depends on prices, which are not always readily available. For example, if a co-product is used internally rather than sold, or if it’s something not commonly traded, price determination becomes tricky. Guinée et al., in Table 1 of their paper, outline these issues and offer various approaches, though some solutions—like using “public sources” when prices are unknown—may not yield reliable (or any) results. In particular for specific co-products that are only used internally, not publicly traded and thus don’t have an actual market value. Moreover, economic allocation can introduce unintended bias. Factors like fluctuating prices, distortions from subsidies, and non-existent markets for new products add complexity and risk, sometimes allowing for manipulation of impact assessment results if prices are estimated or set arbitrarily. Guidelines from ISO, PEF, and GHG Protocol ISO, as a globally recognised standard-setting body, outlines in its LCA requirements and guidelines (ISO 14044:2006) that physical allocation should be the primary approach when allocation is unavoidable, with economic allocation only as a fallback when physical allocation isn’t applicable. The EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) similarly prioritises physical allocation, requiring justification when non-physical allocation methods, like economic allocation, are used. However, certain PEF Category Rules do specify economic allocation for particular cases (e.g. for allocation between animal products and the manure as a co-product from animal husbandry). The GHG Protocol is somewhat broader, recommending physical allocation when available and most reflective of the causal relationship between outputs and emissions, but also allowing economic or alternative allocation methods if the physical properties do not capture the causal relationship adequately. Sustained’s Perspective on Allocation in LCA At Sustained, we believe that enabling companies to conduct LCAs effectively and at scale hinges on adhering to agreed standards, and we advocate for a unified approach across frameworks. The leading standards show a strong preference for physical allocation, which aligns with our own perspective. While challenging the status quo is essential to scientific progress—and there are valid cases for economic allocation—we believe that physical allocation currently provides the most robust basis for consistent and reliable impact assessments. ## Frequently Asked Question's (FAQ's) **What is allocation in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?** Allocation in LCA is the process of dividing the environmental impacts of a production process among multiple outputs. This division is crucial for accurate impact assessments and can be based on factors like physical production quantities or economic value. **What’s the difference between physical allocation and economic allocation in LCA?** Physical allocation distributes impacts based on measurable output quantities (e.g., weight or volume), while economic allocation assigns impacts according to the market value of each output. Both methods have pros and cons, and the choice can affect the LCA results. **Why is physical allocation often preferred in environmental impact assessments?** Physical allocation is widely recommended by standards like ISO and PEF because it offers a consistent, proportional approach to impact distribution. It avoids some of the complexities and potential biases associated with economic allocation, making it more reliable for large-scale, standardised LCAs. --- ## Eco-Design: The First Step Toward Sustainable Food Production Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/eco-design-the-first-step-toward-sustainable-food-production/ Published: 2024-09-16 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin When producing food, there are many factors that must be considered, and sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration. To make significant strides in reducing their environmental impact, food businesses are recognising the need to embed sustainability early in the development process, starting with product conception. This means integrating environmental considerations into both new and existing product development. Eco-design embodies this approach by incorporating sustainability principles from the outset, strategically minimising environmental impacts throughout a product’s lifecycle. At Sustained, we provide food businesses with the tools to seamlessly integrate and embed eco-design into their processes, transforming both new and existing product development (NPD/EPD). ## Understanding Eco-Design Eco-design involves considering environmental impacts at every stage of a product's lifecycle—from raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. The goal is to minimise negative impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and pollution while enhancing positive effects, such as recyclability and energy efficiency. This isn't just good for the planet—it makes business sense. Reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and catering to the growing consumer demand for sustainable products all add up to a compelling economic case. ## Why Start with Eco-Design? For food and beverage businesses, the bulk of environmental impact comes from Scope 3 emissions—those originating in the extended supply chain. To make progress, you need to scrutinise what goes into your products: the raw materials, their origins, and who supplies them. Integrating environmental considerations from the get-go allows you to make decisions that drastically cut your overall impact. That's the power of eco-design—building sustainability into your products from the ground up. This proactive approach delivers multiple payoffs: - **Reducing Costs**: Efficient resource use and waste reduction lead to cost savings. - **Enhancing Brand Value**: Meeting consumer demand for sustainable products improves brand reputation. - **Ensuring Compliance**: Staying ahead of regulatory requirements avoids potential fines and disruptions. ## Key Features of an Effective Eco-Design Solution An effective eco-design solution for food manufacturers should include: 1. **Comprehensive Impact Assessment**: Conduct life cycle assessments (LCAs) that evaluate environmental impacts from cradle to grave, ensuring you look beyond just the raw materials. It's about seeing the full picture. 2. **Real-Time Insights**: Provide immediate feedback on the environmental impact of changes, allowing users to quickly see the effects of different materials, processes, and sourcing decisions. Speed of computation is essential for making timely and informed decisions. 3. **Scenario Analysis and Comparison**: Enable modelling of different scenarios to simulate the environmental impact of various design choices and compare those side-by-side. 4. **User-Friendly Interface**: Ensure accessibility for non-experts to facilitate widespread adoption within an organisation. If it's not easy to use, it's not going to be used. 5. **Collaborative Tools**: Facilitate teamwork with shared access to data and insights, breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across departments. 6. **Custom Data Management**: Seamlessly integrate with existing data systems and incorporate primary and secondary data sources for more accurate modelling. 7. **Scalability**: Support large-scale operations and handle extensive product portfolios. It should grow with you and adapt to future needs. 8. **Integration with Product Development Tools**: Fit seamlessly into your current product development workflow. The goal is to avoid the inefficiencies and headaches of juggling multiple systems. ## The Sustained Advantage in Eco-Design At Sustained, we understand the unique challenges food manufacturers face in hitting sustainability targets. That’s why our eco-design platform isn’t just built to meet the challenge; it’s built to excel. We provide comprehensive impact assessments, covering everything from cradle to grave, ensuring you see the big picture and beyond. With our real-time insights, you get immediate feedback on the environmental impacts of every tweak you make, allowing for fast, informed decisions. Our platform also offers scenario analysis, enabling you to model and compare different design choices side-by-side, giving you a clear view of potential outcomes before they happen. The user-friendly interface is designed for experts and non-experts alike, ensuring widespread adoption across your organisation. Collaboration options break down silos, promoting teamwork with shared access to critical data and insights. And if you wish to keep things even simpler for your teams, our Sustained Integrate product will embed effortlessly into your existing product development tools. If scale is what you’re after, our APIs and bulk import capabilities ensure we can get all your products synchronised onto our system and our portfolio assessment tools will allow you to analyse the sustainability performance of your entire product range and simulate the impact of changes at a large scale. With scale comes regulatory compliance and our multi-methodological support ensures we can assist you across geographies and adapt to the various frameworks in place in the countries you work in. While our system currently supports the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol frameworks, with the Sustained or Foundation Earth eco-labelling methodologies on top, we are built in a way where we can support any number of methodologies to support the needs of our customers. ## Real-World Applications: NPD and EPD New Product Development (NPD) In NPD, eco-design can be embedded from the initial concept phase. Our tool allows teams to model different scenarios and choose ingredients, materials and processes that minimise environmental impact. For instance, by assessing the environmental impact of various packaging options, companies can select the most sustainable choice from the outset. Existing Product Development (EPD) For existing products, our tool provides insights into current environmental impacts and identifies areas for improvement. Companies can compare different production processes, ingredient sources, or distribution methods to find the most sustainable alternatives. This continuous improvement process not only reduces the overall environmental footprint but also aligns with corporate sustainability goals and regulatory requirements. ## Conclusion Eco-design is a must-have strategy for food businesses aiming to reduce their environmental impact and keep up with growing sustainability demands. At Sustained, we’ve created an eco-design platform that’s comprehensive, user-friendly, and scalable. Plug our tool into your NPD and EPD processes, and you’re not just ensuring your products stay high quality and competitive; you’re making them environmentally sustainable too. --- ## The Role of Biodiversity in Sustainable Food & Beverage Practices Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/from-farm-to-fork-the-role-of-biodiversity-in-sustainable-food-beverage-practices/ Published: 2024-08-05 · Author: Matthias Reich Let’s Talk About Biodiversity Most people now recognise that biodiversity is crucial, not just for endangered species but for entire ecosystems and, ultimately, for us and our food systems. However, there's still a lot of confusion about how our actions affect biodiversity, how to measure this impact, and how it compares to other environmental impact categories we're more familiar with. Can Impact on Biodiversity be Quantified? Quantifying the impact on biodiversity is challenging because various factors contribute in different ways. Unlike other environmental impact categories, such as global warming potential, where different gases can be compared to CO2 based on their radiation absorption and atmospheric persistence, biodiversity is influenced by a range of factors and manners. These include climate change, water deprivation, land transformation for agriculture or urban development, which affects species' habitats, and contamination by toxic substances. In Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) terminology, biodiversity loss is considered an endpoint indicator rather than a midpoint indicator. For example, global warming potential is a midpoint indicator that measures greenhouse gas emissions linearly, while climate change is an endpoint indicator that considers complex feedback loops and interactions, making it harder to quantify. Similarly, determining the impact on biodiversity involves understanding the different and sometimes interdependent effects like that of water resource depletion, habitat conversion, and regional climate change. In summary, measuring and comparing the impact on biodiversity from various sources is a complex challenge with no consensus in academia or industry yet. However, there are multiple approaches worth exploring to better understand and address this critical issue. What Approaches Are Out There? One methodology that proposes a biodiversity score is [ReCiPe](https://pre-sustainability.com/articles/recipe/), which calculates a value for damages to species labelled as "Damage to Ecosystem." This score is composed of several midpoint indicators, including global warming, water use, freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, tropospheric ozone (eco), terrestrial ecotoxicity, terrestrial acidification, land use/transformation, and marine ecotoxicity. Similarly, [Eco-Indicator 99](https://pre-sustainability.com/articles/eco-indicator-99-manuals/)’s "Damage to Ecosystem Quality" measures biodiversity loss and informs its single score impact value, considering factors like land use, acidification, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity. [LC-Impact](https://lc-impact.eu/)'s "Ecosystem Quality" category includes climate change, photochemical ozone formation, acidification, eutrophication, toxicity, land stress, and water stress. These examples illustrate that there is no consensus on which impact categories should be included in a biodiversity impact assessment. However, the various approaches can still be useful for understanding the common midpoint categories generally considered when attempting to quantify biodiversity impacts. These categories should be examined when translating an LCA study to impacts on biodiversity. Does PEF Evaluate Impacts on Biodiversity? As we have explained [in a previous blog,](/blog/why-use-the-product-environmental-footprint-pef-framework-for-lca)[PEF](https://green-business.ec.europa.eu/environmental-footprint-methods_en) (Product Environmental Footprint) is our primary methodology. Given the importance of biodiversity, it's essential to know that PEF evaluates a product’s impact on biodiversity effectively. While PEF does not group midpoint indicators into a specific biodiversity indicator, it still provides valuable insights into biodiversity impacts due to its holistic approach. PEF assesses environmental impacts broadly, covering the impact categories generally used to rate biodiversity impact, along with others like human health and resource depletion. To understand biodiversity impact with PEF, the following PEF impact categories are crucial and available in your Sustained Impact workspace: climate change, acidification, eutrophication (terrestrial, freshwater, marine), land use, ecotoxicity, and water use. These categories ensure an understanding of a product’s impact on biodiversity within the PEF framework. ![Heading (5)](/images/blog/from-farm-to-fork-the-role-of-biodiversity-in-sustainable-food-beverage-practices/01.png) In conclusion, understanding and quantifying the impact on biodiversity is a complex challenge due to the variety of contributing factors. Various methodologies, including ReCiPe, Eco-Indicator 99, LC-Impact, and PEF, offer different approaches to assess these impacts. While there is not yet consensus on the specific impact categories to include, these methods provide valuable frameworks for evaluating biodiversity. PEF, in particular, offers a comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts, including key categories relevant to biodiversity. By focusing on these categories, we can gain better insights into how products affect biodiversity and make more informed decisions to protect our ecosystems. At Sustained, we are committed to staying ahead of industry developments. We monitor how the industry is evolving, and when a consensus is reached, we will implement relevant methodology updates. This ensures that our tools and assessments remain at the forefront of scientific and industry standards, helping businesses make the most informed and impactful decisions for biodiversity protection. --- ## Greenwashing: The Cost, How to Spot It, and How to Avoid It Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/greenwashing-the-cost-how-to-spot-it-and-how-to-avoid-it/ Published: 2024-07-18 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin **Greenwashing: The Cost, How to Spot It, and How to Avoid It** As the landscape of sustainability evolves, both consumers and regulators are paying closer attention to the authenticity of environmental claims. The rise of greenwashing—misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product or service—poses significant risks to companies, particularly in the food manufacturing and food service sectors. This blog will explore the history of greenwashing and what regulators are doing about it before deep-diving into its real cost, how to spot it, and how to avoid it. **The history of greenwashing** As sustainability became a market driver in the past decade, many companies began to exploit this trend by exaggerating or fabricating their green credentials. This not only misled consumers but also created an uneven playing field for genuinely sustainable businesses. Europe, having long been a leader in consumer protection and sustainability initiatives, paired with the increasing consumer demand for transparency and the rising incidents of greenwashing, have prompted European regulators to take decisive action. **The Green Claims Directive** As the primary tool against greenwashing, the European Union (EU) has introduced the Green Claims Directive, a regulatory framework aimed at curbing greenwashing. This directive requires companies to substantiate their environmental claims with credible, scientific evidence, thereby ensuring transparency and protecting consumers from misleading information. Companies must therefore base their sustainability claims on thorough and scientifically backed assessments, such as product-level Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). ## The Real Cost of Greenwashing Understanding the real cost of greenwashing is crucial for businesses aiming to maintain their integrity and consumer trust. Greenwashing not only jeopardises brand reputation but also incurs significant financial and regulatory risks. Here’s a closer look at the potential costs: 1. **Loss of Brand Credibility** - **Consumer Trust**: Today’s consumers are more informed and discerning about sustainability. A single instance of greenwashing can erode trust, leading to long-term damage to your brand's reputation. - **Market Position**: Brands positioned as sustainable can suffer a significant blow if found guilty of greenwashing, losing their competitive edge and market share. 2. **Monetary Costs** - **Fines and Penalties**: Under the Green Claims Directive, companies can face substantial fines for making unsubstantiated environmental claims. These financial penalties can be severe and may include costs related to legal defences. - **Operational Disruptions**: Investigations into greenwashing claims can disrupt normal business operations, diverting resources and focus away from core activities. 3. **Regulatory Scrutiny** - **Increased Oversight**: Being caught greenwashing can lead to heightened scrutiny from regulatory bodies, resulting in more frequent and rigorous inspections and audits. - **Compliance Costs**: Adapting to new compliance requirements post-incident can be costly and time-consuming. 4. **Consumer Backlash** - **Negative Publicity**: Social media and the 24-hour news cycle can amplify negative news, leading to widespread public backlash. - **Boycotts**: Consumers may choose to boycott products or brands involved in greenwashing, directly impacting sales and profitability. ## How to Spot Greenwashing Spotting greenwashing is essential for both consumers and businesses to ensure that sustainability claims are genuine. By identifying misleading practices, stakeholders can make more informed decisions. Here are some key indicators of greenwashing: 1. **Vague Claims** - **Watch for Terms Like "Eco-Friendly" or "Natural"**: Without specific evidence or context, these terms are often used to mislead. - **Check for Certifications**: Reliable certifications and labels from recognised organisations can indicate legitimate sustainability efforts. This infographic by [The Sustainable Agency](https://thesustainableagency.com/blog/sustainability-certifications-and-ecolabels-guide/) provides a useful reference. [](https://thesustainableagency.com/blog/sustainability-certifications-and-ecolabels-guide/) 2. **Lack of Transparency** - **Incomplete Information**: If a company provides limited information about how their product is sustainable, it might be greenwashing. - **No Data or Evidence**: Legitimate claims should be supported by data, such as detailed LCAs or environmental impact assessments. Look at the small print! 3. **Irrelevant Claims** - **Highlighting Minor Positive Attributes**: Be wary of companies that emphasise minor green attributes while ignoring more significant environmental impacts. - **Disproportionate Focus**: Overstating the importance of a single green aspect while neglecting other environmental harms is a red flag. For example, from [Greenhive](https://www.greenhive.io/blog/greenwashing-examples) "If a company heavily promotes a minor environmental aspect of its product, it might be diverting attention from more significant issues. This tactic, often referred to as "window dressing," involves highlighting a small positive attribute while downplaying or ignoring more substantial environmental concerns related to the product's lifecycle. For instance, a fast-food chain might proudly advertise its use of biodegradable packaging while neglecting to address the larger environmental impact of its supply chain, which could include deforestation for beef production or excessive water usage." 4. **False Labels or Imagery** - **Misleading Symbols**: Use of green imagery or symbols without clear meaning or certification can be deceptive. - **Brand-Specific Labels**: Beware of proprietary labels that are not backed by third-party verification. ## How to Avoid Greenwashing Avoiding greenwashing is imperative for maintaining consumer trust and complying with regulations. Businesses can ensure their sustainability claims are credible and defensible by following best practices. Here’s how to avoid greenwashing: 1. **Invest in Credible LCAs** - **Product-Level Assessments**: Conduct thorough Life Cycle Assessments at the product level to understand and document environmental impacts accurately. - **Scientific Backing**: Use reputable methodologies and third-party verifications to ensure your claims are science-based. 2. **Transparency and Honesty** - **Full Disclosure**: Provide comprehensive information about your sustainability efforts and the data supporting your claims. - **Admit Limitations**: Be honest about areas where you are still working to improve and avoid overstating achievements. 3. **Continuous Improvement** - **Ongoing Assessments**: Regularly update your LCAs and sustainability reports to reflect the latest data and improvements. - **Stakeholder Engagement**: Involve stakeholders in your sustainability journey and incorporate their feedback. 4. **Compliance with Regulations** - **Stay Updated**: Keep abreast of the latest regulatory requirements and ensure your claims comply with the Green Claims Directive. [The European Commission website](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/green-claims_en) provides up to date information. - **Legal Review**: Have your marketing materials reviewed by legal experts to ensure compliance and avoid potential pitfalls. At Sustained, we help you navigate the complexities of sustainability claims with our Sustained Impact platform. By providing detailed, product-level LCAs following the leading Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) or GHG Protocol methods, we ensure your environmental claims are credible and defensible. Avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing and build a trusted, sustainable brand with science-backed evidence. --- ## Decoding Environmental Buzzwords: Five Terms You Need to Know (Part 2) Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/decoding-environmental-buzzwords-five-terms-you-need-to-know-part-2/ Published: 2024-07-10 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin The world of sustainability is complex. Using precise terminology makes it simpler. Misunderstandings or misuse of terms can lead to confusion in communication, strategy development, and ultimately in achieving strategic goals. In [a recent blog](/blog/decoding-environmental-buzzwords-5-key-terms-you-need-to-know) we covered part one of this post, in part two, we'll delve into five more pairs of commonly misused environmental terms, providing clear definitions and distinctions for each. By understanding the nuances between these terms, you'll gain clarity on how and when to use them effectively. ### 6. Recycling vs. Upcycling - **Recycling:** The process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Recycling typically involves breaking down the material to create new products of the same type or lower quality. - **Upcycling:** Reusing discarded objects or materials in a way that creates a product of higher quality or value than the original. Upcycling often involves creativity and craftsmanship to transform waste into something more desirable. **Difference:** Recycling involves breaking down materials to form new products, often resulting in a loss of material quality. Upcycling maintains the original material's quality or enhances it, creating something of higher value. Example: Recycling glass bottles involves melting them down to make new glass products. Upcycling would involve taking an old wooden pallet and converting it into a stylish piece of furniture, adding value through craftsmanship. ### 7. Climate Change vs. Global Warming - **Climate Change:** Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth’s climate system. Climate change encompasses a wide range of phenomena, including shifts in weather patterns, more intense and frequent extreme weather events (such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall), changes in ocean currents, melting ice caps and glaciers, and rising sea levels. It is driven by both natural processes and human activities, with the latter being the dominant factor in recent centuries due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases from activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. - **Global Warming:** Specific aspect of climate change referring to the increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The primary cause of global warming is the enhanced greenhouse effect, where gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) trap more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to higher global temperatures. **Difference:** While Global Warming refers specifically to the rise in global temperatures due to human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases, Climate Change encompasses the broader array of changes occurring in our climate system, including temperature rises, but also other changes such as altered precipitation patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns. Global warming is a major component of climate change, but climate change includes all of the diverse and interconnected effects that arise from this warming. Example: Global Warming can be observed in the consistent increase in average global temperatures measured over the past century. Climate Change is evident in the broader effects of this warming, such as the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, prolonged droughts in some regions, changing agricultural conditions, shifts in wildlife populations and migration patterns, and rising sea levels threatening coastal communities. ### 8. Environmental Footprint vs. Carbon Footprint - **Environmental Footprint:** A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems, including resource consumption and waste generation. It encompasses a wide range of environmental impacts, such as water use, land use, pollution and biodiversity loss. It provides a comprehensive overview of how an individual's or organisation's activities affect the planet's ecosystems and natural resources. Environmental footprints help identify areas where sustainable practices can be implemented to reduce overall environmental impact. - **Carbon Footprint:** A measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, organisation, event, or product, expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2e). It includes emissions from activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial processes. The carbon footprint focuses specifically on the contribution to global warming and climate change. **Difference:** Environmental Footprint is a broader measure that includes various types of environmental impacts, while Carbon Footprint focuses specifically on greenhouse gas emissions. Example: A company's Environmental Footprint might include the amount of water used in manufacturing, the land occupied by its facilities, and the waste generated during production. Its Carbon Footprint, on the other hand, would calculate the CO2 emissions from its energy use, transportation, and other processes that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. ### 9. Zero Waste vs. Circular Economy - **Zero Waste:** A goal to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration by reusing, recycling, and reducing consumption. The aim is to achieve as close to zero waste as possible. - **Circular Economy:** Economic system aimed at eliminating waste and continually using resources. It involves redesigning products and processes to keep materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. **Difference:** Zero Waste focuses on reducing waste generation and maximising recycling, while Circular Economy encompasses a broader systemic change to design out waste and keep materials in use, creating a closed-loop system. Example: A company implementing Zero Waste practices might set up comprehensive recycling and composting programs to minimise landfill waste. Embracing a Circular Economy would involve redesigning products for durability, reparability, and recyclability to keep materials in use indefinitely. ### 10. Cradle-to-Gate vs. Cradle-to-Grave - **Cradle-to-Gate:** An assessment of a product’s environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the factory gate, before it reaches the consumer. - **Cradle-to-Grave:** An assessment of a product’s environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials through its entire lifecycle, including production, use, and disposal (grave). **Difference:** Cradle-to-Gate focuses on the impacts up to the point where the product leaves the factory. Cradle-to-Grave considers the entire lifecycle of the product, including its use and disposal. Read more about the importance of system boundaries when communicating life cycle assessment (LCA) results. Example: A Cradle-to-Gate assessment of a smartphone would measure the environmental impact from raw material extraction to assembly. A Cradle-to-Grave assessment would include the impact of the smartphone during its use by consumers and its eventual disposal or recycling. - **Cradle to Shelf:** This term refers to the assessment of a product’s environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) through the manufacturing process and transportation to the point of sale (shelf). It does not include the use phase of the product or its end-of-life disposal. Cradle to shelf assessments are often used by businesses to understand the environmental impact of their products up to the point they are sold, allowing them to identify opportunities for reducing impacts in the supply chain and production stages. - **Cradle to Grave:** This term refers to the assessment of a product’s environmental impact from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) through its entire life cycle, including manufacturing, transportation, use, and final disposal (grave). Cradle to grave provides a comprehensive overview of the total environmental impact of a product, considering all stages of its life, which helps in making more sustainable choices by understanding the long-term effects. **Difference:** While Cradle to Shelf focuses on the environmental impacts only up to the point of sale, Cradle to Grave includes the full life cycle of the product, encompassing its use and disposal phases. While Cradle to Shelf is useful for businesses looking to improve production and supply chain sustainability, it lacks the complete picture provided by a Cradle to Grave, which would allow for improvements of a product’s impact over its entire life cycle. Example: A company might use a Cradle to Shelf analysis to determine the impact associated with producing and transporting a product to the store. In contrast, if a Cradle to Grave analysis were performed, it would be able to reformulate a product in full consciousness of the impacts of the proposed changes across the entire life cycle of the product leaving no surprises behind. **10. EIA vs. LCA** - **Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):** A process that evaluates the environmental effects of a proposed project or development before it begins. It considers potential impacts on the environment, including social, cultural, and economic aspects, and proposes measures to mitigate negative effects. - **Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):** A method used to assess the environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life, from raw material extraction through to disposal. LCA provides a comprehensive view of the environmental aspects and potential impacts throughout a product’s lifecycle. **Difference:** EIA is project-focused and is typically conducted before a project is implemented to predict and mitigate potential environmental impacts. LCA is product-focused and examines the environmental impacts throughout the entire lifecycle of a product, from cradle to grave. Example: An EIA might be conducted before constructing a new factory to assess potential impacts on local ecosystems and propose mitigation strategies. An LCA might be conducted for a new type of packaging to evaluate its environmental impacts from material extraction to disposal. ## Conclusion Understanding the precise meaning of these terms is crucial for effective communication and impactful action in sustainability. By distinguishing between these commonly misused pairs, you can ensure your messaging is clear and accurate, fostering better collaboration and decision-making. At Sustained, we go beyond merely defining these terms; we provide comprehensive solutions to help businesses measure and reduce their environmental impact across multiple dimensions. Our tools and expertise support your journey toward sustainability, from reducing environmental footprints starting from the products you manufacture or sell, to preserving biodiversity or achieving net zero commitments. Partner with us to navigate the complexities of environmental impact and drive meaningful change in your organisation. --- ## Understanding and Reducing Scope 3 Emissions in Hospitality Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/understanding-and-reducing-scope-3-emissions-in-hospitality/ Published: 2024-07-08 · Author: Emily Deeks The hospitality industry, particularly its food and beverage (F&B) sector, is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scope 3 emissions, which occur indirectly in the value chain, form a major part of this impact. These emissions include those from the production, transportation, and disposal of food and beverages, making their management crucial for any sustainability strategy. To help, we recently partnered with The Sustainable Restaurant Association to create a guide 'Understanding Scope 3 in Hospitality'. Download the full guide from[The Sustainable Restaurant Association here.](https://thesra.org/news-insights/news/download-your-free-guide-to-understanding-scope-3-emissions-in-fb/) ## What Are Food and Beverage Related Scope 3 Emissions? Scope 3 emissions in the F&B sector of hospitality are indirect emissions that occur from activities not owned or directly controlled by the hotel but that the hotel indirectly impacts in its value chain. These emissions stem from several stages, including: - Agricultural Production: Emissions from farming activities, use of fertilisers, and energy consumption. - Processing and Manufacturing: Energy and resources used in converting raw agricultural products into consumable food items. - Packaging: Production and disposal of packaging materials. - Transportation: Emissions from transporting ingredients from farms to processing units and then to sites. - Waste Management: Disposal and treatment of food and packaging waste, which can generate methane, a potent GHG. ## Importance of Addressing F&B Related Scope 3 Emissions For the hospitality industry, addressing Scope 3 emissions is essential due to several factors: 1. **Environmental Impact:**The F&B sector is a significant contributor to GHG emissions, the global food system contributes to up to 37% of total annual emissions. Addressing these emissions can drastically reduce the overall carbon footprint of a hospitality business. 2. **Regulatory Compliance:**Increasingly, governments and regulatory bodies are mandating the reporting and reduction of GHG emissions, including Scope 3. 3. **Consumer Demand:**Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and prefer businesses that demonstrate sustainability practices. ## Measuring and Managing Scope 3 Emissions with Sustained Sustained is designed to help food and beverage companies measure, report, and reduce their Scope 3 emissions. For the hospitality industry, Sustained provides comprehensive solutions to address the challenges associated with F&B related emissions: 1. **Data Collection and Analysis:** Sustained helps you efficiently upload your data with AI assisted upload, batch uploads and API integrations. This data is crucial for understanding the emissions associated with each stage of the lifecycle. 2. **Emission Hotspot Identification**: By analysing the data, Sustained identifies key areas where emissions are highest. This allows businesses to focus their efforts on the most impactful areas first. 3. **Supplier Engagement:** Sustained facilitates better collaboration with suppliers to encourage sustainable practices. This includes selecting suppliers that use environmentally friendly farming and processing methods, and connecting workspaces with your supply chain, to securely share product footprint data. 4. **Reporting and Compliance:** Sustained ensures that all emissions data is accurately reported in compliance with international standards and regulatory requirements. This transparency not only helps in legal compliance but also builds trust with consumers and stakeholders. ## Strategies for Reducing F&B Related Scope 3 Emissions To effectively reduce F&B related Scope 3 emissions, the following strategies can be implemented: 1. Sustainable Sourcing: Prioritise suppliers that adhere to sustainable farming practices, use fewer chemical fertilisers, and have lower carbon footprints. Consider joining initiatives like the Sustainable Food Trust to enhance sourcing practices. 2. Local Procurement: Sourcing ingredients from farms who can provide farm level data to make informed swaps. Sourcing locally can minimise transportation emissions. 3. Seasonal Menus: Design menus based on seasonal availability of ingredients, reducing the need for long-distance transportation and storage, which can be energy-intensive. 4. Waste Reduction Programs: Implement comprehensive waste reduction programs. This includes training staff on waste reduction techniques, offering smaller portion sizes, and donating excess food to local charities. 5. Packaging Innovations: Reduce the use of single-use plastics and opt for biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials. Partner with suppliers who use sustainable packaging solutions. 6. Energy-efficient Kitchen Equipment: Invest in energy-efficient kitchen appliances and promote practices that reduce energy consumption during food preparation. 7. Just in time Ordering and Production: Minimise storage duration which can be a significant contributor to overall impact. ## Benefits of Addressing F&B Related Scope 3 Emissions By focusing on reducing F&B related Scope 3 emissions, hospitality businesses can achieve multiple benefits: - Environmental Impact: Significant reduction in overall GHG emissions contributes to global climate change mitigation efforts. - Regulatory Advantage: Staying ahead of regulatory requirements can prevent future compliance issues and potential fines. - Brand Reputation: Enhancing a hotel's reputation as a sustainable business attracts eco-conscious consumers and can lead to increased customer loyalty. - Operational Efficiency: Streamlining operations and reducing waste can lead to cost savings and improved profitability. - Market Differentiation: Demonstrating leadership in sustainability can differentiate a hotel from its competitors. ## Conclusion Reducing food and beverage related Scope 3 emissions is not only a critical component of your sustainability strategy but also a business imperative in today's environmentally conscious market. The journey towards sustainability begins with accurate measurement and deep understanding of where emissions originate. Solutions like Sustained Impact help businesses measure, report, and reduce their impact, providing the data and insights necessary to identify and act on emission hotspots effectively. By focusing on data-driven strategies such as sustainable menu design, and reformulating recipes and supply chains for better environmental outcomes, hospitality businesses can make significant strides towards environmental sustainability. For more information on how Sustained can help your business reduce its carbon footprint, please get in touch. Download the full guide from[The Sustainable Restaurant Association here.](https://thesra.org/news-insights/news/download-your-free-guide-to-understanding-scope-3-emissions-in-fb/) --- ## Decoding Environmental Buzzwords: Five Terms You Need to Know (Part 1) Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/decoding-environmental-buzzwords-5-key-terms-you-need-to-know/ Published: 2024-07-03 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin The world of sustainability is complex. Using precise terminology makes it simpler. Misunderstandings or misuse of terms can lead to confusion in communication, strategy development, and ultimately in achieving strategic goals. At Sustained, we recognise the importance of clarity in navigating this evolving landscape. Our expertise lies in providing accurate insights and tools to help businesses effectively measure and reduce their environmental footprint across various dimensions, from carbon emissions to biodiversity preservation. In part one this blog post, we'll delve into five pairs of commonly misused environmental terms, providing clear definitions and distinctions for each. By understanding the nuances between these terms, you'll gain clarity on how and when to use them effectively. **1. Net Zero vs. Carbon Neutral** - **Net Zero:** Originally defined by the IPCC as balancing greenhouse gas emissions with their removal, "net zero" has evolved, especially with guidelines from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). To achieve net zero, organisations must significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions before offsetting the remaining emissions. This approach underscores the importance of ambitious emission reductions, allowing offsetting only for the residual emissions that cannot be eliminated through direct actions. This rigorous definition ensures that companies are genuinely working towards minimising their environmental impact, rather than relying solely on offsets. - **Carbon Neutral:** This term generally means that a company balances its greenhouse gas emissions with an equivalent amount of carbon offset. However, the term is less regulated, which has led to its use as a catch-all phrase. As a result, some companies have adopted "carbon neutral" without making significant efforts to reduce their emissions, relying primarily on offsets. This has contributed to a perception that "carbon neutral" can be a superficial commitment to sustainability. **Difference:** While "Net Zero" requires substantial emission reductions before offsetting, making it a more rigorous commitment, "Carbon Neutral" can sometimes be seen as a less stringent option, with the potential for companies to meet their goals without significant emission reductions. Net Zero is now the gold standard for ambitious climate action, requiring transparency and accountability in emissions reduction. Example: A company pursuing Net Zero would implement comprehensive measures to cut emissions across its operations, such as transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices. Any remaining emissions would be offset through high-quality, verified carbon credits. In contrast, a company claiming to be Carbon Neutral might purchase carbon credits to offset its entire emissions footprint without necessarily reducing its emissions first. ## 2. Carbon Offset vs. Carbon Credit - **Carbon Credit:** A carbon credit is a permit that allows the holder to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, typically one metric ton. These credits are part of regulated cap-and-trade systems or carbon markets established by governments or international agreements. In these systems, a cap is set on the total allowable emissions, and companies receive or purchase a limited number of credits. Companies that reduce their emissions below their allocated credits can sell their excess credits to others. Carbon credits are primarily used by certain industries (such as energy production, manufacturing, and aviation) to comply with legal emission limits. - **Carbon Offset:** A carbon offset represents a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. Offsets are generated by voluntary projects such as reforestation, renewable energy installations, or methane capture initiatives. These projects are often certified by independent organisations but are less regulated than carbon credits. Individuals and organisations purchase carbon offsets to voluntarily compensate for their emissions, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality or support environmental sustainability. **Difference:** The key difference lies in their regulation and audience. Carbon credits are used in regulated markets and are essential for industries to meet legal emission caps. Carbon offsets, on the other hand, are used voluntarily by individuals and organisations to mitigate their carbon footprint and support specific environmental projects. Carbon credits create a market for trading emission permits, while carbon offsets fund initiatives that reduce emissions directly. It should be noted that neither of those are a replacement for reducing a company’s emissions. They are merely tools to help after efforts have been made to reduce their footprint to the maximum. Example: A manufacturing company might purchase carbon credits to comply with emission regulations within a cap-and-trade system. In contrast, the same company could invest in carbon offsets to compensate for its remaining emissions by supporting a reforestation project, thereby enhancing its sustainability profile. ## 3. Sustainability vs. Environmental Impact - **Sustainability:** This refers to practices that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability encompasses a broad range of factors, including economic viability, social equity, and environmental protection. - **Environmental Impact:** This specifically refers to the effect that a company's actions have on the environment. It includes factors like emissions, resource consumption, waste generation, and biodiversity loss. **Difference:** Sustainability is a holistic approach that includes economic and social dimensions along with environmental concerns, aiming for long-term balance. Environmental Impact is a more specific measure of the direct and indirect effects on the environment and is a component of sustainability. Example: A sustainable agricultural practice would consider soil health, water use, and social impacts on local communities such as job creation and economic benefits. Measuring the environmental impact of the same practice would focus specifically on factors like greenhouse gas emissions, water usage or soil erosion. ## 4. Green Energy vs. Clean Energy - **Green Energy:** Energy generated from natural, renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal. These sources are considered environmentally friendly because they have a minimal impact on the environment. - **Clean Energy:** Any form of energy that produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions. This includes not only renewable sources like solar and wind but also nuclear energy, which, while not renewable, has low emissions during operation. **Difference:** Green Energy is strictly from renewable sources with minimal environmental impact, while Clean Energy includes any low-emission energy sources, including non-renewables like nuclear power. Example: A solar power plant represents Green Energy as it harnesses renewable energy from the sun. A nuclear power plant represents Clean Energy because it produces electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions, even though it relies on finite resources. ## 5. Biodegradable vs. Compostable - **Biodegradable:** Materials that can be broken down by microorganisms over time into natural substances like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. The term does not specify the timeframe or conditions needed for decomposition. - **Compostable:** Materials that decompose under specific composting conditions into nutrient-rich soil without leaving toxic residue. Compostable materials break down more quickly and completely under controlled conditions, typically within a commercial or home composting environment. **Difference:** Biodegradable materials can take varying amounts of time to break down and might require specific conditions, whereas compostable materials are designed to break down efficiently and safely in composting systems. Example: A biodegradable plastic bag might break down in a landfill over several years. In contrast, a compostable food container would break down in a composting facility within a few months, turning into useful compost for soil enrichment. Understanding the precise meanings of these key environmental terms is vital for clear communication and effective sustainability strategies. Using these distinctions, you can enhance collaboration and decision-making within your organisation. At Sustained, we provide comprehensive solutions to help businesses measure and minimise their environmental impact across various dimensions. Stay tuned for part two, where we’ll decode five more essential environmental buzzwords. [Read Part 2](/blog/decoding-environmental-buzzwords-five-terms-you-need-to-know-part-2) --- ## Understanding System Boundaries in Life Cycle Assessment Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/understanding-system-boundaries-in-life-cycle-assessment/ Published: 2024-06-11 · Author: Matthias Reich ## What are System Boundaries? System boundaries are crucial for Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). They define what processes and stages across a product's life cycle are considered in the assessment and which are not. Think of it like knowing the breakdown of the total cost of a product, such as delivery fees and taxes. Without this complete picture, it’s hard to understand the true cost. In LCAs, clearly defined system boundaries help reduce uncertainty. Most methodologies and standards require these boundaries to be explicitly stated in reports. However, misunderstandings can still arise if the boundaries aren’t clearly communicated, similar to how unexpected fees can surprise online shoppers. ## What to Look Out For Sometimes, studies set narrow system boundaries to focus on specific aspects. For instance, a food producer might compare two types of plastic for bottles, assuming other factors like ingredients and shelf life remain constant. This makes it easier to understand the impact of the plastic alone. While it’s easy to mistake this for a comprehensive assessment of the entire product lifecycle, it’s important to not view the relative reduction of a specific aspect, as the relative reduction of the whole. Consider an analogy: if one product is £1 and another is £2, but both have a £10 delivery fee, the price difference is much smaller when you include the fee. Similarly, LCA results can be misleading if the system boundaries don’t account for the entire lifecycle. Other studies might omit the use phase of a product, which can bias the results. Products that shift final production steps to consumers might appear more environmentally friendly than they are, if the use phase is not within the system boundaries. Always check the system boundaries when comparing the outcomes of LCA studies. ## PEF Requirements for System Boundaries The EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology sets comprehensive standards for LCA system boundaries: "The system boundary shall be defined following a general supply-chain logic, including all stages from raw material acquisition and pre-processing, production of the main product, product distribution and storage, use stage and end of life treatment of the product (if appropriate)." It includes all stages from raw material acquisition to end-of-life treatment, ensuring a holistic view. However, some exclusions are standardised, such as for intermediate products like B2B apple juice concentrate, which is sold upstream to be used as part of a consumer product, where the use and end-of-life stages are excluded. The thinking there is, that these will be covered in the final product’s LCA and this way, the intermediate products calculated impact can directly be plugged into the latter’s assessment, to avoid double counting. The important aspect here is, that the final product still covers the whole lifecycle including that of the intermediate products’ sourcing and manufacturing while a manufacturer has information about the ingredients they purchase. ## Of Cradles, Gates, and Graves While the System Boundaries also define what to consider along the path of a product’s life, a terminology and concept that people are more and more familiar with is that of start-to-end point of an assessment. Common terms include: 1. **Cradle-to-Gate -**This means that an assessment covers the flow from the sourcing of the raw materials (cradle) to the factory gate where a customer or distributor picks the product up. 2. **Cradle-to-Customer -**This describes the same as the above, but includes the distribution to the customer. This is for example applied in PEF for intermediate products where the customer processes that product further. 3. **Cradle-to-Shelf -**This is similar to the one above, and starts from the sourcing of the materials but extends into the shelf at the supermarket. 4. **Cradle-to-Fork -**This is a term that is sometimes used in the context of food, where the preparation of it is included in the system boundaries. 5. **Cradle-to-Grave**This, too, starts with the sourcing of the materials but covers the whole life cycle to the disposal of the packaging and food waste at the consumer's'. This is applied in PEF for final products. ![System Boundaries Blog Diagram (2)](/images/blog/understanding-system-boundaries-in-life-cycle-assessment/01.svg) System boundaries are fundamental to LCAs, defining the scope and influencing the results. Misunderstandings can occur if these boundaries aren’t clear, but standardised frameworks like PEF help mitigate this. At Sustained aim provide clear and understandable reports using PEF, you can find out more about why we use PEF in this blog. If you'd like to test automated LCA for your one your products, [sign up for a free 2 week trial](/#book-demo). --- ## How automating product footprinting for your portfolio can accelerate supply chain decarbonisation Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/stop-guessing-start-assessing-prioritise-impact-reduction-efforts-with-broad-coverage-of-product-level-insights/ Published: 2024-06-05 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin In today's rapidly changing business landscape, sustainability has become more than just a buzzword—it's a strategic imperative. As companies strive to decarbonise their own operations alongside their supply chain, minimise their environmental footprint and meet evolving consumer expectations, the need for data-driven decision-making has never been more critical. For food manufacturers, this means embarking on a sustainability journey that requires careful planning and strategic action. At Sustained, we understand that this journey is best tackled step by step, and our technology solutions are designed to guide you through this process. [Product-level Life Cycle Assessments](/blog/intro-to-lifecycle-assessment) (LCAs) offer a powerful tool for understanding the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. [In a previous blog](/blog/why-carbon-accounting-and-product-level-lcas-go-hand-in-hand) we looked into the [synergy between carbon accounting and product-level LCAs](/blog/why-carbon-accounting-and-product-level-lcas-go-hand-in-hand), and shed light on the vital role the latter play in identifying environmental hotspots and guiding impactful sustainability initiatives. Building on this foundation, we explore in this article how achieving broad product coverage is essential for effectively prioritising impact reduction efforts. ## Identifying the right solution for your needs When considering investing in technological solutions for your sustainability needs, starting with a small sample of products to validate the platform’s suitability is a valid and recommended approach, and one we use with most of our customers. However, once validated, we advocate for broadening the scope by onboarding all products rather than focusing solely on increasing the accuracy through first party and primary data coverage of a small set. In the following sections, we'll delve into the reasons why this broader approach is crucial for accelerating your sustainability efforts. ## The challenge of data collection Many companies are hesitant to embark on large-scale LCAs due to the extensive data collection required. This process can seem daunting and resource-intensive, often discouraging companies from starting their sustainability journey altogether. However, while comprehensive data collection is necessary in the long run, it shouldn’t deter you from taking the first steps. Sustainability is a journey, and as with most journeys, it doesn’t happen overnight. Start with the little data you have. We supplement any gaps with regional defaults and secondary data to get you to actionable insights as soon as possible. Remember, starting small is better than not starting at all, and over time, you can refine your products and replace those defaults with the data you collected. ## A Step-by-Step Journey to Impact Reduction ### Step 1: Start with the Data You Have To get started with Sustained Impact, you only need the following basic information: - Generic product details: Product name, ID, net amount, solid vs liquid and category - Ingredient information: Ingredient names and amounts. - Packaging information: Packaging types (ie. bottle, box etc.), materials (ie. PET, Cardboard etc.), and amounts. Everything else can be defaulted initially and gradually replaced with more precise data as you collaborate with your supply chain over time, providing increasingly accurate insights as you progress. ### Step 2: Quantity Over Quality to Start Begin by onboarding all your food products into the Sustained Impact system to establish your baseline impact or starting point (don’t forget step 1!). This entails analysing the impact over an entire reference year of production. By capturing production volumes per product, you can assess the overall environmental footprint of your entire product range. Through this comprehensive assessment, you'll identify the 'worst offenders' – products that contribute the most to your overall impact. Surprisingly, these may not align with your biggest sellers or those perceived to be the most environmentally harmful. The true impact is influenced by various factors, primarily production volumes, revealed only through full-scale analysis. Identifying these 'worst offenders' enables you to prioritise impact reduction efforts effectively, focusing on the most significant contributors to your carbon and environmental footprint. ### Step 4: Reformulation for Impact Reduction Armed with a prioritised list of products, the next step is reformulation. This involves modifying recipes or sourcing different ingredients to mitigate the environmental impact of the product. For instance, transitioning to a more sustainable supplier or tweaking the product composition can markedly reduce its footprint. ### Step 5: Forecasting Impact Reduction After modelling changes, it’s essential to validate their potential effectiveness at scale. By forecasting the impact reduction based on past production volumes, you can predict how these changes will help you meet your sustainability targets. This step ensures that the adjustments you make are not only theoretically beneficial but also practically significant when applied across your production lines. ### Step 6: Implementing Changes Once the reformulation and forecasting stages confirm the potential for impact reduction, the next step is to implement these changes in your production processes. This transition requires planning and integration with your existing systems to ensure a smooth shift towards more sustainable practices. ### Step 7: Continuous Monitoring and Improvement Sustainability is an ongoing journey that requires continuous monitoring and improvement. Tracking monthly production impact, in the same way you did with your baseline, enables companies to assess progress, evaluate the effectiveness of changes, and stay on track to meet sustainability targets. This is where embedding sustainability as part of your day-to-day operations begins! **The Need for Automation in Sustainability** Embedding sustainability into daily operations requires seamless integration with existing systems and workflows. Automation plays a pivotal role in this process by streamlining sustainability initiatives and enhancing efficiency and accuracy. By leveraging API integrations with existing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, companies can ensure data consistency and maintain a single source of truth for product information. This ensures that sustainability efforts are not only accurate but also seamlessly integrated into the organisation's current processes. Automation not only saves valuable time but also drives continuous improvement by providing real-time actionable insights for strategic decision-making. By embracing automation, businesses can effectively incorporate sustainability into their day-to-day operations, laying the foundation for long-term success in environmental stewardship. **Embracing a Holistic Approach to Sustainability** By adopting a holistic approach to sustainability, companies can confidently navigate the complexities of environmental impact reduction. Through comprehensive product-level assessments, prioritisation of reduction efforts, and automation, organisations can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. Let Sustained Impact be your trusted guide on this journey towards sustainable success. [Book a free demo today](/#book-demo). --- ## How Compleat Food are reducing Scope 3 emissions with Sustained Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-the-compleat-food-group-are-reducing-scope-3-emissions-with-sustained-product-level-lca/ Published: 2024-05-28 · Author: Emily Deeks **The Compleat Food Group set out to create the UK's first carbon neutral sausage roll. The manual Life Cycle Assessment worked, but took a month and only covered 10 products. With ~4,000 SKUs across their portfolio, they needed a different approach. Watch David Moore, Group Head of ESG, explain how they transformed environmental impact assessment from a one-off consultant project into an automated workflow embedded in product design.** **Key outcomes** - After a successful pilot Sustained Impact has been rolled out as a scalable, automated solution for product level environmental footprinting (Life Cycle Assessments, LCA) for The Compleat Food Group - By integrating environmental impact insights into product design, simple changes have been identified, in one example switching the sourcing of an ingredient would reduce its impact on water scarcity by 33% - Integration with Compleat’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) provider is underway to embed Net Zero product design into core business operations **Who are The Compleat Food Group?** [The Compleat Food Group](https://www.compleatfood.com/) (TCFG) has a mission to create great-tasting food that people love to eat, which is affordable, healthier, and more sustainable as standard. The Group is home to brands including Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, Squeaky Bean, Unearthed, Vadasz, Wrights and Palace Culture. They are also a leading supplier of own-label pastry, olives and antipasti, continental meats and plant-based food to the UK’s largest retailers and foodservice operators. **Challenge: Scaling product Life Cycle Assessments to build The Compleat Food Group’s Net Zero roadmap** As part of their [ESG mission](https://www.compleatfood.com/impact/), The Compleat Food Group has set net zero commitments for their own operations by 2035 (i.e. Scope 1 and 2), and for their value chain by 2040 (i.e. scope 3). During their first Net Zero project in 2022, they had a goal to make the [Wall’s Sausage Roll](https://www.compleatfood.com/brands/walls/) the world’s first carbon neutral product of its kind. They started with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and found they could reach net zero by changing production methods and the sourcing of key ingredients, but that in the meantime they would need to purchase significant carbon credits to reach the goal. They also found that every production change would require a new time-consuming and costly LCA, limiting how quickly they could implement at scale into their operations. This works for one product," David Moore reflects, "but we have ~4,000 SKUs across the group. We realised quite quickly that manual LCA wasn't going to scale, if the recipe changes, if the production facility changes, you have to go through the full LCA again. Based on the costs, scaling limitations, and The Group’s drive to genuinely reduce emissions rather than offset, they instead began looking for a partner who could help them to identify emission improvement opportunities, by embedding environmental impact footprinting and modelling into product development. **Solution: A pilot with Sustained Impact validates that The Compleat Food Group can integrate environmental footprinting into core operations to reach climate goals** The Group set out to find a partner who could help identify how to transparently and credibly, reduce the environmental impact from product manufacturing across their value chain, by automating and scaling LCA capability. They needed a system that would integrate with their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) provider, [Point74](https://www.point74.co.uk/) , to embed environmental impact into the same workflows where teams already managed nutrition and cost. This three-way partnership - Compleat, Sustained, and Point74 - would become critical to the solution's success. The reductions that can be made through balancing products at design stage are significant. For just the Compleat brands alone, millions of kg of CO2e in greenhouse gas emissions can be saved by reducing the product level climate change by 5-10% and, millions of litres of fresh water not extracted. The product teams are also able to understand the drivers of acidification, which causes a loss on soil fertility. The Sustained Impact platform provided this capability, and a pilot was launched to **measure**a baseline assessment of 16 different categories, including carbon, water scarcity/quality and land use based on the prior years’ production figures. The reports were analysed to set**actionable targets.**Product design teams tested using the system to **model changes** to the products’ formulations, countries of origin, transport, and production steps to reduce impact. The Group were able to communicate on the successes of the pilot using reports created in the Sustained Impact platform, and generate consumer eco-labels. The successful pilot predicated the roll out of Sustained Impact to all product lines across the Group. **Results: Integrating impact reduction levers into product design processes** - For each product, the key drivers of impact, such as ingredients, production processes and more are visible, allowing product design teams to model changes to achieve lower impact & respond to environmental requirements in briefs from customers. - The Group is integrating their Sustained Impact workspace with their Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) provider, [Point74](https://www.point74.co.uk/), ensuring the product and supplier data is accurate, and supporting further integration with existing NPD and EPD workflows. - The Group can set impact reduction targets versus their baseline across their product range, and track progress against targets. - The Sustainability team benefit from automated Scope 3 reporting contributions through Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) at product and manufacturing level. "We won't reach our sustainability goals without reducing impact across our products and supply chains. Our teams are now empowered to consider environmental impact at every stage of product design. This isn't the ESG team doing sustainability, it's embedded in everyone's workflow. Ultimately, we hope that this initiative will be replicated by all food manufacturers so that together we can create a more secure global food system." David Moore, ESG Director Want to see how Compleat built their "Sustainable Product Launch Process" and integrated LCA across their entire portfolio? [Watch the full case study](https://www.sustained.com/operationalising-sustainable-product-design-the-compleat-food-group)to hear David Moore walk through: - The pilot that proved automated LCA could work at scale - How Recipe Professor integration transformed product design workflows - Real examples of impact reduction (like the 33% water scarcity improvement) [Watch the Full Case Study Here](https://www.sustained.com/operationalising-sustainable-product-design-the-compleat-food-group) --- ## How Automation is Changing the Game in Scaling LCA Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-lca-isnt-inherently-unscalable-and-how-automation-is-changing-the-game/ Published: 2024-04-25 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin ## Redefining Sustainability in the Food Industry In an era of increasing environmental consciousness, businesses in the food manufacturing sector are facing growing pressure to quantify and mitigate their environmental footprint. However, traditional methods of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)—often synonymous with manual assessments conducted by consultants—have proven to be cumbersome and impractical for companies seeking scalable solutions to sustainability challenges. This is where innovative approaches, such as LCA automation platforms, are emerging as game-changers, offering a more efficient and scalable path towards sustainable practices. ## The Challenge: Overcoming the Limitations of Traditional LCAs For too long, the process of conducting LCAs has been synonymous with complexity and inefficiency. The manual nature of traditional methodologies, coupled with the need for specialised consultants, has rendered LCA inaccessible to many businesses. Moreover, the static nature of LCA results has limited companies' ability to adapt to changing product portfolios and supply chains. ## The Solution: LCA automation platforms In response to the limitations of traditional manual LCAs, businesses are increasingly turning to LCA automation platforms. These innovative solutions harness the power of technology to streamline the assessment process, offering a more efficient and scalable approach to evaluating environmental impacts, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. By automating data collection, analysis, and reporting, these platforms empower businesses to take control of their sustainability journey through a self-service approach, reducing the need for extensive manual intervention or reliance on third-party consultants. In addition, this automation ensures that insights remain dynamic and up-to-date, better supporting the agile nature of product development and supply chain innovation in contrast to traditional manual LCAs. ## Key Features to Look for in an LCA automation platform 1. **Bulk Importing of product data**: Simplify data entry by choosing an LCA automation platform that allows for bulk importing of product specifications or bills of materials. This feature eliminates the need for manual input, saving time and enabling you to reach actionable insights more quickly. 2. **Seamless Integration**: Take it one step further by selecting an LCA automation platform that can seamlessly integrate with your existing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning and/or Product Lifecycle Management) solutions. This ensures that data synchronisation is effortless, establishing a single source of truth for your data going forward. 3. **Real-time Insights**: Opt for a platform that offers real-time insights into environmental impacts, unlike manual LCAs that provide static results. With dynamic, up-to-date information, businesses can make informed decisions on the fly, adapting to changes in product formulations or supply chain practices with ease. 4. **Scalability**: To truly future proof, you will need a platform that can scale with your business, accommodating growing data volumes and analysis requirements without sacrificing performance or accuracy. 5. **Adaptive Methodologies**: A solution that can cater to multiple methodologies will help you adapt to the ever-changing nature of the sustainability regulatory landscape. This flexibility ensures that your LCA platform can accommodate different regulatory requirements and standards, allowing you to stay compliant regardless of geographic location or industry-specific regulations. 6. **Accessible Interpretation**: A platform with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that ensures anyone in your company can interpret the complex scientific results effortlessly. While data ingestion may be automatic, a user-friendly interface ensures that even non-experts can understand and derive actionable insights from the comprehensive analysis, reducing the need for specialised training or consultant assistance. In summary, the landscape of sustainability assessment is evolving rapidly, with automation leading the way. By selecting the right LCA automation platform, businesses can navigate this transition seamlessly, unlocking new efficiencies and insights along the way. Embracing sustainability isn't just a trend—it's a necessity for businesses looking to thrive in the 21st century. Together, let's work towards a future where sustainability is not just an aspiration, but a fundamental pillar of business success. If you’d like to discuss how Sustained Impact could deliver efficient automated LCA for your business, [please get in touch](/help-centre/contact). --- ## Using the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Framework for LCA's Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-use-the-product-environmental-footprint-pef-framework-for-lca/ Published: 2024-04-17 · Author: Matthias Reich When deciding what methodology and standard to use for a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) there is a whole range to choose from. Some of the most frequently used are [PEF](https://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/EnvironmentalFootprint.html), [ReCiPE](https://www.rivm.nl/en/life-cycle-assessment-lca/recipe), [Ecological Footprint](https://www.footprintnetwork.org/resources/data/footprint-standards/), and [Planetary Boundary](https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html). There are also several popular methods that only look at a single environmental indicator such as the [Greenhouse Gas Protocol](https://ghgprotocol.org/) or the [AWARE](https://wulca-waterlca.org/aware/what-is-aware/) method (that is also incorporated into PEF) for water scarcity. All of these methodologies evolve over time, and are useful for specific applications. Some are intended to be used only for a small geographical region like the [Swiss UBP methodology](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home/topics/economy-consumption/economy-and-consumption-publications/publications-economy-and-consumption/eco-factors-switzerland.html), and others like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, focus on only one indicator and are well suited for industries whose impact is primarily or almost exclusively related to that category, in this example Climate Change (such as the energy or transport sector). At Sustained we came to the conclusion that the [EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)](https://green-business.ec.europa.eu/environmental-footprint-methods_en) method is currently the most holistic and future-proofed method for LCA’s for the food industry. Alongside PEF we also use the Greenhouse Gas Protocol as a method to calculate carbon footprints, and the Sustained platform is built to support further methodologies over time. That way we can help customers operating in different sectors and geographies and remain agile to adjust as methodologies, frameworks and regulations evolve. Let me explain the main factors that elevate PEF for life cycle assessments: ## Recognised by the scientific community and regulators PEF, developed by the EU’s Joint Research Centre, is highly recognised not only within the scientific community but also in regulatory discussions. The EU has integrated PEF into policies like the Taxonomy Regulation and the Green Consumption Pledge stating “[The use of the Environmental Footprint methods is already foreseen in the context of EU policies and legislation such as the Taxonomy Regulation, the Sustainable Batteries Initiative and the Green Consumption Pledge. Based on the results of the comprehensive testing, the European Commission is now exploring how to use the Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint methods in other policies](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/environmental-footprint-methods-2021-12-16_en)” underlining its commitment to PEF and its future facing relevance for businesses. ## Provides holistic coverage of environmental impact categories PEF provides a comprehensive view of environmental impacts, covering 16 different categories including climate change, water scarcity and land use. This is important in the food sector, where especially impacts extend beyond carbon. To provide robust environmental intelligence and enable businesses to make more sustainable food products we felt PEF was the most encompassing method. ## Offers defaults to bridge data gaps and enable a fast start to LCA's For companies starting their LCA journey, PEF offers default values for variables like transport modes and distances, facilitating meaningful analysis where first party data across a supply isn’t available. These defaults allow companies to gather insights on product life cycles and to get an idea of where the largest impacts occur also with incomplete data, while their standardisation enables like-for-like comparisons across assessments form different sources. ## Ensures consistency and comparability of LCA's While we initially considered creating our own methodology, we heard from our customers that lack of comparability due to different scopes considered between LCAs is a big pain point in the industry. We also wanted a recognised and robust method for the weighting and prioritising of the different categories to provide the most credible assessments we could. We considered using ReCiPe which has a comparable scope to PEF with comparable impact categories, however it does not have any modelling framework or standardisation. For our purposes we opted for the standardised modelling requirements that are part of PEF. In summary, at Sustained we believe the scope, consistency and regulatory recognition of PEF makes it the most suitable methodology for assessing the environmental impact of food production. By offering PEF, alongside GHG Protocol for our customers Sustained provides flexibility, and a comprehensive approach to environmental impact management for food companies. If you’d like to get fast and affordable product lifecycle assessments, a range of tools to reduce your impact and defensible data to make sustainable claims to your customers then [please get in touch](/help-centre/contact). --- ## How OGGS uses Sustained's real-time Product Carbon Footprints Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-oggs-uses-sustaineds-real-time-product-carbon-footprint-comparison/ Published: 2024-04-09 · Author: Emily Deeks ## Key outcomes - Automated, real-time product carbon footprint comparisons are used in sales & marketing enabling OGGS customers to map carbon reduction in their own products to support their sustainability goals - OGGS benefit from expanded insights and benchmarks that cover most of their product range - Environmental impact scores across 16 categories, including carbon, are used in new product development - OGGS are investing in their own supply chain sustainability projects based on insights from Sustained Impact ## Who are OGGS? [OGGS](https://www.loveoggs.com/) are on a mission to remove the unnecessary and unethical egg products within our food chain, by swapping eggs for OGGS wherever possible. For consumers, food service companies and food manufacturers, swapping to OGGS plant-based egg alternatives, means some of our favourite foods can be a treat for us, chickens, and the planet. [OGGS are a certified B-Corp](https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/alternative-foods/), and with their range of plant-based egg alternatives and sweet treats, to date OGGS has saved over 8 million eggs, given 1.4 million chickens the week off, and saved enough CO2e to drive around the world 318 times. ## Challenge: Accessing real time product carbon footprint data, to provide comparisons of OGGS impact scores versus eggs for OGGS customers For the OGGS team, being able to credibly share carbon footprint comparisons of OGGS against eggs is a critical insight for potential OGGS customers, enabling them to measure the potential carbon footprint reduction if they swap eggs, for the plant based egg alternative in recipes. OGGS previously worked with experts from an accredited carbon mapping consultancy, however found limitations due to the scaling constraints of the manual process, the moment in time nature of the insights and the lack of other environmental impact comparisons beyond carbon. Plus, they couldn’t easily compare products and scale coverage across their growing product range. ## Solution: Sustained Impact automates Product Carbon Footprinting (PCF) of OGGS product range to inform benchmarking & product development OGGS decided to look to the market for a software solution that would solve some of the challenges they faced. By onboarding Sustained Impact, the OGGS team are now able to self-serve product life cycle assessments (LCA) using a mix of their own data, supplemented with defaults from Sustained databases. Prompts within the dashboards provide improvement suggestions that have been helpful to define sustainability projects internally, such as ingredient sourcing. Most importantly, the team themselves can now generate credible comparisons against different kinds of eggs, and map to the different products in their own range. Environmental footprint forecasts have been integrated into new product development, supporting sustainable decision making right from the start of any OGGS products life cycle. ## Results: Product Carbon Footprints available for prospective customers, and sustainability projects are identified using insights from the Sustained platform - Up to date, accurate product level carbon footprint comparisons are used in sales and marketing to enable prospective customers to model how switching to OGGS could help them reach their carbon reduction and sustainability targets. - The OGGS team discovered production changes they could make to reduce their own carbon footprint, such as changing the source country of certain ingredients, - The OGGS team is empowered with self-serve environmental impact data, so they can model the impact of changes to their product life cycle, and forecast the impact of reformulations and new products. Sustained Impact has provided us with a full and robust picture of our environmental footprint, giving us the ability to share our impact scores with customers, and find opportunities to improve in our own operations. We’re excited to start connecting our Sustained workspace with partners across our value chain, so as an industry we can better reach our climate goals by working together. Polly-Anna Trollope - Co-Founder & COO, OGGS ![IMG_7620](/images/blog/how-oggs-uses-sustaineds-real-time-product-carbon-footprint-comparison/01.jpg) --- ## Why Carbon Accounting and Product-Level LCAs Go Hand in Hand Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-carbon-accounting-and-product-level-lcas-go-hand-in-hand/ Published: 2024-04-03 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin In today's world, sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's a business imperative. As consumers and business customers alike become increasingly environmentally conscious and regulatory standards tighten, businesses must take a proactive approach to address their environmental impact. They can’t just talk the talk, they need to walk the walk. Carbon accounting has long been a staple in measuring and reducing a company's environmental impact. But here’s the thing: the top-down view carbon accounting provides has its limits. This is where product-level Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) come into play. Here's why your business needs both if it wants to thrive in the green economy: **Identify actionable insights and hotspots** Carbon accounting lays the foundation by quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and identifying key sources within your operations. This is the first piece of the puzzle. Product-Level LCAs broaden the scope to provide more granularity into what’s causing the impact, pinpointing environmental hotspots within the product life cycle. Sustained goes one step further by assessing not only carbon but a total of 16 environmental impact categories (think biodiversity, land use, water scarcity etc.), enabling targeted reduction efforts and informed decision-making. **Meeting Customer Demands** Customers aren't satisfied with vague sustainability claims anymore. They want transparency and accountability when it comes to the sustainability of the products they purchase. They seek credible and detailed insights into the environmental impact of the products they already buy from your company and expect that any new products designed for them adhere to the environmental requirements set in the design briefs provided. While company-wide emissions measured through carbon accounting provide an overarching view of how sustainable a company is, product-Level LCAs, or product carbon footprints (PCFs) offer a granular assessment of a specific product's sustainability performance. By incorporating Product-Level LCAs into your sustainability strategy, your company can effectively address both aspects of customer demands. This comprehensive approach not only fosters trust and loyalty with customers but also positions your company as a leader in meeting evolving sustainability expectations. **Staying Ahead of Regulations** With environmental regulations tightening, companies face increasing demands for transparent reporting. Initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) underscore the importance of comprehensive company-level reporting. However, simply reporting company-level emissions is no longer sufficient. There's a growing emphasis on the need to back sustainability claims with credible data, as seen by the introduction of the EU’s Green claims directive. This will require a shift towards more granular assessments, providing robust evidence and data to support any such claim, which only product-Level LCAs can provide. By embracing product-Level LCAs alongside company-level reporting, businesses can proactively meet regulatory requirements, safeguarding against accusations of greenwashing and reinforcing their commitment to transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. **Driving Continuous Improvement** Sustainability is a journey, and both carbon accounting and product-Level LCAs play vital roles in driving progress. While carbon accounting helps reduce emissions in the supply chain, LCAs identify opportunities for optimisation throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring sustainability efforts evolve in tandem with business operations. Furthermore, LCAs offer insights into opportunities for eco-design and product innovation, empowering businesses to develop more sustainable products that meet consumer demand while reducing environmental impact. **Gaining Competitive Advantage** Robust sustainability practices supported by both carbon accounting and product-level LCAs can differentiate businesses in the market, appealing to environmentally conscious business customers or consumers and gaining a competitive edge. Sustainability-focused marketing and labelling initiatives, supported by robust LCA data, can enhance brand reputation and customer loyalty, driving competitive advantage and market share growth. **Enhanced Risk Management** Understanding and mitigating environmental risks is crucial for business resilience. While carbon accounting provides insights into emissions, product-level LCAs enhance risk management practices by providing insights into environmental risks associated with product manufacturing, distribution, and disposal. The incorporation of the [concept of 'double materiality'](https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/fisma/items/754701/en) within the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) further emphasises the importance of considering not only the financial risks that sustainability may cause to the company (financial materiality) but also the company’s own impacts on people and the environment (impact materiality), best measured using product-level LCAs. On top of that, if the assessment goes beyond carbon, valuable insights are gained into additional potential risks such as biodiversity impact and resource scarcity essential to a comprehensive risk assessment. This proactive approach to risk management enables companies to anticipate and mitigate environmental risks effectively, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in a rapidly changing business landscape. In conclusion, to truly drive sustainability and meet the demands of customers and regulators alike, businesses need to complement carbon accounting with product-level LCAs. By partnering with Sustained, companies can navigate this journey effectively and drive positive environmental impact—one product at a time. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How does a company start implementing product-level LCAs if they've only done broad carbon accounting before?** Adding product-level LCAs involves a detailed assessment of each product's lifecycle to understand its environmental impact fully. This requires gathering data on raw materials, production, distribution, use, and disposal. Companies can start by using defaults if they do not have access to first-party data. Companies often start by either focusing on a single product line to refine their approach before scaling up, or starting with the data they have for their whole product range and iteratively improving its quality. **What are the challenges businesses face when trying to integrate product-level LCAs with their existing carbon accounting practices?** Integrating product-level LCAs with carbon accounting presents challenges such as aligning the scope and scale of assessments, data collection and management complexities, and ensuring methodological consistency. Companies may face challenges in obtaining accurate lifecycle data across the value chain, which is where defaults are helpful so companies can iterate and improve over time. **How can product-level LCAs be applied to complex food products that involve multiple ingredients from diverse sources?** Product-level LCAs in the food industry must account for the environmental impact of each ingredient, which can be challenging given their varied sources and production methods. This process involves tracking the origin, agricultural practices, processing, and transportation of each component. To manage this complexity, companies can start with secondary datasets from leading databases. Once they identify the biggest contributors, they can work with their suppliers to obtain primary data that would model that ingredient’s impact more accurately. Collaborative efforts with suppliers to gain transparency and detailed lifecycle data are crucial. Connecting Sustained Impact workspaces can be helpful to share data across value chains. --- ## Sustained join the TechNation Climate 2024 cohort Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/sustained-join-the-technation-climate-2024-cohort/ Published: 2024-03-29 · Author: Carl Olivier We are thrilled that in January Sustained were selected to join the prestigious [Tech Nation](https://technation.io/programmes/climate/) Climate Programme for 2024. The programme, now entering its fourth year, is dedicated to supporting the UK’s most promising climate tech companies, and we are enjoying the opportunity to be a part of this community of innovative climate tech companies that are revolutionising the fight against climate change. This year, the focus is on critical solutions across a broad spectrum of areas including food, biodiversity and nature, material innovation, packaging, the built environment, energy, and mobility. Sustained's selection highlights our potential and commitment to drive meaningful change in the food system, by empowering food companies with environmental intelligence across their supply chain, and the tools to help them design to reduce their impact, while complying with new and evolving regulations. Our journey began with a vision to transform the way businesses and individuals approach sustainability. We understand the complexities of integrating sustainable practices into everyday operations, and set out to offer innovative, effective and accessible solutions. Joining the TechNation Climate 24 cohort is another important milestone on our journey of delivering tangible environmental impact reduction. For more information visit: [https://technation.io/programmes/climate/](https://technation.io/programmes/climate/) --- ## It’s the environment, stupid. Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/its-the-environment-stupid/ Published: 2024-03-16 · Author: Carl Olivier Without the environment and the natural resources it provides, our food system would collapse and society as we know it would not exist. With this in mind, our systematic destruction of the natural world beggars belief. Why is this happening? There are many complexities involved in answering this question, however I believe there are a few, almost simple, reasons for this utterly insane phenomenon. - We are too **disconnected** from the actual environmental impact of our everyday decisions. - Our **economic** model does not treat the environment finite, and as such, a cost. In fact it often actively rewards the destruction and exploitation of our natural resources. Given there is no way to accurately and continuously **measure** the impact of the things we produce and consume, it is almost impossible to tackle these causes. It is thus esoteric and unless we tackle that, this will not change. Let’s explore these one by one and hopefully you will see why I believe that addressing these is absolutely fundamental to reversing the looming environmental collapse. ## The Environmental Impact Disconnect When you buy a product in a store you consider whether it is in the price range you are comfortable with and is it of the quality you want. The financial element especially has a clear assessment - you either can or can’t spend the money. However, on the whole, we do not have a good way to understand the environmental impact the product we want to buy has on the environment. High damaging products will thus continue to be purchased, and the demand will ensure that the manufacturer will continue to produce it. Economics in action. The same situation is also true at product design time, when a product is formulated. Ingredients are selected to achieve a certain taste and nutritional targets balanced with the costs to manufacture the product. A rigorous set of approval stages need to be passed for the product to start being mass produced and sold. At present, this design or product life cycle workflow does **not** include environmental impact as a core consideration, as the tool and systems make this visible to the designer. These are just two examples of our **disconnect** with our environmental impact, where if we were able to connect this to these processes and habits would ensure we factored this into the decision making process and thus drastically reduce the impact of these product life cycles. ## The “Growth at all Costs” Economy Our economic model incentivises growth at almost any cost. Businesses, countries, trading blocks, all measure economic output as the key metric. None of them take the environment, the very natural resources that underpins it all, into account as a finite resource, cost, or factor of any kind. This means that decisions often treat these resources as infinite, with no thought to understanding and preserving the environment. In fact, in many cases the opposite is true - subsidies and other economic means are in place which actively cause an increase in this over use. If this does not change, hope of preserving, let alone restoring, nature is a lost cause. A number of new economic models, such as those which take planetary boundaries into account, are being advocated to replace the mainly GDP based systems in place today. These approaches and frameworks make a lot of sense, however one key area that is missing is how this is to be realistically measured, accounted for, tracked and delivered. Relying on business to do the right thing is an option, but it is simply not how economics works. The incentives will dictate what companies, teams and individuals optimise for, and this will never change. The system needs to be adjusted, the incentives changed. ## The Level Playing Field Overly dictatorial systems do not allow for systems to ensure the most optimal outcomes. However, when a change is needed, a catalyst that forces the system to make changes is often a real game changer. In the context of rebalancing our economic model to properly account for environmental cost, policy that forces a level playing field through a required transparency regime of the environmental impact business have is such a catalyst. This would need to be for everything, ground up including manufacturing and the entire value chain. The effect this would have is to kickstart businesses investing in this area, initially due to the required transparency, but very quickly this would become an area of differentiation for businesses, and those that are perceived as better, will ultimately survive and thrive. All we need now, is to be able to measure and reduce environmental impact at scale, consistently for everything, at a cost that businesses, consumers and regulators can afford. --- ## Towards LCA automation at scale in partnership with Foundation Earth Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/towards-lca-automation-at-scale-in-partnership-with-foundation-earth/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Carl Olivier Sustained is joining forces with [Foundation Earth](https://www.foundation-earth.org) - an independent, non-profit organisation issuing front-of-pack environmental scores on food products - to test automated LCA and ECO IMPACT labels to drive large scale uptake and impact. The pilot, starting early 2023, will run food products through the Sustained platform to assess the ecological impact of food products using an LCA method aligned to the EU’s [Product Environment Footprint (PEF)](https://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/pdf/footprint/PEF%20methodology%20final%20draft.pdf) that takes into account 16 environmental impact categories. At present environmental impact assessments (or Life Cycle Assessments / LCAs) are generally done manually - which takes a lot of time, requires human resources and comes with a high cost. This means that very few products are assessed, 10s out of many thousands. Moving towards an automated system would allow ecolabels to be delivered at scale and support our mission to make food ecolabelling the new normal. Typically, running products through an automated LCA tool would reduce assessment time by weeks, and sometimes months. The automated system is a particular breakthrough for organisations dealing with very large volumes such as retailers, allowing them to score a wide array of products at reduced cost, in turn making more scored products available to consumers. Foundation Earth will continue to run manual LCAs in parallel with its expert partners, allowing us to extract learnings and understand challenges on data collection and validation - critical work needed to establish data quality thresholds for the Foundation Earth standard when scoring a product. A data quality indicator, showing how complete the data collected on a product is, will be included on the Sustained Impact assessment reports, to increase transparency on data quality. “Automation is key in our mission to scale the uptake of ecolabelling. Testing tech tools will drive efficiency in ecolabeling: assessing large volumes of products and driving down costs to ensure accessibility for all sizes of food brands and producers will be critical to decarbonising food system value chains,” says Cliona Howie, CEO of Foundation Earth. Sustained, which launched its Impact platform in June 2022, also offers a mobile app for UK food consumers to scan products directly in-store and display environmental impacts, as well as a browser extension for online shopping. Products scored under the Foundation Earth method can be published on the Sustained platform, with the ECO IMPACT data providing consumers with a science-based story of the impact of their food purchases. On why this is so important, Carl Olivier, co-founder and CEO of Sustained said, “If we are to truly achieve the systemic change needed to reduce the environmental impact of our production and consumption, we need to be able to accurately assess every product at a SKU level, and make that information available to everyone - whether you are shopping for your weekly food, investing in or in fact running a business. Sustained Impact allows us to start that journey today.” --- ## How Sustainable is my Food? Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/how-sustainable-is-my-food/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Chloe Elkin Ever find yourself wandering the aisles of the supermarket wondering about the sustainability of your food choices? Or the impact of your food on issues such as Climate Change? Sure, brands profess sustainability. Some of them even have the labels to prove it – labels that deal with the environmental dimension of sustainability (Rainforest Alliance and Carbon Footprint) and two others that deal with the ethical dimension (Fair Trade and Animal Welfare). ## But how can you, the Consumer, be sure you’re not being greenwashed? After all... In 2020, Quorn foods was found to be [misrepresenting its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint](https://www.truthinadvertising.org/quorn-foods-thai-wonder-grains/). And in 2021, Coca Cola was found to be marketing itself as sustainable and environmentally friendly while [generating more plastic pollution than any other company in the world](https://earthisland.org/index.php/news/entry/earth-island-institute-files-lawsuit-against-coca-cola-for-false-advertising). Now I’m not suggesting that these brands aren’t at least trying to be more sustainable. But what I am saying is that just like you, I find myself wandering the supermarket aisle, trying to figure out whose greenwashing and how that impacts the food I buy. So let’s take a walk through the market and examine the contents of your basket... Assuming you’re like most people in the UK, you’re probably picking up products like eggs and milk and cereal... Wait, I could go on forever here. Here’s a picture of my basket... Like you, there are some things in there that I buy every week, and others (like that Lindt chocolate) that I sneak in once and a while. Now I’m not sure how you fill your basket, but when I’m not crushed for time, I try to make more sustainable food choices. ## But how do I know what’s sustainable? It turns out this is a much more complicated issue than we first thought… For example, to really understand the impact of a simple apple or banana on the planet, we have to start from the beginning, when it was growing on a tree, in an orchard. We need to understand the chemicals used on the farm, where it was grown and whether it was in season, and how water has been used in the farming process. This is by far the most important part of the apple’s life, the farming method accounts for over 90% of a food’s environmental impact. After it has been picked, the apple now needs to be transported to your local supermarket, whether via plane, train or truck (a shockingly small part of your food’s environmental impact - less than 10%) Finally, the apple needs to be packaged. Some apples are obviously left without packaging, however, others are placed in bags and cartons (and these packagings come with their own LCAs) The lifecycle of each of those packaging methods needs to be understood in order to understand it’s impact on the apple’s environmental score. This is a simplified version for what needs to happen for every single food product, and if its a multi-ingredient product, every ingredient in that product. So how do everyday shoppers like you and me figure this out as we rush through Tesco on the way home from work - wondering if the food you’re about to place into your basket is harming our planet? Simple... ## [Download the Sustained app](https://www.sustained.com/install). We’re on a mission to help you make more sustainable choices. But we can’t do it without you. When you download the app and scan food items, you’ll see the full “cradle to grave” impact the food products in your basket have on the world. Click the link below to download the APP or install the plugin for Chrome. #### Links: - [Sustained Choice App](https://www.sustained.com/install) - [Intro to LCA](/blog/intro-to-lifecycle-assessment) - [Data in Sustainability](https://www.sustained.com/blog/sustainability-discoveries-through-data-research) - [Intro to Environmental Impacts](/blog/intro-to-environmental-impacts) --- ## Let's Talk about Food Packaging Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/lets-talk-about-food-packaging/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Viktoria Bashkite Most of us find the topic of food packaging important. We know that packaging generates a lot of waste, especially plastic, and plays a significant role in destroying our oceans’ ecosystem. About [40% of food packaging is plastic](https://www.foodpackagingforum.org/food-packaging-health/food-packaging-materials). I was personally touched by the Netflix series called “Seaspiracy ''. According to [Our World in Data](https://ourworldindata.org/ocean-plastics), the main contributors to plastic waste in our oceans are the Asian region and countries, like the Philippines, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Still, it doesn’t mean we should not care about the issue. As per Mahatma Gandhi, the only thing we know for sure is, “If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” It probably won’t help clean the ocean right away, but we’ll contribute a lot to reducing the harm. #### Food packaging ## We interact with food packaging every day. Once I start cooking and unpacking the ingredients, I find I’m surrounded by wrappings, sleeves, plastic boxes, etc. Every time I throw them away, I’m startled by the amount of trash it generates. So, I started to investigate my options in terms of producing less food packaging waste. I have grouped my findings into three categories: - The Type of Packaging (bag, cup, bottle, box, cardboard box, sleeve, etc.) - The Material Used (plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, etc.) - Any Care Labels on the Packaging ([green dot, recyclability, ecolabels, etc.](https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/packaging-symbols-explained)) #### The Type of Packaging ## I started from the idea of where I could cut packaging out altogether. Here is my list of new habits I'm trying to stick with: 1. I don’t use any plastic bags for fresh produce (fruits, veggies), and I try to choose products that are not packaged where possible while doing my regular grocery shopping. Please don’t get tricked with biodegradable plastic bags: they are not as environmentally friendly as you think. Everything depends on the combination of materials used. It’s always better not to use anything at all - if possible. 2. I always take a reusable shopping bag with me to avoid buying another one. If for some reason, I don’t have one, I’m always buying the paper one because I'm using it for paper trash collection. 3. If I want to have a cup of coffee, I try to avoid using a one-time cup. I prefer a regular reusable cup, not the on-the-go option. 4. From time to time, I still buy a coffee-to-go from the gas station, and I still find thermal cups inconvenient to wash on the road. But it’s on my list of potential improvements. 😀 #### Food Packaging Materials - Plastic, plastic, plastic… “Avoid it”, “don’t use it”. We see and hear it everywhere. But is plastic really so bad? First of all, the plastic itself is not bad. It has numerous favourable properties like being lightweight, strong durability, and, of course, our products last longer in sealed plastic packaging. But we have to recycle it properly and do everything to avoid it getting to the landfill. Let’s not demonize it, but use it correctly, and recycle it properly. - Some of you may think we can replace all plastic bags with paper ones, but it’s not as straightforward a solution. Let’s start from the beginning as we, researchers, do. 😉 The production of [one paper bag takes four times more energy](https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/the-truth-about-paper-bags) than a plastic one. This means paper bags contribute much more to climate change, and they are made from trees. Also, paper bags are not as durable as plastic ones, especially if they get wet. And, the cherry on top of everything, the paper bags end up with 5 times more solid waste than the plastic ones. ([source](https://perfectpackaging.org/environmental-impact-of-plastic-vs-paper/)) To conclude, any bag you buy instead of bringing the reusable one for the weekly shopping is not a super environmentally-friendly idea. #### Care Labels on the Packaging ## If I use packaged products, how can I reduce the impact and avoid landfilling? It’s all about the labels. - Labels are informative and worth paying attention to once you buy any product, especially food. Today, there is much more information about recycling and sorting it, and following the instructions. - I’ve started to collect glass packaging and recycle it properly. I’m doing the same with cardboard and paper. The challenging part is with organic waste. Our appliances are not designed to have so many sorting options, but there is room for improvement here. #### Summary - Try to use as little packaging as possible and only where it is necessary. - Avoid one-time options. Try reusable packaging everywhere where applicable. - If you haven’t seen “[Seaspiracy](https://www.netflix.com/ee/title/81014008)”, watch it. 🐬 ‍ --- ## What is Sustainable Food? Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/what-is-sustainable-food/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Chloe Elkin At first sight, this is a simple question. One that, when I Googled it, I thought should have brought up a list of things that I can eat and feel good about my contribution to the planet. However, much like everything else when it comes to climate change, figuring out what food is sustainable is more complicated than I first thought. So, I started by zooming out, by looking at sustainability in general, then the theories around sustainable foods, and finally, how I can implement this knowledge into my daily life. ## What does sustainability mean? Simply put, sustainability means the ability to be maintained at a certain level. When talking about the environment, this means that whatever we do, must be able to be maintained at that same level for a significant period of time. For example, mass deforestation would be deemed unsustainable as there isn’t a magical, regenerative forest that regrows trees every time we cut one down. However, sustainability also has [three pillars](https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/sustainability-society-and-you/0/steps/4618): the economy, society, and the environment. This means that in order for a product or a practise to be deemed sustainable, it must also be able to be maintained at a certain level without significant harm being caused to society and the economy. For example, ensuring that workers receive a fair wage and benefits would contribute to the social sustainability of an area. ## What does sustainable food mean? When we try to relate this to food, it becomes a little more complicated. The theory is the same: sustainable food is food that can be produced at a certain level for a significant amount of time without serious harm to the environment, society or the economy. However, knowing which food meets this criteria is incredibly difficult. With the abundance of greenwashing in the food industry, it is often impossible to know whether your food is sustainable without some [serious data research](https://www.sustained.com/blog/sustainability-discoveries-through-data-research). (Which is why we created sustained.) So, to simplify it even further, in this article, we’re just going to discuss the environmental impact of food. ## Environmental Impact of food But when we talk about the impact that food has on the environment, what do we mean? In total, there are 16 environmental impact categories used in the PEF framework we use for [LCA](/blog/intro-to-lifecycle-assessment), ranging from climate change to photochemical ozone formation. However, to keep this blog simple, I’m going to focus on the 7 environmental impact categories that we use here at Sustained. [The categories we use are](https://www.sustained.com/methodology): global warming; soil pollution; ocean pollution; fossil resource use; human health; water use and; land use. So, using the theories from above, low environmental impact foods are those which don’t contribute significantly to soil pollution and ocean pollution. They don’t use a great deal of land and water, and they don’t cause significant damage to human health. Simply put, these foods would be able to be produced at the same level, for a significant period of time, without causing serious, irreversible harm in any of these 7 environmental impact categories. ## Making Sustainable Food Choices: While it is essential for us to understand the theory around sustainable foods, there remains to be a disconnect between theory and practise. Or, in other words, how I can implement this knowledge into my daily life and food habits. As such, we’ve compiled these [guides](/blog) for you, which go into detail about which foods are sustainable, and how to integrate more low impact foods into your daily life: Alternatively, you can download the Sustained app, and know the environmental impact of your food in real time: [ww.sustained.com/install](https://www.sustained.com/install) --- ## Discovering Greenhouse Gases Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/discovering-greenhouse-gases/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Viktoria Bashkite Today climate change is one of the hottest topics among politicians, business people, scientists and citizens worldwide. The younger generation is horrified about the possible consequences of climate change, which is one of the reasons I joined Sustained to make a difference and contribute. I think everyone is curious if the situation is as bad as it is presented in mass media. Let’s figure it out together. ## First of all, why is Climate Change a problem? The main concern is the quickly growing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are causing the planet’s rising temperatures and could make the Earth unlivable for humans and animals in the future. Our main goal is to maintain the temperature as stable as possible so all species and future generations can survive on Earth. Greenhouse gases consist of several components. The main contributor, [about 75%](https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions), is carbon dioxide (CO2), which comes mainly from[human activity](https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases#carbon-dioxide) like transportation, burning coal, oil, and gas and food production. That’s why net-zero and renewable energy initiatives are in all the news. The goal is to decrease the CO2 emissions as much as possible to help the planet to maintain the temperature. In March 2021, CO2 levels reached an all time high in the past 2 million years, and when CO2 gets into the atmosphere, it stays there for[300-1000 years](https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2915/the-atmosphere-getting-a-handle-on-carbon-dioxide/#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20is%20a%20different,timescale%20of%20many%20human%20lives.). There are also numerous[pledges](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_4785) and[global methane initiatives](https://www.globalmethane.org/) to decrease methane (CH4) levels as the second-largest greenhouse gas. These levels have risen by[almost 10%](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02116-8) for the past decade. CH4 is equally as dangerous as CO2; it doesn’t last as long as CO2, but[it traps much more heat](https://sciencing.com/what-are-the-dangers-of-methane-gas-13404265.html). As more heat is trapped, the higher the temperature gets. Methane comes mainly from gas production as a byproduct during agriculture, [4% of which is produced during cattle production](https://sciencing.com/harmful-effects-chlorine-gas-8398634.html). Surprise, surprise! Nitrous oxide (N2O) is known as laughing gas and [is up 30% since 1980](https://cen.acs.org/environment/climate-change/Nitrous-oxide-packs-dangerous-climate/99/i25#:~:text=Known%20as%20laughing%20gas%2C%20nitrous,a%20recent%20study%20in%20Nature.). N20 stays in the atmosphere for about[114 years](https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases#nitrous-oxide). The biggest issue is related to its warming potential. One pound of N2O has a 300x bigger impact than one pound of CO2. The most significant discovery is hidden in so-called fluorinated F-gases, or to be more precise, sulfur hexafluoride SF6. This gas can stay in the atmosphere[for 3,200 years](https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases#f-gases), which is one of the most extended lifespans among all greenhouse gases except for perfluorocarbons (PFCs). Also, sulfur hexafluoride is dangerous because its warming potential is thousands of times higher than carbon dioxide, and its level rose [10% in 2017, just in Europe](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49567197). ## Why should we worry as the concentration is pretty low compared to CO2? SF6 gas is used for modern ways of electricity production. It is used in devices called switchgear[for safety purposes to stop short circuits](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49567197). Potentially, this gas can become the next challenge for humans once the issue with carbon dioxide is successfully resolved. As we get to know greenhouse gases better, especially their causes, it is time to understand what can help us solve the problem. If you are 30+ years old, you should remember the hype around the ozone holes discovered in the[mid 1980s](https://grist.org/article/the-ozone-mystery-got-solved-heres-what-could-happen-next/) and considered a massive threat to the planet. Thanks to the[Montreal Protocol](https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/about-montreal-protocol) signed in 1987, the problem was taken under control: the level of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) declined significantly, and the community declared a[victory](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ozone-hole-was-super-scary-what-happened-it-180957775/) fighting against the thinning ozone layer. Today it’s a seasonal nature phenomenon. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s working for the minimization of CO2 emissions. At the moment the 2015[Paris Agreement](https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement) has failed, and only the [Gambia](https://qz.com/africa/2066185/how-are-countries-doing-with-the-paris-agreement-climate-pledges/) looks to be making progress. Hopefully, we will see more proactive actions shortly driven by lawful parties. High CO2 emissions open up new horizons for businesses. Companies can help cut the level of CO2, create new jobs, and earn trillions of dollars. Here are just some of the potential ideas covered in[this article](https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/11/13/20839531/climate-change-industry-co2-carbon-capture-utilization-storage-ccu): - re-injection of CO2 back into the cement manufacturing process; - liquid fuels production using carbon from the atmosphere; - [algae growth acceleration](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/world-economic-forum_sdg3-activity-6866345124205539328-kauS). And of course, we, ordinary people, can help improve the situation with the greenhouse emissions, at least by not making it worse. - Eat less meat, or maybe try some beyond meat options. - Travel smartly. Remember, flights have a high CO2 value. - Use only energy, food, clothes, and car rides you need. Less is more. - Install Sustained plugin and make intelligent purchases. Happy shopping! --- ## Sustainability matters (to you) Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/sustainability-matters-to-you/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Carl Olivier When Michael and I set out on this adventure, I had only a vague sense of the importance of sustainability to our everyday life, and arguably more importantly, to our children’s lives and the lives of the flora and fauna we share this planet with. ## Our education was about to begin in earnest… Sustainability touches everything and everyone in so many ways; from corporate strategy to government policy; from investment decisions to consumer purchase choices. A really important learning for me was that this is not limited to environmental or climate related areas; sustainability covers a wide range of areas such as corporate governance, company culture, innovation and policy frameworks to name only a few. But, what more specifically do we mean by “sustainability”? And, how do we know the difference between unsustainable and sustainable? **One definition of sustainability is:** > “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level” ‍**Another is:** > ‍ “avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” ‍How does this matter to us though? It matters because if we don’t change our ways, the resources, the ecosystems and the places we call home won’t survive **us.** We need to find ways to live, without destroying that which we depend on for that life. So, given the complexity of our modern production techniques, the industrial scale and advancements in farming techniques, how are we as mere mortals able to make the choices that lead to less harmful impact on the environment and our society? And why does it matter what we do, we aren’t governmental, we are not multinationals. ## No, but we are the demand to their supply. So, understanding what sustainability really means is a pretty fundamentally important starting point. In addition we also need the information about what went into the making of the products being sold to us, ensuring we can even try to make a more sustainable choice. ## Today, in the majority of cases, the information is not available, and when it is it is woefully inadequate. **‍**When doing your weekly food shop, do you have any visibility into how much land was used or the level of pollution generated while making your beans? Do you truly understand that your choices drive the behaviours of the producers of the food you eat? This then is the change we need to make, the way we think about our everyday choices, the impact they have at scale. And the change we can drive, the shifts in manufacturing, transport and more in the systems that we depend on. Voting with our wallets has value. Michael and I founded Sustained because we believe emphatically that given accurate and actionable information at the time it is needed, better choices can and **will** be made. Those decisions will drive other choices, more sustainable ones. We have made it our purpose to build the systems and facilitate the journeys for everyone to be able to .... ## ...make better choices. --- ## An Introduction to Environmental Impacts Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/intro-to-environmental-impacts/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Ari Gold and Chloe Elkin When we think of sustainability, and more specifically the environment, the first three things that come to mind are ‘Climate Change’, ‘Environment’ and ‘Carbon Footprint’. And there is good reason for that: when looking on Google News, there are 5,000,000,000 results about the environment, 322,000,000 results about Climate Change and 3,940,000 about carbon footprints. But if we were to try to research a more niche aspect of environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss or soil pollution, we would only find 333,000 and 2,320,000 results respectively. That is to say that the conversation around the less mainstream areas of sustainability is a lot more difficult to come by. The issue, however, is that because the material isn’t out there, we’re not having these important conversations. Issues such as soil pollution are often only discussed in scientific or environmentally focussed circles, and even then, they often have no definition, making the entire conversation inaccessible to the average joe. This is why we’ve decided to put together a short introduction into some of the areas of environmental food impacts. In this guide, you’ll find quick definitions and descriptions of commonly known terms such as ‘fossil fuels’ as well as the more niche terms that we discussed earlier. Moreover, over the coming weeks, we’ll also be populating this guide with links to more in-depth blog posts on each topic, ready for you to learn more if you feel inclined to. So please do, grab a cup of tea and refer to this document the next time you are trying to learn about environmental impacts on the web. ## Biodiversity Loss ##### Definition: The reduction of species of plants and animals in a given area, resulting in an overall lack of diversity. We are currently facing the sixth major extinction. While extinction is a normal occurrence, often at a rate of 0.01% of species per 100 years, mass extinction is much rarer. The last mass extinction took place 65 million years ago, killing 78% of all species, including the last non-bird dinosaurs. Some scientists think that we could be facing a sixth major extinction due to the current rate of biodiversity loss, which is between 100 and 1,000 times higher than expected. This is attributed to growing levels of soil pollution, land use change and ocean pollution. ## Soil Pollution ##### Definition: The presence of toxic chemicals in the soil in a high enough concentration that it threatens the wellbeing of surrounding animals and humans. Soil naturally contains a number of different chemicals and compounds; when the levels of these chemicals become higher than natural, and/or chemicals that shouldn’t belong there start to appear, we call this soil pollution. Often, soil pollution is caused by the use of artificial chemicals and fertilisers by farmers, construction activity (which can allow chemical substances to spread quickly through the air as dust) and improper waste disposal. However, soil pollution can also occur through natural means, for example through reactions between air pollution and water. Soil pollution can affect any living organism that comes into contact with the land, whether that’s plants, animals or humans. Often, given their propensity to play with dirt, children are more susceptible to soil pollution - related diseases than adults. However, polluted soil can also infiltrate an entire water supply, endangering a population. ## Ocean Pollution ##### Definition: Ocean Pollution is when chemicals, physical pollutants (such as plastic), waste or invasive organisms enter the ocean, typically from land. Oceans are increasingly becoming filled with foreign objects. Chemical pollution is often the result of artificial fertilisers being used on farmlands and running into the sea. These chemicals can accumulate in coastal regions causing the growth of algae, endangering animals that live in the sea and humans who rely on the region for food and recreation. Physical pollutants, such as plastics, are the most well-known form of ocean pollution. Human activity such as littering and poor waste management, when combined with strong winds, can cause the buildup of these materials. Given the vast majority of pollutants come from the land, ocean pollution is worst in continental plates. ## Land Use ##### Definition: How and how much land we use for each stage of an ingredient/food’s life cycle can have long lasting impacts on our planet. Currently, the UK uses 71% of its land for agriculture. That means that almost three-quarters of land is regularly used for monocultures, filled with artificial fertilisers and physically disturbed through farming practises. More importantly, this land isn’t being protected as forests and parks. As such, biodiversity is often lost in these newly converted agricultural lands, further contributing to the impacts of climate change. Land is also a finite resource. As the global population continues to grow, and more and more people transition to a animal-based diet, more land is needed to meet these growing demands. Already, half of global habitable land is used for agriculture, and this is expected to grow over the coming decades. Therefore, it is essential that we assess how much land is needed to grow each food when assessing its sustainability. ## Human Health ##### Definition: Ensuring that there are no clear risks to human health while conducting an activity or process. Soil pollutions, ocean pollution and air pollution can all contribute to bad human health. According to the UN, climate change is set to cause another 250,000 deaths a year between 2030 and 2050. ## Greenhouse Gases ##### Definition: Greenhouse Gases trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is a natural process which allows the planet to maintain its constant, livable temperature of 15 degrees celsius. Gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and contribute to this effect. The issues come when the proportion of these gases are thrown out of balance. When more of these gases are added to the atmosphere, the result is that more heat from the sun is trapped, which causes the problems. Burning fossil fuels releases an unnatural amount of greenhouse gases, accelerating the greenhouse effect and causing our planet to warm. Thus global warming and climate change are becoming realities. ## Global Warming ##### Definition: Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature which is being accelerated by man-made processes Global warming is not the same as Climate Change. Generally, the former term has been made redundant by the latter; while global warming describes the warming of the planet, climate change encompasses all meteorological shifts, including those in temperature and weather patterns. If anything, global warming causes climate change. It has been understood that global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect; fossil fuels are burned, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, these gases trap heat causing the earth’s average temperature to increase. The earth has been naturally warming for many centuries, however, the increased level of greenhouse gases from human activities has sped up this process. ## Water Use ##### Definition: How and how much water we use to for each stage of an ingredient/food’s life cycle can have long lasting impacts on our planet. Only 3% of water on the planet is fresh; and ⅓ of that freshwater is frozen in glaciers or deep underground. Much like with land use, as the demand for water intensive foods such as meat increases, the amount of water necessary to fulfil these needs grows.Therefore, how we use our water is increasingly important. Agriculture currently accounts for over 70% of our global water use. Farming also contributes to water and ocean pollution through the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. These disproportionate impacts indicate how important it is for us to be able to choose foods that use less water. ## Fossil Fuel ##### Definition: The collective term for organic materials that can be burned for energy, such as coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels can be found beneath the earth’s crust and take millions of years to form. When burnt, they release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which contributes to the warming effect. Given the timeframe that it takes to create fossil fuels, they are considered to be a finite resource. ‍ ##### References: [https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/fossil-fuels/](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/fossil-fuels/) [https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-mass-extinction-and-are-we-facing-a-sixth-one.html](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-mass-extinction-and-are-we-facing-a-sixth-one.html) [https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/](https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/) [https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/](https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/) [https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-pollution/](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-pollution/) [https://www.nrdc.org/stories/greenhouse-effect-101](https://www.nrdc.org/stories/greenhouse-effect-101) [https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/global-warming/](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/global-warming/) [https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change) [https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/water-and-agriculture/](https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/water-and-agriculture/) [https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/news/importance-water-sustainability](https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/news/importance-water-sustainability)‍ --- ## Celebrating Amber Choices Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/celebrating-amber-choices/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Chloe Elkin Sustainability is often seen as an all or nothing game where binary choices need to be made overnight. Ther is another way though, and that is through incremental change, which if enough of us make these kinds of shifts, will have significant environmental impact reduction outcomes. For many, it feels like you have to be an off-the-grid vegan or nothing. But that’s not appealing or even possible for the vast majority of us. We have jobs, and families, and social lives that take precedence most of the time. For others of us, health or financial reasons restrict our ability to become eco-warriors. The good news is that it's far more effective if a lot of us make small changes than the odd few going all out. The cumulative impact of small behavioural changes of everyone, combined with word of mouth, is immense. The classic example is that of plastic straws: one person using one plastic straw doesn’t seem like a big deal. But when everyone uses one, we suddenly have 8 billion plastic straws in our oceans. The same concept applies to sustainable food choices. So here is a celebration of amber choices, and the impact that these small changes can have on the planet. ## What are amber choices? At Sustained, we divide foods into three categories: green (A and B), amber (C, D and E) and red (F and G). Simply put, foods with a green rating have a low estimated environmental impact, and those with a red rating, have a high estimated environmental impact. Amber foods are those with a medium impact. However, rather than focussing on the impact that amber foods have, in this post, we want to focus on the impact that they’re not having. In other words, the CO2 that is not being produced, water not being used or land not being wasted. We want to reframe the conversation around amber choices. ## Impact of amber choices One of the greatest complaints that we hear when talking about sustainable foods is ‘I don’t want to give up meat’. But, if we’re focussing on amber choices, you really don’t have to. For example, did you know that it takes [15,415 litres of water to produce a kilo of beef, but only 4,325 litres of water to produce a kilo of chicken](https://healabel.com/carbon-footprint-of-foods)? That means, every time you choose to swap to chicken, you’re saving over 11,000 litres of water. You’ll also be saving over [50 CO2e](https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/eyes-on-environment/water_world/). To take another example, by swapping hard cheeses such as cheddar to softer cheeses such as camembert or stilton, you can also contribute to a healthier planet. These softer cheeses are thought to be less energy intensive as they take less time to age, thus [reducing the amount of emissions created](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/infact/is-dairy-or-meat-worse-for-the-environment-b1891387.html). No more giving up cheese for us! We can also look at the proportions and frequency that we have high impact foods in our diet. For example, if you are a keen beef eater, it would be wholly unsustainable to suggest that you would have to give up steaks for the rest of your life. Much like following a strict, calorie controlled diet, at some point you will crack and eat as much beef, if not more, than you would have previously. Instead, we can look at reducing the amount of beef that you have in a week. If you eat beef twice a week, try swapping one of those meals out for a veggie meal. Or, if you find that after a couple of bites you’re satiated, perhaps reduce the serving size, and fill up on locally grown, seasonal veg instead. More often than not, there’s a way to work around people’s preferences. ## The round-up To conclude, I think we all need to take less of a militant approach when it comes to sustainability, and most importantly, when it comes to judging others. There is room for improvement in everyone’s diets, whether you’ve been plant-based for a decade, or only just started to learn about the environmental impact of your food. But the most important thing is that we all try to take consistent actions to eat more sustainably, rather than going all out one day, and doing nothing the next. After all, the whole point of sustainability is to be able to maintain things at a certain level for a long time. --- ## Debunking Food Sustainability Myths Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/debunking-food-sustainability-myths/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Charlotte Franzellin There is a lot of information out there, but with wealth of information comes misinformation. It’s no secret that our planet is undergoing a serious crisis. The “going green” trend has only been accelerating over the past decade or so. A good thing you might say? Totally! As long as it is based on science and data, and not on false pretences or popular beliefs. ## The only way to combat misinformation? With more information that you can trust. This is why today we will address some of the most common myths about food sustainability, give you the facts about what matters most, and try to point you in the right direction. 5 most common sustainable food myths - and where you should focus instead! **Myth #1 - Sustainability is all about Climate Change** ## Everyone talks about sustainability. All the time. But few of us know what sustainability really means. A common misconception is that sustainability is all about climate change but that is far from true. While it’s true that climate change and global warming are a result of global unsustainable practices, sustainability is much more than just climate change. Sustainability was defined in its modern sense back in 1987 by the United Nations as **“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.** Do you see any mention of the environment in there? No, because true sustainability covers more than just the environment. Something is only truly sustainable if it involves sustainable economic practices, contributes to a sustainable society and safeguards the environment in a sustainable way. You can read more about sustainability and sustainable food in [this blog post](/blog/what-is-sustainable-food). While we currently only estimate the environmental impact of food at Sustained, because of how hard it is to find information to assess products at scale when it comes to societal and economic practices, we hope to soon be able to expand to sustainability as a whole. Stay tuned! **Myth #2 - Switching your diet is the best way to reduce your environmental impact!** Now, let’s dive into the environmental portion of sustainability for a minute. We’ve all heard that we need to change the way we eat to ‘save the planet’, but this is only half true. Changing what you eat, shifting to eating more plant-based foods, and limiting your meat and dairy intake will absolutely reduce your environmental impact, and quite significantly that is. However, reducing our food waste is the most substantial thing we can do as a society. According to the UN, [one-third of all the food we produce](https://www.unep.org/regions/north-america/regional-initiatives/promoting-sustainable-lifestyles) in the world today - approximately 1.3 billion tonnes - is wasted every year. Let’s contextualise this: If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China and the United States. Mind boggling isn’t it? Of course this is not just from our own fridges. It’s waste from shops, farms, cafes and restaurants. In the UK however, households are the biggest contributor to food waste, making up [70% of the total](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/areviewofhouseholdbehaviourinrelationtofoodwasterecyclingenergyuseandairtravel/2021-11-01). This amounts to a total waste of [4.5m tonnes of food](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/24/uk-households-waste-45m-tonnes-of-food-each-year) that could have been eaten, an average £700 for a family with children each year. ## How can you help fight this? Be the better man in the shop and choose the wonky vegetables, buy the “reduced” items, those that are only good to be sold for another day or so, and most importantly, reduce what you throw in the bin! You could be a planner like myself, and plan your meals ahead of time to make sure nothing goes to waste (make sure you under-plan so you can improvise that pizza outing with your friends and not feel guilty about it!), or if you’re more of an improviser, then create a “must eat now” shelf in your fridge to easily see what you need to have for dinner! **Myth #3 - Going vegan is the only way to make a true difference** **‍**As previously mentioned, changing your diet is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint (albeit not the only one!). However, one common myth is that in order to make a real difference, you have to be vegan and that is simply untrue. We already covered this topic on the blog, but we have to celebrate the [amber choices](/blog/celebrating-amber-choices). Not everyone can, nor may wish to, adopt a fully vegan lifestyle and that is okay. If that is you, don’t worry, you can still make a difference. ## Start by reducing your consumption. Meat and dairy are two of the worst offenders when it comes to environmental impact which is why veganism is a very strong candidate for being more sustainable. However, if we all simply reduced our beef, pork and poultry consumption by a quarter, we could [save up to millions of tons](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46590-1) of greenhouse gas emissions each year. And if that still sounds like too big a change, then consider swapping for lower impact alternatives instead. Replacing beef with chicken for example can decrease an individual’s carbon and water footprints by [48% and 30% respectively](https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/115/2/378/6459912), that’s a lot! And be careful, don’t assume all plant-based products are created equal. Some are not as sustainable as they pretend to be. One example: almond milk. Almonds are extremely water intensive and as such can’t be a synonym for sustainability. Equally, if these plant-based alternatives travel thousands of miles to get to you and are sold in non-recyclable plastic packaging, they might not be better than getting some locally grown turkey from the butcher! **Myth #4 - Local is always best** My personal favourite. We’ve all heard this rule of thumb: choose products that are made in your home country! We think that transporting food from miles away will make the product’s environmental impact so much worse, but you might be shocked to hear that transportation only accounts for about 5% of all food emissions (teeny-tiny isn’t it?). We’re not saying those emissions are not important - they are - but if you want to reduce your environmental footprint, you might consider walking to the store and buying that pineapple that is eyeing you instead of driving there to then avoid buying the pineapple! Transportation being such a small portion of your overall food footprint, your focus should be on production, which is our core focus at Sustained. Something that is produced in a more sustainable manner miles away from you may have a lower environmental impact than something produced locally! Take lamb for example. A study found that [eating lamb from New Zealand is a more environmentally friendly option](https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10182/4317/food_miles.pdf) for most of us in the UK than eating more locally produced Welsh lamb. This is because it comes in great quantities (optimised transportation) and the lambs are grown in eco-efficient farms that use hydroelectricity. To top it off, the better New Zealand climate means that grass grows for longer, so less additional feed is needed! Tomatoes are another great example. Tomatoes from Spain’s sunny climate are more sustainable than those produced in heated greenhouses in the UK. This is why your new rule of thumb should be: Local if native to the country is best! **Myth #5 - Eating sustainably is always more expensive** This is probably the one myth you hear the most. Why? Because it is partly true but the key is in the “always”. Eating more sustainably isn’t necessarily always more expensive. If you decided to change your diet to lower your environmental impact, it won’t necessarily cost you more. A [recent study](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00251-5/fulltext#seccestitle180) compared the cost of current diets to the cost of low impact diet types (everything from flexitarian, the less restrictive, all the way to vegan) in 150 countries. This study revealed a very interesting finding: the low impact diets were up to 22–34% cheaper in upper-middle to high income countries on average, but at least 18–29% more expensive in lower-middle to low-income countries. What does this mean for the average UK consumer? Adopting more sustainable eating patterns will not necessarily cost you more! ## To conclude, there is a lot of work still needed to make sustainability easy to understand. But we are working hard to make that happen. And don’t forget those wise words Winston Churchill once pronounced: **“It is better to do something than to do nothing while waiting to do everything”** --- ## What is ESG? Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/what-is-esg/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Chloe Elkin ## Environmental, Social and Governance You may be thinking: “you’ve just told me what ESG means, why should I keep reading?” For one, I can almost guarantee that you don’t know exactly what at least one of these words entail and examples of them. Two, it’ll help a plucky little sustainability start up if you do. And three, you may learn something you didn’t expect to. You see, this blog post is part of our wider goal to make sustainability more accessible. There are a lot of sustainability terms out there, and the general assumption is that everyone knows everything, but that can’t be true. So, we’re slowly working our way through some of the most commonly used terms and defining them for you. Making it easier to understand the impact of your choices. Please read on… ## Environmental How the actions of a company impact the natural environment. For example, is it a food producer that uses toxic fertilisers, thus polluting the local soil and water? Or, is it a table-making company that uses wood from unsustainable sources, thus threatening biodiversity levels? These are of course examples of bad environmental policies. ## Social How relationships between employees, external contractors and stakeholders, and communities are managed. You may have seen the claims against Amazon for the maltreatment of their warehouse workers (see stories of workers being afraid to use the toilets and computers tracking every second of their 10 hour shifts) - this is also an example of bad social governance. ## Governance The behaviour of those who run the company, including pay audits. For example, a BNP manager was recently fired for allegedly harassing and humiliating an employee in front of colleagues. More salaciously, former Swiss ‘banker of the year’ was jailed for claiming 200,000 francs in expenses which he used during visits to strip clubs. (I doubt you were expecting strip clubs to come up when you started reading this piece). ## All about the company… One thing you may have noticed is all of these definitions relate to the behaviour of a company. This is because ESG is a set of criteria used by investors to see if a firm is morally conscious before investing in it. As you can probably imagine, companies are actively seeking to gain a higher ESG rating, as this often means more investments, but this is frequently achieved through the equivalent of greenwashing rather than actual change. If we go back to the case of Amazon, for example; in response to the claims that warehouse employees were finding the working conditions to be “slave-like”, the trillion dollar company installed a six foot “zen” room which employees can use, but not to the detriment of their targets. This was in place of implementing a singular 30 minute break per 10 hour shift. When it comes to more explicit greenwashing, we’ll have another blog post going into more detail soon, but it’s equally important to keep your eyes peeled for claims that seem to be too good to be true. ## To wrap it up While ESG criteria is a way for investors to analyse companies, it also presents a more holistic way of looking at sustainability. Rather than focusing purely on the environment, ESG encompasses social and economic factors as well. This balanced focus is essential if we are to create a more sustainable future for ourselves. Remember, this is just one part of our series on defining sustainability terms. You can find the first post on the topic here, and a blog explaining what sustainable food is here. Also, make sure you save this blog for the next time you come across the phrase to help make understanding sustainability jargon just that bit easier. ## References [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/25/a-hard-hitting-investigative-report-into-amazon-shows-that-workers-needs-were-neglected-in-favor-of-getting-goods-delivered-quickly/?sh=38c0288d51f5](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/10/25/a-hard-hitting-investigative-report-into-amazon-shows-that-workers-needs-were-neglected-in-favor-of-getting-goods-delivered-quickly/?sh=38c0288d51f5) [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp) [https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/business/how-much-is-amazon-worth/](https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/business/how-much-is-amazon-worth/) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/04/21/bankers-left-traumatised-bosss-emotional-terrorism/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/04/21/bankers-left-traumatised-bosss-emotional-terrorism/) --- ## Why Sustained is focusing on food production Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-sustained-is-focusing-on-food-production/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Lyudmila Lugovskaya We are often told that we need to live more sustainably. But what exactly does it mean? The enormity of this concept used to paralyse rather than motivate me. Should I recycle more? Stop buying new clothes and re-tailor the old ones instead? Protest against fossil fuels in front of the Parliament? Escape civilisation altogether, grow vegetables and live off my own allotment? More often than not, after some deliberation I would conclude that in practical terms there is not much I can do to help sustainability and carry on as before while feeling powerless and guilty. The point is - **the field of sustainability is huge, complicated and confusing**. It is a long journey for humankind, but we at Sustained wanted to start somewhere, and we've chosen to focus on food production first. ## But, why food production specifically? **Food production is a major contributor to climate change**: it turns out that food production [generates more than a third](https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2021/09/food-production-generates-more-than-a-third-of-manmade-greenhouse-gas-emissions-a-new-framework-tells-how-much-comes-from-crops-countries-and-regions/) of manmade greenhouse emissions that drive climate change. Moreover, not all foods are created equal. Animal-based products (meat, poultry and dairy products) [contribute 57% of emissions](https://theconversation.com/food-production-generates-more-than-a-third-of-manmade-greenhouse-gas-emissions-a-new-framework-tells-us-how-much-comes-from-crops-countries-and-regions-167623) linked to the food system. Among meat products, beef is by far the worst offender, whereas rice production is responsible for the [highest plant-associated GHG emissions](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2290068-food-production-emissions-make-up-more-than-a-third-of-global-total/). So what we eat is really important, but it may be tricky to put this information into context, and this is what we are looking to change. **Food production is not linked to only GHG emissions**, it also contributes significantly to other important aspects of sustainability. For example, certain farming practices used in the production of palm oil, cocoa and coffee [have been linked](https://certification.bureauveritas.com/magazine/4-ways-make-food-processing-more-sustainable) to natural environment destruction, deforestation, as well as child and forced labour. **A great deal of food gets wasted**: [it’s estimated](https://fareshare.org.uk/what-we-do/hunger-food-waste/) that the food industry in the UK wastes a massive 3.6 million tonnes of food every year. Therefore not only which goods we buy is important, but also how much. Most of the impacts that arise from food production are directly proportional to food weight or volume, and one of our goals is to make this information more prominent. [**Climate-related anxiety is on the rise**](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191010-how-to-beat-anxiety-about-climate-change-and-eco-awareness), and it negatively affects people’s mental health in a variety of ways. With climate change constantly hitting the headlines, it's no wonder that it feels like all doom and gloom. Yet, knowing that there is something tangible that each of us can do is helpful for re-gaining at least some sense of control. **There is a lot of innovation in food production**, from vertical farming to new models of distribution that help promote local produce. By voting with their feet and their wallets, customers can influence which food technologies get prioritised. In summary, food production plays a big part in sustainability, and shopping more consciously is something concrete that each of us could do. ## So why not try? --- ## Comparing the Impact of Man-Made and Natural Green House Gas Emissions Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/comparing-the-impact-of-man-made-and-natural-green-house-gas-emissions/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Ari Gold I have grown up hearing about climate change and greenhouse gases (GHGs) and how they have a negative impact on our environment and planet. I have also learnt that the planet itself produces these same gases. So I pose the question, if the planet, for millions of years, produced carbon dioxide, methane etc, and managed to maintain an environmental equilibrium, then is it bad if humans produce the same gases? The answer is yes. ## Natural GHG production An example of a natural GHG source is volcanoes. Volcanoes are known to erupt and spew all kinds of material into the environment such as lava and gases. These natural environmental phenomena have been occurring almost as long as the Earth has existed. In modern society, due to their destructive behaviour, we have deemed volcanic eruptions to be dangerous and hazardous to the environment. In the short term, yes, the eruptions do cause negative change to the surrounding environment but nature has always bounced back, with plants and wildlife always regrowing and reforming in the affected areas. ## Man-made GHG sources Now onto man-made GHG sources. Roughly from the birth of the industrial revolution, humans have been producing excess carbon dioxide and other environmentally harmful gases and releasing them into the atmosphere and environment. How bad can man-made GHG contributions be, if natural GHG sources are not detrimental to the environment? According to a paper published in Advances in Climate Change Research, man-made emissions account for approximately 55.46% of the total global GHGs emissions (2016 value), i.e. man-made emissions are equal to roughly 125% of natural emissions (humans produce more GHGs than nature). As long as the Earth is able to still absorb this extra amount of emissions then the global system would still be in equilibrium, right? Well, it was also found that the amount of GHG emissions that the Earth can absorb is roughly the same amount that is naturally produced. Therefore the GHG emissions generated by human activity put extra pressure on what is otherwise a self-balancing Earth[1]. To summarise, the Earth is being put under pressure due to man-made GHGs. Therefore, it is essential that we aim to reduce our own GHG emissions to help lighten the burden on our planet. References: [1] - Xi-Liu YUE, Qing-Xian GAO, Contributions of natural systems and human activity to greenhouse gas emissions, Advances in Climate Change Research, Volume 9, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 243-252 --- ## The Three Actors for Sustainable Demand Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/the-three-actors-for-sustainable-demand/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Chloe Elkin The state of the environment can feel overwhelming. With everything else going on in the world, it can almost feel nihilistic. And so, while we normally talk a lot about the actions an individual can take to fight climate change, today we’re going to zoom out. This blog post will look at your shop for sustainable food from a macro level, assessing the various actors involved and their role in encouraging greater sustainability. With the hope to show that while this is a big issue, it's not on any one of us alone to fix it. ## Demand You are a butterfly. You’ve likely heard of the butterfly effect; the idea that one small action can radically change the outcome of a situation. Well, this is exactly what happens when you start to buy more sustainable food. First, you never know who you subconsciously impact- whether it's talking about sustainable food options at brunch or scanning your foods in store, someone, without ever mentioning it, will likely change their habits to become more sustainable. ‍ Secondly, it's impossible to know how many people are buying the same products as you. Think of the 8 billion straw adage; if one person uses a plastic straw, it feels fine, but if 8 billion people do the same thing, suddenly the ocean is full of straws. The same is true for sustainable food choices; buying that low impact option may not feel like its making much of a difference, but 8 billion of those swaps sure will. The action you’re taking to buy more sustainable food is having a hidden cumulative effect, one that will add to the cumulative demand for more sustainable products. ## Regulation As sustainability and climate change have become more prolific in pop culture, so too have they in legislation. The Paris Agreement, G20 Summit and EU’s New Green Deal are all examples of the increasing prioritisation of the environment. Most recently, and relevantly, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) launched their “Green Claim Code” with the aim of reducing greenwashing. Now FMCG products can only be advertised with sustainability claims if such statements can be backed up with data, analysing the product’s complete lifecycle. Brands will also no longer be able to advertise something as a benefit if they are legally required to do it. For example, claiming a face wash is sustainable because it does not contain microbeads would now be against code as microbeads are illegal in the UK. These new legislations will enforce visible sustainability onto brands, and enable us, the consumers, to make better informed purchases. This action against business is often going on in the background and feels separate from the work we’re doing as individuals, but it all adds to the web influencing sustainable demand. ## Profit Finally, we need to talk about the role of businesses, and especially food retailers, in building a more sustainable market. I know many people are sceptical when it comes to the role of businesses in fighting climate change, especially the most ardent eco-warriors among you, however that may not be the case. If, for example, you believe that companies care only about profit, there is still a strong business case for more sustainable practices. For example, in 2021, 87% of consumers want brands to act now to encourage future sustainability. In fact, the ethical consumer market is growing rapidly, and sustainability is becoming a key factor in consumer’s choices. Even with the ethical ramifications of sustainability aside, the increased market share gained by brands with clear sustainable practices alone is worth the additional cost of brands adjusting their product. It’s possible to see the move towards sustainability as motivated by a desire to protect the environment or as a way to gain market share and profit, however, regardless of the stance you take, it’s clear that work will be and is being done to reduce the environmental impact of products. ## Conclusion The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The climate crisis wasn’t created by one actor and it won’t be solved by one actor either. It requires collaboration and sacrifice from each party to reach the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5’c. And, while this can make the situation feel even more out of our control, it means that each action we take is magnified by the actions of others, legislators and businesses. The three actors outlined above create the perfect storm; each encourages the other to be more sustainable. We’ll be writing more blog posts about the role of business in sustainability in the future, however, for now, we can take comfort knowing that we’ve created the perfect situation for a more sustainable future. ## References [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-claims-cma-sets-out-the-dos-and-don-ts-for-businesses](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/green-claims-cma-sets-out-the-dos-and-don-ts-for-businesses) [https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/green-claims-code-are-you-unintentionally-greenwashing/](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/green-claims-code-are-you-unintentionally-greenwashing/) [https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=f1f21ac3-a2a6-46fd-9a0f-24a953b888ce](https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=f1f21ac3-a2a6-46fd-9a0f-24a953b888ce) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-claims-code-making-environmental-claims/green-claims-and-your-business](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-claims-code-making-environmental-claims/green-claims-and-your-business) SmartestEnergy Sustainability Matters Report - December 2021 --- ## Sustained Ethics Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/sustained-ethics/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Michael Velenko Sustained is as much about transparency as it is about education. While we regularly talk about discoveries we have found whilst creating the app, we are yet to discuss the inner workings of Sustained. This post gives an introduction to some of the values we hold ourselves to, and what to expect from us, as we continue to grow. ## In trust we trust One of the main pillars on which Sustained is built is trust. Trust that is based on objective reason, but which builds connection with people and their subjective beliefs. In order to build and maintain such trust we must be transparent: we are happy to fully disclose the decision process behind any metric or aggregated value we provide. We also communicate openly and clearly on changes in our methods and approaches and the reasons behind them. Sustained must also be impartial. We do not decide for our customers or shape their preferences, we simply inform their decisions and help them navigate a complex space full of tradeoffs. Trust requires continually demonstrated performance, transparency of policies and decision-making, auditability and tracing of data sources. It also requires a formulated, reasonable and actionable ethical stance. ‍ ## Keeping up with science Sustained treasures scientific method and results of scientific discovery, and we back up our interpretation of the actions companies take and effects they have on the environment, with established, reasonably verified scientific evidence. We also recognize that science never states anything as a dogma, and continuously, critically tests even the most established theories. For example: it’s been common knowledge for decades that cholesterol causes cardio-vascular diseases and numerous measures have been taken to reduce LDL-C (aka ‘bad cholesterol’) in dietary products. If Sustained existed at a time, we could easily have had ‘Increases probability of cardio-vascular diseases’ as an info badge for LDL-C-containing products. In 2018 a meta-research [came out](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17512433.2018.1519391) challenging this common knowledge. Unless it’s disproved, the right thing to do in such a hypothetical situation would be to remove ‘Increases probability of cardio-vascular diseases’ as an info badge for cholesterol as an ingredient. We must be prepared for changes in base theories, claims and other data inputs, and technologies that we select to implement the model allow us to recompute effects holistically if such events occur. ‍ ## Working with popular demand While we shouldn’t ignore popular demand, we must put diligence and scrutiny before hype and reason, only taking public action (i.e. issuing a new Sustained info badge or a product score component) when we’ve reached a comparable degree of confidence to our longer evaluated domains. In particular, we actively filter out unfair marketing practices that can be both trivially true and misleading at the same time. For example, let’s consider the ‘gluten-free’ movement that is fair to assume to be popular enough. It would be a non-starter to even consider tracking that effect for anything other than products having grain in their (sub)ingredients. So, in simple terms we must say firm ‘not on Sustained.com!’ to gluten-free salt, sugar, meat etc. Another example would be the recent popularity of ‘paraben-free’ cosmetic products for the rumored connection of parabens used as preservatives with cancer. It has been shown that [no such connection exists](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12381712/), moreover it has been comprehensively shown that paraben alternatives are at least not safer, but in many cases - significantly more toxic. We may still track ‘paraben-free’ as a product property, but would combine it with educational efforts to present a balanced, evidence-backed view of preservatives in cosmetics. ## Reserve the right to wake up smarter As we continue to grow and examine the real-life ethical dilemmas about the data we collect, we will undoubtedly find mistakes that we made along the way. However, we are dedicated to providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date information, even and especially when that means we need to change. --- ## Why we started Sustained Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/why-we-started-sustained/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Michael Velenko #### A fine question indeed! Nothing in my or my co-founder Carl’s careers suggested an interest in sustainability, ecology or the environmental impact of human behaviour . We’ve spent a good 13 years building global telecommunications across Skype, Microsoft and Twilio. Telco has been our domain, distributed systems at scale - our forte, building world-class product engineering teams - our secret sauce. Yet when we finally decided to start a business together we quickly understood that repeating much of the same wasn’t going to fly. We needed something new to look at. A big, real and not particularly well-solved problem to address. A massive challenge that would be terrifying to even attempt to tackle. One with impact. Another go at video-conferencing (for all it’s faults past and current) just wasn't that! Sustainability on the other hand - was. Everything above and more. Allow me to illustrate the challenge and the appeal with milk.**‍** ### Imagine a carton of milk on your breakfast table. ## How much do you know about it? If you look carefully at the packaging and do some cursory research you’d be able to understand a country of origin, production and best before dates. What the packaging is made of and whether it can be recycled. Ingredients, nutritional value - something like that. ## How much more can you know about it? Given an abundance of time you can probably find out a lot more. You can search the web, check the news, get yourself acquainted with food industry basics and get a feel for whether that carton of milk has been produced in a resource-efficient manner and whether there’s a chance a turtle in the Pacific ocean has been affected by production of a million of these a day. It would require you to be a multidisciplinary scholar and an industry expert to be able to reason about - Distance that carton of milk has travelled - Amount of diesel fuel and electricity used to farm crops to feed dairy cows - Long-term land use effects of uninterrupted milk supply to every table in the country **(The milk must flow!)** - Waste generated directly and indirectly by production, logistics and packaging - Labour force treatment fairness at every link of the supply chain Would any of these questions affect your choices to buy that carton of milk or prefer it over another - from a different producer? ### At Sustained we think that yeah, they would. We also think that it’s an impossible ask of you to put on the burden of domain expertise and hard research work necessary to make as simple an educated choice as buying milk for breakfast. So we decided to do it on your behalf and we promise to be as transparent and trustworthy in presenting what we’ve learned as possible. We will study up, dig out the data, and create some software to make sure we all understand the effects of what we’re producing and consuming as humanity. #### One Sustained carton of milk at a time. #### ‍ --- ## Promises, promises... Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/promises-promises/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Viktoria Bashkite #### Nowadays, we see and read a lot about governments, businesses, and movie stars encouraging actions against climate change. Recent events like COP26 in Glasgow and Web Summit in Lisbon had a clear message that something has to happen to improve the worldwide situation. The picture below is taken from the Web Summit, where Mr Dinosaur explains his era's mistakes and urges humankind to be careful and take care of the planet. ![Web Summit stage](/images/blog/promises-promises/01.jpg) ‍ #### So, let’s have a closer look at what’s happening. We all know the[Amazon forest emits more carbon dioxide than it absorbs today](https://news.globallandscapesforum.org/54916/the-amazon-rainforest-is-nearing-its-tipping-point-but-what-does-that-mean/), thanks to deforestation. It is a ticking bomb and could [significantly worsen](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/amazon-deforestation-and-climate-change/) the situation with global warming. ## Climate change makes natural disasters even worse. Australia faces the worst-ever wildfires, with the hottest year on record in 2020. One billion native animals were killed, and some species have disappeared [forever](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/australia-wildfires-climate-change-carbon-dioxide-ocean-algae). Also, there are indirect impacts we are not aware of at the moment. East Africa is suffering from droughts.[People in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are without essential resources like food and water.](https://www.oxfam.org/en/drought-east-africa-if-rains-do-not-come-none-us-will-survive) Likewise, in Central America’s Dry Corridor region, countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, see dry seasons followed by less crops, leaving millions of people without food. On the other hand, South Asia is constantly hit by floods.[About 75% of Bangladesh was underwater due to the worst flood for the last 30 years.](https://www.concernusa.org/story/bangladesh-underwater-humanitarian-crisis/) According to the WMO (World Meteorological Organization), as an outcome of these and another 11,000 disasters in the last 50 years, we[have globally lost 2 million lives and $3.6 trillion](https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=21930#.YYvQIL1Bzu6) in money. ## The losses are enormous and people suffer globally. #### But what is the action plan to tackle climate change and make it less harmful? - India plans to transition to a green economy by 2070 with a contribution of 50 million jobs and a promise to become net-zero. ([source](https://www-businesstoday-in.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.businesstoday.in/amp/latest/economy/story/indias-transition-to-green-economy-to-create-50-mn-jobs-contribute-1-trn-in-economic-impact-wef-311550-2021-11-08)) - Europe is planning to cut greenhouse gases emissions by 55% by 2030. ([source](https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/european-green-deal/2030-climate-target-plan_en)) - The United States disclosed a pledge to reduce greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030. ([source](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/22/climate/new-climate-pledge.html)) - Australia will become a net-zero emissions country by 2050. ([source](https://www.wsj.com/articles/net-zero-cop26-glasgow-electricty-emmissions-renewables-climate-india-china-russia-11635429967)) This is a shortlist of the countries that have promised at least something to give you an idea of what’s going on with the governmental pledges. It is essential to mention that almost all countries failed to deliver the promises under the 2015 Paris Agreement, [except Gambia](https://qz.com/africa/2066185/how-are-countries-doing-with-the-paris-agreement-climate-pledges/). It is also a known fact that there are countries that haven’t set a goal at all, like China, Japan, South Korea and Brazil. ([source](https://www.npr.org/2021/09/17/1038294582/countries-are-breaking-their-climate-promises-the-united-nations-says)) #### Governments can not always keep their promises. We need a clear action plan today as Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Ethiopia will not survive another wave of exhausting drought or neverending monsoon rain. ## Our only hope is on businesses. Most companies work hard, invest money, and try to make a difference, but some[greenwashing activities](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59119693) are happening. Be careful buying goods from new brands, and make sure you support a trustworthy business that makes an effort to save the planet. I recently saw[this article](https://www.theshovel.com.au/2021/10/26/man-announces-he-will-quit-drinking-by-2050/) about a man from Sydney who is 73 today and plans to quit drinking by 2050 to improve his health. His schedule is promising and split into several stages. Once he is 101, he will reduce alcohol consumption and thanks to the earned drinking credits (days without alcohol), he will stop alcohol consumption in 2060. Doesn’t it sound familiar to you? 😅 #### I promise to quit drinking coffee by 2050. 😎 --- ## An Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/intro-to-lifecycle-assessment/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Matthias Reich ## Understanding Environmental Impact from Start to Finish Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method for quantifying the environmental impacts of products or services throughout their entire life cycle, offering a holistic view from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. The approach considers every stage of a product’s journey, emphasising the connections between resource use, emissions and environmental impacts. ## Everything has a Life Cycle Every product or service that is created undergoes a series of stages, which each contribute to its overall carbon & environmental footprint: - **Raw material extraction:**The initial stage where raw materials are extracted and prepared either for direct use in the product, or for the energy and equipment used to create it. - **Production:**Where raw materials are transformed into ingredients and parts for the final product - **Distribution:**The process of getting the product to the consumer, including transportation and storage - **Usage:**The consumer’s use of the product and its energy or resource requirements - **End of Life:**Disposal, recycling, or repurposing of the product ![Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 16.02.19](/images/blog/intro-to-lifecycle-assessment/01.png) ## Creating a Comprehensive Inventory: Summing Up the Flows Through assessing all of the interactions, both direct and indirect, with the environment an inventory is assembled. Direct interactions include how much water was extracted, or how much carbon was released, whereas indirect interactions include the impact related to a truck that transports a given product or material. The raw data is then transformed into insights that quantify the impact (positive or negative) allowing us to understand the overarching impact a product has on the environment. In an LCA, the impact is quantified per functional unit, which in the case of Sustained, with a focus on the food industry, could for example be 1kg of a frozen lasagna or 1kg of ground coffee beans, or it could be per individual product (a stock keeping unit or SKU) like 230g of that lasagna. Either way, the LCA would encompass all the resources going into the product before the purchase as well as those later on, such as heating it up and the disposal as well as the treatment of any packaging or food waste. ## LCI Databases: The Backbone of LCA The accuracy of a LCA heavily relies on Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases, repositories of data on the environmental exchanges involved in producing materials, products and services. At Sustained, we utilise leading databases like [Evoinvent](https://ecoinvent.org/) and [Agribalyse](https://doc.agribalyse.fr/documentation-en) for their reliability and transparency, but we are also continuously monitoring what other databases are out there and whether we can improve our system with any of them. ## Selecting the most suitable methodology The underlying methodology for an LCA defines which environmental aspects (i.e impact categories) are considered and how impacts are calculated and allocated. At Sustained, we focus on the [Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)](https://green-business.ec.europa.eu/environmental-footprint-methods_en)framework and [GHG protocol](https://ghgprotocol.org/), while our system can scale and adapt to other methodologies, to support the evolving needs of customers worldwide. The PEF framework was developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. Updated in 2018, PEF covers 16 impact categories and summarises them into a single indicator to allow for an easier interpretation of the results, comparing the impact to an average person’s annual environmental footprint. This comprehensive framework aligns with our commitment to provide insightful and actionable environmental assessments, and you can read more about why we chose PEF in [this blog post](/blog/why-use-the-product-environmental-footprint-pef-framework-for-lca). In addition, the GHG protocol methodology can also be selected as an evaluation method in Sustained for Product Carbon Foot printing. The GHG protocol was initiated 1998 by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and has since been continuously developed. While the GHG Protocol focuses only on global warming, it is the underlying standard for several reporting frameworks such as CDP, and it is the backbone of the voluntary Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). Understanding the environmental impact of your products throughout their life cycle is more than an exercise in data collection; it’s a step towards iterative and tangible sustainability. By partnering with Sustained, companies can test out fast, cost effective LCAs starting with just ingredient and packaging data. To see how fast it can be to get started, [book your demo today.](/#book-demo) --- ## Navigating Alternative and Non-Dairy Milks Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/navigating-alternative-and-non-dairy-milks/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Lucy Haslam **What is the best alternative milk?** **‍**This seems to be the question on everyone’s mind. One minute it’s almond, the next soy, and then oat. The list goes on and the fake news proliferates. Every day I see a new tweet about how we shouldn’t be drinking almond milk or about how soy milk certifications are falsified. This minefield is hard to navigate, and social media doesn’t make it any easier, so we’re here to outline the real truths about non-dairy milks and hopefully help you make a more sustainable choice. **Let’s start with Soy Milk.** Soy milk has been the most popular non-dairy substitute for decades, and it is the best high-protein milk alternative. Most brands will also be fortified with calcium and vitamin D, and so the profile of soy milk often closely resembles that of cow’s milk. A study by Oxford researcher Joseph Poore looked at the environmental footprints of non-dairy milks and rated them with regard to their environmental impact. For this, Soy milk came third. Somewhat impressive considering the stories you hear about it on the internet. Something to keep in mind, however, is that soy can have a big localised impact, depending on where it’s from. For example, soy grown in Brazil contributes massively to local deforestation, whilst soy grown in North America and China has less of a local impact on deforestation. A key takeaway here is to look at the labels, check where the soy milk has originated from, and check for responsible certifications on the bottle. Alpro, for example, commits to only buying their soy directly from the farmer so it is easier to trace their origins, and so most of the soy that goes into their milk is from France. Information like this is easy to find out, and can be located either on the product directly or with a quick google search for Alpro’s social responsibility or environmental commitment. **Oat Milk**, is also high in protein, and it is packed full of fibre. It is comprised of whole oat grains and water; simple and effective. There are lots of oat milk brands to choose from, but a recent review by The Vegan Review, placed Minor Figures Oat Milk at the top. Minor Figures is comprised of 10% Oats, Calcium Supplements, Salt, Water, and Rapeseed Oil. Oat milk was rated second by Poore and his peers for its environmental impact; using 0.9kg of carbon per litre, compared with 3.2kg per litre used by dairy milk. Further to this, oat milk needs 48 litres of water per pint of milk produced, whilst still a lot, Dairy milk need 628 litres of water per pint of milk. Rather scary to think about. ![A picture containing text, bottle, indoor, wallDescription automatically generated](/images/blog/navigating-alternative-and-non-dairy-milks/01.jpg) Figure 1 - Source, the Vegan Review – What is the best Oat Milk? **Almond Milk**is a notorious water-hogger, but even Almond milk uses less water than dairy, racking in at 371 litres of water needed per pint of milk. Essentially, this nut milk is made from water and ground almonds. It is also predominantly grown in California, and this is where the problems start to occur. 80% of the world’s almonds are produced in California, under intensive farming practices, where trees are planted closer together, more pesticides are sprayed, and they are drowned in irrigation water. These intensive methods are spreading, and they have been adopted across most of Spain now as well. Like soy milk, almond milk can have a varying environmental impact, depending on where it is produced and depending on the quantity of fertiliser and water used. This is hard to determine on a bottle of Almond milk, but your best bet is to assess the label carefully and consider where the almonds for your drink have originated. **Coconut milk**is one of the newest non-dairy milks out there. It is a good alternative if you’re after something creamy and sweet, as well as a boost of Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12. It does, however, lack in calcium and protein so if that’s what you’re looking for, maybe consider Soy milk instead. **Rice milk**is another alternative milk on offer. It has a more natural flavour than other alternative milks, and when fortified it can contain similar amounts of calcium and vitamin D as cow’s milk. It has also been rated by Poore as 4th best for carbon emissions, at 1.2kg of carbon required per 1 litre of milk. Now this has been a bit of a whistle-stop-tour and you may be thinking, well this is no clearer. Hopefully you’ve learnt something, but there is also a graph from Poore’s study that summarises environmental impacts of non-dairy milks, if you wanted to put these eco issues into perspective. ![Chart, waterfall chartDescription automatically generated](/images/blog/navigating-alternative-and-non-dairy-milks/02.png) As you can see, all non-dairy milks come out better than cow’s milk. Technically Soy and Oat milk come out on top, but it’s all about balance. Too much pressure on these alternatives, will ultimately increase the pressure for intensive farming practices, and this too is not ideal. For most plant milks, the environmental impact of the crop itself is relatively low, so it is the packaging and the transport that become the dominant component in environmental impact. This is the case for oat and soy milk. Another key thing to remember when shopping for non-dairy milk is that organic is (unsurprisingly) better. A 2012 review by Hanna Tuomisto and colleagues in Finland, found that organic farming more generally had positive impacts on the environment per unit area. Irrespective of these nuances, I think one of the biggest issues in the non-dairy milk industry is transparency. Companies need to be honest. They need their ingredient labels to be clear, and to outline the origin of certain ingredients, as well as highlighting sustainable conventions that they have signed up to. As well as that, it is important that their websites provide up to date and accurate information, not only about their environmental impact, but also about what is currently going on with their process, and what they plan to do to improve in the future. This transparency is key, and it is important in helping people make educated decisions about what milk they buy. This is where Sustained steps in too, offering people transparency on the food and drink they purchase, and educating shoppers to make sustainable choices in the supermarket. ## References [https://www.alpro.com/uk/faq/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.alpro.com/uk/faq/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206150976&usg=AOvVaw33RjZ9c3131Zsd74Zay1vK) [https://earth911.com/how-and-buy/good-better-best-the-climate-impacts-of-milks/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://earth911.com/how-and-buy/good-better-best-the-climate-impacts-of-milks/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206147801&usg=AOvVaw3bFez8moP3a_fmroujsHmu) [https://climatesociety.ei.columbia.edu/news/how-oat-milk-can-help-save-environment#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20water%2C%20a,for%20a%20200%20milliliter%20glass](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://climatesociety.ei.columbia.edu/news/how-oat-milk-can-help-save-environment%23:~:text%3DIn%2520terms%2520of%2520water%252C%2520a,for%2520a%2520200%2520milliliter%2520glass&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206148835&usg=AOvVaw2iHWkd95jnhrlf37esGjqX) [https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092652/volume-of-water-to-produce-a-liter-of-milk-by-type/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092652/volume-of-water-to-produce-a-liter-of-milk-by-type/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206149469&usg=AOvVaw0rRBxTeWGzSzVx9H2pzOSi) [https://theveganreview.com/whats-the-best-oat-milk-in-the-uk-we-tested-6-in-6-ways-to-find-out/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theveganreview.com/whats-the-best-oat-milk-in-the-uk-we-tested-6-in-6-ways-to-find-out/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206151529&usg=AOvVaw2J82iFga4cKOjKDB7skS36) [https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092652/volume-of-water-to-produce-a-liter-of-milk-by-type/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092652/volume-of-water-to-produce-a-liter-of-milk-by-type/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206152039&usg=AOvVaw1EX4UH7NVu1c4blxEGYCtj) [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200207-which-milk-alternative-should-we-be-drinking](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200207-which-milk-alternative-should-we-be-drinking&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1648052206152647&usg=AOvVaw2EKyzi7bukOW7FhCbU_ux7) [Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers](https://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987) --- ## The Future of Sustainability Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/the-future-of-sustainability/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Ari Gold Sustainability has become a hot topic over the past few years. People and organisations alike have been aiming to become more sustainable. Over time with more people joining in, this has become beneficial to the planet. One environmental success is that the hole in the ozone layer has been slowly recovering! Since the ban on halocarbons, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, the ozone layer has slowly been recovering and the data clearly show a trend in the **decreasing** **area** of the ozone hole [1]. But can the current trajectory of sustainability (business as usual) be maintained and is it enough? For a while now, people have aimed to 'become sustainable', now, they must become 'more sustainable'. For example, how does the [United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals) (SDGs), a set of 17 measures for “a world where all people are fed, healthy, employed, educated, empowered and thriving, but not at the expense of other life on Earth.”, look compared to a business as usual approach to the future? [The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.](https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals) By adopting and following these goals, we can step onto a more sustainable path and achieve a more sustainable future. At our current business as usual trajectory, according to current scientific models, the global temperature will rise by 3.2 degrees Celsius by the time we reach the year 2100. This goes against what the COP26 discussions aimed to achieve. [The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference aim was to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius](https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COP26-Presidency-Outcomes-The-Climate-Pact.pdf) [3]. By not taking any further actions and aiming to follow the SDGs, we will not be able to achieve this goal. Moving forward and following the SDGs we can[limit the global temperature change by 1.6 degrees Celsius.](https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/) A massive improvement from the business as usual approach [4]. Please take a moment to browse over the table below to see other examples of how taking a more [sustainable approach](https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/) can improve the environment. Improving our methods and taking steps to do more can result in there being **more** protected land for us and animals alike and **limit** the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These are just some examples! ![Table of comparisons](/images/blog/the-future-of-sustainability/01.png) ‍ Stepping away from using fossil fuels and other energy sources that contribute to climate change is a major step to maintaining the health of the environment and not worsening it. At the current trajectory, fossil fuels are modelled to be the major producer of energy at a whopping **76%** by the year 2050! Under a more sustainable method, this could be reduced to an amazing **13%!** [4]. This means that coal and gas reliant countries can switch to cleaner energy producing methods like wind, hydro and nuclear energy production etc. Chemicals and emissions that would normally negatively affect the environment would be minimised, helping us do the most to improve and heal the environment. The table below details exactly how we can favour renewable energy over fossil fuels by the year 2050. ![Table of sustainable path](/images/blog/the-future-of-sustainability/02.png) Becoming **even more**sustainable is what we as a collective need to start aiming for. By the time we get to the years 2050/2100, at our current business as usual trajectory, it will not be good enough. We need to improve! **References** [1]:https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/record-breaking-2020-ozone-hole-closes [2]:[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/10/uks-green-economy-four-times-larger-than-manufacturing-sector-says-report](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/10/uks-green-economy-four-times-larger-than-manufacturing-sector-says-report) [3]: [https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COP26-Presidency-Outcomes-The-Climate-Pact.pdf](https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COP26-Presidency-Outcomes-The-Climate-Pact.pdf) [4]: [https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/](https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/) --- ## Seasonal and Local Food Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/seasonal-and-local-food/ Published: 2023-05-25 · Author: Viktoria Bashkite I never cared about food seasonality before spending 6 months in Portugal in 2013 as a student. There were several reasons why this topic became so relevant. First of all, I was a student, and I had a limited budget. I had to plan carefully and control it. 🤓 The second reason was that I realized the seasonal and local fruits and veggies taste so good. Once I tried figs straight from the tree in September, I experienced a gastronomic orgasm. The taste was exceptional. 😋 At Sustained, we consider if a food is local or seasonal as a key indicator of its impact on the planet. ‍ ## Why is that? First of all, there are two seasonalities available: local and global. Local means you buy a product that is grown in your country and during the peak season. Global seasonality means that the product is in season in its native country but not where you live, thus it needs to be transported overseas. Unfortunately, not all of us live in California or even Portugal, where people can enjoy farmers’ markets with the local seasonal fresh produce throughout the year. Some of us live in the North and can’t have it all. If we eat only local seasonal food, we will pickle and prepare hard for the winter. ☃ That’s why we love seasonal fruits and vegetables from abroad. However, these imported products have a higher environmental impact. Let’s have a closer look at what other benefits are hidden in seasonal and local fruits and veggies. In addition to the lower prices and mouth-watering taste, these fruits and vegetables have higher nutritious values at their peak. It’s good for your health. For example, broccoli has a much higher content of[vitamin C](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17852499/) in its season. Tomatoes are at their best during the summer and autumn, full of[vitamin A](https://cuesa.org/food/tomatoes) and water. You can be sure that you get the most from the fruit or vegetable by eating it in-season. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat it off-season, but it will contain fewer vitamins and minerals. As I have mentioned above, local and seasonal eating is super beneficial for the environment. ‍ ## Why is that? - Less transportation means fewer CO2 emissions. - Fewer chemicals are involved in delivering the products. - The supply chain is more transparent. You can visit a farm and see the actual conditions if you want. - Local food has lower chances to get wasted. Once it is stored for an extended period, it can go bad. - It is an excellent opportunity to support your local heroes - farmers. It’ll create more jobs and help develop the local community, with a clear positive social impact. - You will broaden your diet by adding seasonal products to it. Of course, it’s not simple with the kids, but it’s worth trying. - Eating seasonally will mean you get more vitamins in every bite. ‍ To summarize, keep in mind eating seasonal and local products is good for your health, community and nature. Plan ahead, check fruits and vegetables seasonality using Sustained info key badges and make wise purchasing choices. ‍ Happy eating! --- ## The Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Change in South East Asia Source: https://www.sustained.com/blog/the-socioeconomic-impacts-of-climate-change-in-south-east-asia/ Published: 2023-04-13 · Author: Katrina Murdoch Having arrived at paradise island in Malaysia, I noticed these white-bone-like structures underwater near the shore. Investigating further, I learnt that these were all dead corals, a consequence of ocean acidification, tropical storms and monsoons. With climate change, tropical storms and monsoons are only going to get more frequent and intense, becoming ‘the norm’ seasonal weather in South East Asia. The consequences of these extreme events could be the new reality – dead coral reefs becoming snorkelling landscapes, shoreline communities disappearing with history, and food supplies being stretched as food production diminishes while population increases, to name a few. The impacts of climate change in South East Asia are substantial and span across many socioeconomic areas. This blog post will not be able to cover them all, but it will provide an insight into them. **The South East Asia Region** In order to understand these impacts, we must first understand the region itself. South East Asia is located to the South of China and East of India. It is considered to be one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change for two following reasons: - The population of South East Asia is growing quickly compared to other areas of the world. This rapid population growth creates problems in terms of water and food supply, housing and infrastructure. These problems will be exacerbated by climate change. - The majority of South East Asian countries are developing countries where in total, 93 million individuals still live below the $1.25 a-day poverty line (2005). Inequality is obscene and climate change will only intensify this. ‍ These factors build the foundation in understanding the impacts of climate change that South East Asia could face if action is not taken immediately. ## What are the socioeconomic impacts of climate change in South East Asia? South East Asia is predicted to lose 3.3% of GDP by 2050 under a business as usual scenario. The Asian Development Bank suggests that for each $1 spent on mitigating climate change, $2.20 of economic benefits would be generated for the Asia-Pacific region (present value terms). Therefore, the economic benefits of combating climate change outweigh the costs involved. The warmer temperatures associated with climate change are causing glaciers to melt and thermal expansion, leading to sea level rises and hence, the retreatment of our shorelines. These rises are impacting South East Asia’s livelihoods as 450 million people live in cities located along coast lines, with the Philippines alone housing 7 cities along its coast. These impacts of sea level rise could cost economies billions in damages. Every year, we see more images of flooded cities. It was devasting to see my friend’s houses in Kuala Lumpur flooded with water and mud. Unfortunately, these sights are predicted to become more common as tropical monsoons and storms are increasing in frequency and intensity, in addition to sea level rise. Heavy rainfalls will exacerbate issues regarding poverty, poor infrastructure and retreating shorelines, particularly in densely populated areas such as those in South East Asia. In fact, Indonesia is already addressing these issues of flooding and land sinkage, due to overpopulation, by moving its capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara on the island of Borneo. Agricultural production will also be heavily impacted by extreme events associated with climate change. Heavy rainfalls, storms and droughts will likely cause crop failures, shortages and ultimately threats to food security. This will impact the incomes of many individuals in South East Asia as they are reliant on agriculture. Furthermore, food encompasses a larger proportion of a poorer household’s income therefore, with food prices increasing, food poverty and inequality will increase as daily food staples become unaffordable. The effects of climate change in South East Asia will be felt globally, as South East Asia is a crucial hub for shipping routes and exports, particularly agricultural exports. Therefore, with agricultural production disrupted, global supply chains will be impacted. Climate change is also impacting our oceans, particularly through ocean acidification. This is occurring as a result of the extra CO2 in our oceans chemically reacting to form carbonic acid. With more acidic ocean conditions, the carbonate in our oceans is dissolving. This is disrupting the ocean’s biological pump as organisms that uptake CO2 in the oceans rely on carbonate to survive – namely, corals, plankton and molluscs. In South East Asia, dead coral reefs are a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change. ## So how can we help South East Asia retain its white-sandy beaches, tropical landscapes and enriched biodiversity? We must reduce our carbon footprint: whether that be by switching from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo one, thrifting clothes instead fast-fashion, or cycling rather than driving a fossil-fuel based car. Change can start at the individual level. An easy way to do this is by consuming sustainable food. 1 kg of beef produces the same amount of CO2 emissions as driving 63 miles! On the other hand, the CO2 emissions from consuming 1 kg of tofu equates to only 4.5 miles. Making that protein switch from beef to tofu in just one meal will have considerable impact on combatting climate change. Similarly, eating raw produce where possible, or stove-top cooking rather than oven cooking will reduce your energy consumption and hence, your carbon footprint. No matter how big or small, all of us can help. We need to start making sustainable choices in order to save our planet. **References** Amato, R. & Hein, D. (2015) Southeast Asia Climate Analysis and Modelling Framework. Met Office.https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/research/appli ed-science/precis/southeast_asia_climate_framework.pdf [Accessed 27th February 2022] Asian Development Bank. (2016) Asian Development Outlook 2016 Update, pg. 52-62.https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/197141/ado2016-update.pdf [Accessed: 28th February 2022] Asian Development Bank. (2009) The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review. Summary of Conclusions. https://www.adb.org/publications/economics- climate-change-southeast-asia-regional-review [Accessed 28th February 2022] BBC. (2022) Indonesia names new capital that will replace Jakarta. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-60037163 [Accessed: 28th February 2022] Bhatiya, N. (22 April 2014) Why South Asia Is So Vulnerable to Climate Change. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/04/22/why-south-asia-is-so-vulnerable-to-climate- change/ [Accessed 28th February 2022] Green Eatz. (n.d.) Food’s Carbon Footprint. https://www.greeneatz.com/foods-carbon- footprint.html [Accessed 6th March 2022] Hicks, R. (2021) Southeast Asia to bear the brunt of worsening global climate, IPCC warns.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/southeast-asi-weather-extremes-global- warming-2030-ipcc- report/#:~:text=The%20report%20predicts%20particularly%20stark,and%20frequent%20bo uts%20of%20rain [Accessed 27th February 2022] Hiebert, M. & Fallin, D. (2021) Security Challenges of Climate Change in Southeast Asia. CSIS.https://www.csis.org/analysis/security-challenges-climate-change-southeast-asia [Accessed 27th February 2022] IPCC. (2021) AR6 WG1 Summary for Policymakers Headline Statements.https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Headline_Stateme nts.pdf [Accessed 27th February 2022] Prakash, A. (2018) Boiling Point. Finance & Development. 55 (3), 22-26. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2018/09/southeast-asia-climate-change-and- greenhouse-gas-emissions-prakash.htm --- # Help Centre ## Getting Started Learn how to get started with Sustained, from logging in and key terms to core features and functionality. ### What Can I Do Using the Sustained Platform? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/what-can-i-do-using-the-sustained-platform/ Sustained Impact allows food businesses to: - **Get a clear overview:** See the average environmental impact and how it's distributed across your entire product portfolio. - **Conduct environmental impact assessments:** Assess the environmental footprint of each product SKU in your range, both food and packaging products. - **Model lifecycle changes:** Simulate how changes to a product's lifecycle, whether for improvement or detriment, affect its environmental footprint in real time. - **Compare products:** Analyse and compare products to identify key differences in their environmental impact. - **Measure baseline manufacturing footprint:** Establish your baseline manufacturing footprint to track progress on your sustainability journey. - **Set impact reduction targets:** Set measurable targets to reduce your environmental impact and track progress over time. - **Forecast environmental impact:** Estimate the total environmental impact of manufacturing a product range over a month, quarter, or year. - **Track progress over time:** Upload historical manufacturing data to track progress against your baseline and sustainability targets. ## How It Works Sustained Impact uses the industry-leading Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework, the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method, and combines primary product data with secondary data from Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases for accurate, real-time analysis. --- ### Workspace and Authentication Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/workspace-and-authentication/ Your company will have been provided with its own, private account and one or multiple workspaces depending on your needs. This is where your product SKU inventory data is managed, impact reports are created, and modelling performed. ![Platform login screen with email and password fields](/images/help/workspace-and-authentication/01.png) In order to access your company's account you will need to sign in using the credentials that were provided to you. ![Password reset prompt](/images/help/workspace-and-authentication/02.png) If you have forgotten your password, all you have to do is click on **'Forgot your password'**. This will prompt you to enter your email address and a link to reset your password will be sent to you. --- ### How Can I Switch Between Workspaces? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-switch-between-workspaces/ To switch between workspaces, click on your company's icon in the top right corner. This will open a modal displaying the active workspace at the top and a list of other workspaces you can switch to. Simply click on any of the other workspaces, and the page will reload, taking you to the selected workspace. ![Workspace switcher showing active workspace and other available workspaces](/images/help/how-can-i-switch-between-workspaces/01.png) The elements within the **Manage** tab are shared across all workspaces within your company. However, the dashboard, products, and volume features are specific to each individual workspace. --- ### How Do I View My Portfolio Overview? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/ Once you've authenticated and logged into your account, the first time you access a workspace will prompt you to choose your desired action: reducing the impact of existing products or designing new low-impact products. The onboarding process will then be tailored to your selection. Upon entering the workspace, one of two tabs will be selected by default, depending on your choice. This will take you to the home dashboard, which provides an overview of the impact of your existing product portfolio. If no product SKUs have been created yet, this section will remain empty. From here, you can: - **Resume where you left off** if you've previously accessed the platform. - **Create a new product record** by clicking the 'Create new product' button. If at least one product exists, the dashboard will reflect your progress along the sustainability journey. ### Dashboard Overview ![Welcome dashboard landing view](/images/help/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/01.png) ![Portfolio dashboard overview summary panel](/images/help/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/02.png) The top section of the dashboard offers an overview of your progress and key metrics: - **Before a baseline is set**, you'll see the total number of products in your portfolio compared to your target count, as well as the products with the least first-party data and the highest/lowest impact. - **After a baseline is set**, the first-party data widget remains if your products don't have 100% first-party data. You'll also see an overview of your baseline impact, top product contributors, and any targets set. - **After uploading additional historical data**, your progress tracking chart will appear, along with an overview of the latest impact assessment. The bottom half of the dashboard guides you step-by-step through your journey within Sustained, for either of the two core use cases: - Reducing the impact of existing products - Designing new low-impact products Based on your progress and previous actions, the platform will recommend the logical next step in your journey. ### Detailed Insights Dashboard ![Detailed insights dashboard with impact breakdowns](/images/help/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/03.png) If there's at least one product in the platform, you can access more detailed insights by clicking the icon next to 'Resume where you left off'. This will expand to say 'Discover all insights', opening a new dashboard with additional dynamic features tailored to your progress. If a baseline and historical data have been uploaded, the insights dashboard will display: - **Overview**: Showing the latest impact for the specified timeframe, top category and process contributors, with your baseline impact visible in the top right corner. - **Progress Tracking**: Displays your progress from baseline to future estimations. - **Impact Details**: Provides insights into your latest impact report, broken down by impact categories, life cycles, and product contributions. - **Winners & Losers**: Highlights the best and worst products by volume from your last available volume report. - **Data Completion**: Shows the total number of products in the workspace (draft and complete) compared to the target count, as well as the average first-party data percentage across all products. If no baseline or historical data is available, the focus will shift to **Winners & Losers per unit of product**, as no volume data is available for analysis. ### Additional Features and Actions ![PEF consumer impact view](/images/help/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/04.png) ![Insight dashboard with additional actions](/images/help/how-can-i-view-my-portfolio-overview/05.png) On this dashboard, you can: - **Toggle Impact Categories**: Select one of the 16 PEF impact categories to focus on, or toggle to physical impact. - **Quick Access**: Navigate to specific dashboard sections via the left-hand menu. - **View Different Lenses**: Under settings, select one of the three available lenses: - **PEF Production**: Focused on PEF production insights. - **PEF Consumer Impact**: Insights for final products, including breakdowns by grade and eco-labelling method. - **GHG Protocol**: Displays results for the workspace, with a focus on GHG emissions (MT CO2e), purchased goods & services impact, and Scope 3 categories. Note that this only covers production-related impacts. --- ### Terms and Definitions Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/terms-and-definitions-/ **Internal product**: Refers to a product made for internal use only (not for sale), often used as a raw material to a product SKU. **Intermediate product**: Refers to a product sold to a business customer for further processing. **Final product**: Refers to a product sold to the end consumer. **Product SKU**: Stock Keeping Unit. Refers to a unit of product sold to a business customer or a consumer. --- ## Products Learn how to create and edit products, organise your workspace and understand product reports. ### How Can I Create a Food Product Manually? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/ Creating a food product involves four key steps: choosing the type of product, entering generic product details, specifying if the packaging system is to be included or not, before deep diving into the product's lifecycle. Here's a detailed breakdown of the process: ## Step 1: Choose the type of product you want to model ![Product type selection screen for modelling a new product](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/01.png) 1. **Product Class:** Choose if you want to model a food or a packaging product. This article is a step-by-step guide to creating a food product. You can read all about creating packaging products [here](/help-centre/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually). 2. **Development Stage**: Choose if this product is in production (currently being sold) or in development. This will determine if a product can be selected for baseline/historical volume reporting. 3. **Product Type:** Select whether the product is final (B2C), intermediate (B2B), or internal (raw material used in another product). ## Step 2: Enter Generic Product Details ![Generic product details entry form](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/02.png) Start by entering essential product information: 1. **Product Name**: Provide the product's name. 2. **Net quantity per sales unit:** Specify the product weight or volume (in grams or millilitres), excluding packaging (both consumer and transport packaging). 3. **GTIN**: Include the Global Trade Item Number, if available. 4. **Category**: Select the product category, which helps estimate food loss and waste during distribution and consumption. 5. **Product ID**: Enter your product ID. This must be unique across all workspaces. 6. **Food type**: Choose whether the product is solid or liquid to determine waste streams. 7. **Conservation Requirements**: Indicate whether the product requires ambient, refrigerated, or frozen storage. 8. **Servings**: Indicate the number of servings the product contains. ## Step 3: Specify if you want to model the full packaging system ![Option to model the full packaging system](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/03.png) Specify whether you want to include the full packaging system in your product modelling. This is any transport packaging used to protect the final sold good for handling, storage, shipping and distribution (e.g. pallets, cases, wraps etc.) ## Step 4: Map the Product Lifecycle ![Product lifecycle mapping view](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/04.png) Once the basic product details are entered, click **'Next'** to proceed to the **Product Lifecycle Mapping** tab. Here you will map the flow of raw materials into your facilities and the distribution path of the product once it's ready for shipment. - **Final products:** Includes all five life cycle stages all the way to the consumer. - **Intermediate products:** These products cover up to the distribution stage. - **Internal products:** These include only the first two stages to ensure no double counting in supply chain assessments. You will be presented with a **Graph View**, which visually represents the lifecycle of your product. You can also switch to the **List View**, which displays all lifecycle stages as a simple list for easier review. ### Graph vs. List View ![Toggle between graph and list views of the lifecycle](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/05.png) - The **Graph View (default view)** provides a visual map showing how everything connects in the product lifecycle. - The **List View** offers a more straightforward overview of each node in the lifecycle, making it easier to see the amounts, suppliers, and other key details. You can toggle between the two views at the top of the page to suit your preference. The Graph View will be the primary focus for this article. ## Step 5: Add Raw Materials (Ingredients & Packaging) ![Adding raw materials ingredients and packaging](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/06.png) ![Raw material search and selection panel](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/07.png) ![Entering quantity for a raw material](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/08.png) ![Raw material dataset selection dialog](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/09.png) ![List of added ingredients and packaging materials](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/10.png) ![Raw material details panel](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/11.png) ![Completed raw materials list for the product](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/12.png) - **Ingredients**: Add all raw ingredients used to create your final product. For each ingredient, specify: - Amount (in grams or millilitres) - Supplier(s): You can either select an existing supplier from the **Manage tab** or create a new one by typing the supplier's name and clicking **'+ [new supplier name]'**. If the supplier has multiple roles (e.g., both supplier and transporter), you can add multiple types under **Type of Provider**. After adding a new supplier, you can enter details such as: - **Split (%):** The percentage of time you sourced the ingredient from this supplier over the past 3 years. - **Country of Origin**: Where the supplier sources the ingredient. - **Packaging**: There are two types of packaging you can add in your model: 1. **Consumer-facing packaging:** this is the packaging your final good is sold into to the consumer/customer. To add a new consumer-facing packaging, you need to specify the following: - **Amount** (in grams) - **Supplier(s)**: Select or create new suppliers as needed. - **Split (%):** The percentage of time you sourced the same packaging from this supplier over the past 3 years. - **Material type group(s)**: Choose the type of materials that make up the packaging. - **Material**: Specify the actual material (e.g. HDPE, LDPE etc.). - **Recycled content**: The percentage of that material that is recycled. This is set to 0% by default. - **Composition (%):** Specify the material composition of the packaging. 2. **Transport packaging:** As described above in Step 3, this is packaging used for transport from final manufacturing facility to the consumer. All transport packaging is managed via the transport packaging interface, where you need to specify: - **Final level:** This is to indicate which is the outermost layer of packaging. A level is defined as all packaging components removed at the same time in the same place. - **Dimensions (in cm)**: For the final level, dimensions need to be provided in order to properly account for the volume of the total transported good. Volumes of the levels below are estimated using these dimensions and the number of units inside. - **Contained number of units:** The number of units of the previous level contained at each level (e.g. how many product units in Level 1, how many Level 1 in Level 2 etc.). - **Packaging**: You can add any number of packaging components at each level (e.g. film, pallet and labels all in Level 2). Once confirmed, all transport packaging nodes will appear in your product graph/list with the respective icon of the transport packaging at the bottom of the list of raw materials. If you can't find a specific ingredient, packaging component, or material, you can add a placeholder by selecting **'Other'**. You'll be able to add a comment to notify our team for assistance. Once all raw materials are added, your graph will begin to populate, visually showing the flow of these materials through the lifecycle. ### Filling the gaps with defaults or completing manually ![Filling gaps with default datasets or completing manually](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/13.png) From here, you have two options: - Use our **defaults generator** by clicking on 'Apply defaults'. This is particularly useful if you have no further visibility into your product life cycle beyond raw materials. Our system will automatically populate the graph with some default facilities and transports to allow you to generate an initial impact assessment with little first-party data. You can come back to add more later. All default nodes in the graph will appear with a 'default' tag attached to it. - If you know the various facilities involved in your product's life cycle as well as what production steps are required to make it, the recommended option is to move onto the **next step in your product creation process**. ## Step 6: Add Facilities and Locations ![Adding facilities and locations to the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/14.png) ![Facility selection interface](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/15.png) ![Location entry for a facility](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/16.png) ![Configured facilities and locations list](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/17.png) - **Production Facilities**: Add one or more production facilities where your product is made. Ensure at least one is designated as the **final production facility**, which results in your SKU ready for distribution. - **Warehouses and Stores**: Add locations where raw materials, intermediate products, or finished goods are stored, including your warehouses, logistics companies, or retailers. - **Consumption Locations**: For final products, specify where the product is consumed (e.g., country, region, or city). - **Final Destination**: For intermediate products, add the point where your product is handed over to the downstream customer. For each facility or location, specify the agreement type (direct or indirect) and country/region of operation. These details affect Scope 3 categorisation. Facilities/locations can be added under most life cycle stages (production facilities, warehouses, stores and consumption locations). You can either select a facility/location created under the [Manage tab](/help-centre/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities) from the drop downs or **create a new one** by simply typing the name of the facility you want to create and click '+ [new facility name]'. You can move elements around the grid as needed to create a coherent picture: click the little grid icon to resize your grid, add columns or rows, and move the elements around as you wish to visualise as clearly as possible the flow of your SKU across its life cycle. ## Step 7: Establish Transport Links ![Establishing transport links between locations](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/18.png) ![Transport mode and distance configuration](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/19.png) Connect your raw materials to the relevant production facility with **transport links**: this is essential because only raw materials transported to the facility will be available to select as inputs in your production steps. - If only one facility was added to the graph, these are generated automatically for you, using our default regional transport services supplier and transport conditions which you can later modify by clicking on the transport link and selecting edit. Defaults appear with the 'default' tag. - For each transport link you create manually, you need to specify: - **From** and **To**, selecting the origin and destination of your transport. - **Transported goods** (if the same supplier/origin provides multiple goods). - **Transport conditions** to specify whether this transport is refrigerated, ambient or frozen. - **Transport services supplier** to specify which company is responsible for providing this transport service. For transport suppliers, you are asked to confirm the agreement type with that supplier (whether it's a direct contract or indirect via someone else). This will affect Scope 3 categorisation. By default, this will be inherited from what was set at the supplier level. ## Step 8: Add Production Steps ![Adding production steps to the lifecycle](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/20.png) ![Production step details panel](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/21.png) The next step consists in specifying what happens inside the production facilities: - Clicking on the inner box of the production facility will open a new graph where you can specify the various production steps happening inside this facility to turn your raw materials into the final product your consumers will get to eat/drink. - Choose whether you want to add a **food production step** or a **packing step**. For each step, you can enter the following information: - **Process**, selecting the relevant one from our list of industrial processes. - Specify if it is the **final step** happening in a given facility. - **Input(s)**, selecting what the inputs to the process should be and what amounts are being used in this particular step. - Remember that transport needs to have been added for your raw materials to appear in this list. - If this is a packing step, make sure you have at least one packaging raw material as well as an ingredient or intermediate product as inputs for this to be valid. - **Optional inputs**, where you can add primary data about your specific process. We can either use our default assumptions, or our assumptions (including energy and water) get replaced with your own collected primary data. When looking for this data, make sure you input the amounts required for this specific process (i.e. boiling, frying etc.) to produce one SKU only. Good LCA practice suggests taking an average of the inputs and outputs over a representative period of time, e.g. one year for an industrial plant. - **Output(s)**, if it is not the final step of your final production facility, which results in the SKU being ready, you need to specify at least one intermediate product, name it and specify what amount is made. You may also have other outputs resulting from this step including waste, emissions, by-products or co-products. Add as many as you need in here! - **Optional outputs**, the same as for inputs, you can choose to override some of the secondary data assumptions with your own data or not. You can also come back to add this later. If you can't find the processes you need, you can add a placeholder by searching for 'Other' under process. Please add a comment to communicate to our in-house experts what you need us to add and our team will get notified instantaneously. ### Add missing transports ![Prompt to add missing transport links](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/22.png) If you have multiple production facilities or warehouses in sequence, make sure to add transport links from one to another specifying which output is being transported from one facility to the next. This is important otherwise you won't be able to select it as an input in the following facility. With the above steps, you should have finalised your product life cycle up until the end of the production life cycle stage. Next you can add transport to connect the various facilities and locations in your graph, to specify how your product SKU goes from your final production facility to the consumers. Remember that every component needs to be connected to something. ## Step 9: Add Distribution Data ![Adding distribution data to the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/23.png) ![Distribution settings detail view](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/24.png) Specify how long and under what conditions items are stored in your various warehouses and stores. - Whether warehouses are used to store raw materials, intermediate products or the final SKU, you can open any warehouse by clicking on its inner box. The same is true for stores in the distribution life cycle stage. - Once opened, you can specify for each item in there the **storage condition** and **duration**. Defaults are applied based on PEF assumptions and can be modified if primary data is available for the corresponding facility. For the distribution life cycle stage, the final SKU storage condition is fixed based on the conservation requirement set on the very first tab of the product creation. ## Step 10: Specify Preparation Steps (If Any) ![Specifying consumer preparation steps](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/25.png) ![Preparation step configuration detail](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/26.png) For final products, specify any preparation steps required by the consumer, such as cooking or rehydration. You can define the process, inputs, and outputs, along with any primary data you have regarding preparation. If you can't find the household processes you need, you can add a placeholder by searching for **'Other'** under process. Please add a comment to communicate to our in-house experts what you need us to add and our team will get **notified instantaneously.** - Once a step is added, it will appear in the graph for the given consumption location. This interface behaves very similarly to the main graph and you can move elements around the grid as needed to create a coherent picture: click the little grid icon to resize your grid, add columns or rows, and move the elements around as you wish to visualise as clearly as possible the flow of preparation steps. ## Step 11: Packaging Non-Recyclability ![Setting packaging non-recyclability options](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/27.png) If packaging is non-recyclable in a certain location, update the end-of-life stage for that packaging. ## Step 12: Generate Report ![Generating the product impact report](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/28.png) Once all steps are complete, click **'Generate Report'**. If there are any issues with the data, including mass balance issues and disconnected nodes, you'll be prompted to resolve them. Once all errors are fixed, you'll be able to generate a final report using both primary and secondary data for your product. ## Other possible actions ### Flagging ![Flagging an item in the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/29.png) ![Flag note entry dialog](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/30.png) ![Flagged items shown in the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/31.png) You might want to flag a specific node to remember to come back to it at a later stage. This can happen if you don't immediately have the data and put a temporary placeholder to keep going or if you are unsure about some of the details. To do so, all you have to do is click on the little flag icon in the top right corner of any modal. This will turn blue. When the modal is closed, the flag is visible in the top right corner of the node to remind you that this node requires your attention. ### Undo/Redo As you create your product, if you ever need to undo a change you just did, you can click on the **undo/redo buttons** in the top left of the graph. ### View datasets in use ![Datasets-in-use icon button](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/32.png) ![Panel listing datasets in use](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/33.png) ![Dataset details for the product model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually/34.png) Clicking on the database icon from within the product editing interface will show in real-time which datasets are in use for this product's impact calculation. Datasets can be viewed for the entire product by clicking on the database icon at the top of the graph, or this view can be filtered to a specific node of the graph by clicking the icon on the modals directly (e.g. inside a production facility, or in the ingredient modal). --- ### How Can I Create a Packaging Product Manually? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/ Creating a packaging product involves four key steps: choosing the type of product, entering generic product details, specifying if the packaging system is to be included or not, before deep diving into the product's lifecycle. Here's a detailed breakdown of the process: ## Step 1: Choose the type of product you want to model ![Product type selection screen for a packaging product](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/01.png) 1. **Product Class:** Choose if you want to model a food or a packaging product. This article is a step-by-step guide to creating a packaging product. You can read all about creating food products [here](/help-centre/how-can-i-create-a-food-product-manually). 2. **Development Stage**: Choose if this product is in production (currently being sold) or in development. This will determine if a product can be selected for baseline/historical volume reporting. 3. **Product Type:** Select whether the product is final (B2C), intermediate (B2B), or internal (raw material used in another product). ## Step 2: Enter Generic Product Details ![Generic product details entry form](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/02.png) ![Additional generic product detail fields](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/03.png) Start by entering essential product information: 1. **Packaging Name**: Provide the packaging product's name. 2. **Consumer-facing packaging amount (in g):** This is the total weight of the packaging getting to the consumer (excluding any transport packaging). 3. **GTIN**: Include the Global Trade Item Number, if available. 4. **Packaging type**: Select the type of packaging you are about to model (e.g. Box, Case, Pallet etc.). This is important for system validation. 5. **Packaging ID**: Enter your product ID. This must be unique across all workspaces. If you can't find the right packaging type, you can add a placeholder by selecting **'Other'**. You'll be able to add a comment to notify our team for assistance. ## Step 3: Specify if you want to model the full packaging system ![Option to model the full packaging system](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/04.png) Specify whether you want to include the full packaging system in your product modelling. This is any transport packaging used to protect the final sold good for handling, storage, shipping and distribution (e.g. pallets, cases, wraps etc.) ## Step 4: Map the Product Lifecycle ![Product lifecycle mapping view](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/05.png) Once the basic product details are entered, click **'Next'** to proceed to the **Product Lifecycle Mapping** tab. Here you will map the flow of raw materials into your facilities and the distribution path of the product once it's ready for shipment. - **Final products:** Includes all five life cycle stages all the way to the consumer. - **Intermediate products:** These products cover up to the distribution stage. - **Internal products:** These include only the first two stages to ensure no double counting in supply chain assessments. You will be presented with a **Graph View**, which visually represents the lifecycle of your product. You can also switch to the **List View**, which displays all lifecycle stages as a simple list for easier review. ### Graph vs. List View ![Toggle between graph and list views of the lifecycle](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/06.png) - The **Graph View (default view)** provides a visual map showing how everything connects in the product lifecycle. - The **List View** offers a more straightforward overview of each node in the lifecycle, making it easier to see the amounts, suppliers, and other key details. You can toggle between the two views at the top of the page to suit your preference. The Graph View will be the primary focus for this article. ## Step 5: Add Raw Materials (Materials & Packaging) ![Adding raw materials and packaging](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/07.png) ![Raw material search and selection panel](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/08.png) ![Raw material dataset selection dialog](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/09.png) ![Entering quantity for a material](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/10.png) ![List of added materials and packaging](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/11.png) - **Materials**: Add all raw materials used to create your final packaging product. For each material, specify: - **Material type group**: Select the type of material you want to choose from (e.g. glass, polymers, paper etc.) - **Material**: Pick the material you want to use. - **Recycled content**: Specify how much of that material is recycled in percentage. - **Amount (in g):** Amount of the specific material purchased. - **Supplier(s)**: You can either select an existing supplier from the **Manage tab** or create a new one by typing the supplier's name and clicking **'+ [new supplier name]'**. If the supplier has multiple roles (e.g., both supplier and transporter), you can add multiple types under **Type of Provider**. After adding a new supplier, you can enter details such as: - **Split (%):** The percentage of time you sourced the material from this supplier over the past 3 years. - **Country of Origin**: Where the supplier sources the material. - **Packaging**: As described above in Step 3, this is packaging used for transport from final manufacturing facility to the consumer. All transport packaging is managed via the transport packaging interface, where you need to specify: - **Final level:** This is to indicate which is the outermost layer of packaging. A level is defined as all packaging components removed at the same time in the same place. - **Dimensions (in cm)**: For the final level, dimensions need to be provided in order to properly account for the volume of the total transported good. Volumes of the levels below are estimated using these dimensions and the number of units inside. - **Contained number of units:** The number of units of the previous level contained at each level (e.g. how many product units in Level 1, how many Level 1 in Level 2 etc.). - **Packaging**: You can add any number of packaging components at each level (e.g. film, pallet and labels all in Level 2). Once confirmed, all transport packaging nodes will appear in your product graph/list with the respective icon of the transport packaging at the bottom of the list of raw materials. If you can't find a specific material or packaging component, you can add a placeholder by selecting **'Other'**. You'll be able to add a comment to notify our team for assistance. Once all raw materials are added, your graph will begin to populate, visually showing the flow of these materials through the lifecycle. ### Filling the gaps with defaults or completing manually ![Filling gaps with default datasets or completing manually](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/12.png) From here, you have two options: - Use our **defaults generator** by clicking on 'Apply defaults'. This is particularly useful if you have no further visibility into your product life cycle beyond raw materials. Our system will automatically populate the graph with some default facilities and transports to allow you to generate an initial impact assessment with little first-party data. You can come back to add more later. All default nodes in the graph will appear with a 'default' tag attached to it. - If you know the various facilities involved in your product's life cycle as well as what production steps are required to make it, the recommended option is to move onto the **next step in your product creation process**. ## Step 6: Add Facilities and Locations ![Adding facilities and locations to the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/13.png) ![Facility selection interface](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/14.png) ![Location entry for a facility](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/15.png) ![Configured facilities and locations list](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/16.png) - **Production Facilities**: Add one or more production facilities where your product is made. Ensure at least one is designated as the **final production facility**, which results in your SKU ready for distribution. - **Warehouses and Stores**: Add locations where raw materials, intermediate products, or finished goods are stored, including your warehouses, logistics companies, or retailers. - **Consumption Locations**: For final products, specify where the product is used (e.g., country, region, or city). - **Final Destination**: For intermediate products, add the point where your product is handed over to the downstream customer. For each facility or location, specify the agreement type (direct or indirect) and country/region of operation. These details affect Scope 3 categorisation. Facilities/locations can be added under most life cycle stages (production facilities, warehouses, stores and consumption locations). You can either select a facility/location created under the [Manage tab](/help-centre/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities) from the drop downs or **create a new one** by simply typing the name of the facility you want to create and click '+ [new facility name]'. You can move elements around the grid as needed to create a coherent picture: click the little grid icon to resize your grid, add columns or rows, and move the elements around as you wish to visualise as clearly as possible the flow of your SKU across its life cycle. ## Step 7: Establish Transport Links ![Establishing transport links between locations](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/17.png) ![Transport mode and distance configuration](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/18.png) Connect your raw materials to the relevant production facility with **transport links**: this is essential because only raw materials transported to the facility will be available to select as inputs in your production steps. - If only one facility was added to the graph, these are generated automatically for you, using our default regional transport services supplier and transport conditions which you can later modify by clicking on the transport link and selecting edit. Defaults appear with the 'default' tag. - For each transport link you create manually, you need to specify: - **From** and **To**, selecting the origin and destination of your transport. - **Transported goods** (if the same supplier/origin provides multiple goods). - **Transport services supplier** to specify which company is responsible for providing this transport service. For transport suppliers, you are asked to confirm the agreement type with that supplier (whether it's a direct contract or indirect via someone else). This will affect Scope 3 categorisation. By default, this will be inherited from what was set at the supplier level. ## Step 8: Add Production Steps ![Adding production steps to the lifecycle](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/19.png) ![Production step details panel](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/20.png) The next step consists in specifying what happens inside the production facilities: - Clicking on the inner box of the production facility will open a new graph where you can specify the various production steps happening inside this facility to turn your raw materials into the final product your customers/consumers will get. - Choose whether you want to add a **packaging production (conversion) step** or a **packing step**. For each step, you can enter the following information: - **Process**, selecting the relevant one from our list of industrial processes. - Specify if it is the **final step** happening in a given facility. - **Input(s)**, selecting what the inputs to the process should be and what amounts are being used in this particular step. - Remember that transport needs to have been added for your raw materials to appear in this list. - If this is a packing step, make sure you have at least one packaging raw material as well as a material or intermediate product as inputs for this to be valid. - **Optional inputs**, where you can add primary data about your specific process. We can either use our default assumptions, or our assumptions (including energy and water) get replaced with your own collected primary data. When looking for this data, make sure you input the amounts required for this specific process (i.e. extrusion, rotogravure etc.) to produce one SKU only. Good LCA practice suggests taking an average of the inputs and outputs over a representative period of time, e.g. one year for an industrial plant. - **Output(s)**, if it is not the final step of your final production facility, which results in the SKU being ready, you need to specify at least one intermediate product, name it and specify what amount is made. You may also have other outputs resulting from this step including waste, emissions, by-products or co-products. Add as many as you need in here! - **Optional outputs**, the same as for inputs, you can choose to override some of the secondary data assumptions with your own data or not. You can also come back to add this later. If you can't find the processes you need, you can add a placeholder by searching for 'Other' under process. Please add a comment to communicate to our in-house experts what you need us to add and our team will get notified instantaneously. ### Add missing transports ![Prompt to add missing transport links](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/21.png) If you have multiple production facilities or warehouses in sequence, make sure to add transport links from one to another specifying which output is being transported from one facility to the next. This is important otherwise you won't be able to select it as an input in the following facility. With the above steps, you should have finalised your product life cycle up until the end of the production life cycle stage. Next you can add transport to connect the various facilities and locations in your graph, to specify how your product SKU goes from your final production facility to your customers/consumers. Remember that every component needs to be connected to something. ## Step 9: Add Distribution Data ![Adding distribution data to the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/22.png) ![Distribution settings detail view](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/23.png) Specify how long and under what conditions items are stored in your various warehouses and stores. - Whether warehouses are used to store raw materials, intermediate products or the final SKU, you can open any warehouse by clicking on its inner box. The same is true for stores in the distribution life cycle stage. - Once opened, you can specify for each item in there the **storage duration**. Defaults are applied based on PEF assumptions and can be modified if primary data is available for the corresponding facility. ## Step 10: Product Non-Recyclability ![Setting product non-recyclability options](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/24.png) If the final sold product is non-recyclable in a certain location, update the end-of-life stage for that packaging. ## Step 11: Generate Report ![Generating the product impact report](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/25.png) Once all steps are complete, click **'Generate Report'**. If there are any issues with the data, including mass balance issues and disconnected nodes, you'll be prompted to resolve them. Once all errors are fixed, you'll be able to generate a final report using both primary and secondary data for your product. ## Other possible actions ### Flagging ![Flagging an item in the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/26.png) ![Flag note entry dialog](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/27.png) ![Flagged item indicator in the model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/28.png) You might want to flag a specific node to remember to come back to it at a later stage. This can happen if you don't immediately have the data and put a temporary placeholder to keep going or if you are unsure about some of the details. To do so, all you have to do is click on the little flag icon in the top right corner of any modal. This will turn blue. When the modal is closed, the flag is visible in the top right corner of the node to remind you that this node requires your attention. ### Undo/Redo As you create your product, if you ever need to undo a change you just did, you can click on the **undo/redo buttons** in the top left of the graph. ### View datasets in use ![Datasets-in-use icon button](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/29.png) ![Panel listing datasets in use](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/30.png) ![Dataset details for the product model](/images/help/how-can-i-create-a-packaging-product-manually/31.png) Clicking on the database icon from within the product editing interface will show in real-time which datasets are in use for this product's impact calculation. Datasets can be viewed for the entire product by clicking on the database icon at the top of the graph, or this view can be filtered to a specific node of the graph by clicking the icon on the modals directly (e.g. inside a production facility, or in the ingredient modal). --- ### How Can I Extract Data from Product Specifications with AI (Beta)? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-extract-data-from-product-specifications-with-ai-beta/ To begin, navigate to the **Products tab** > **New Product** and select **Import File** if you have a product specification document to use as a starting point. This feature leverages AI to extract information from documents like product specifications, ingredient lists, or related files. Follow these steps: ![Uploading a product specification file for AI extraction](/images/help/how-can-i-extract-data-from-product-specifications-with-ai-beta/01.png) 1. **Choose the Product Type**: Indicate whether you're creating a **final**, **intermediate**, or **internal** product. 2. **Upload a File**: Select a file in .pdf, .docx, or .json format to upload. 3. **Paste Ingredients**: You may alternatively paste an ingredients list directly by selecting 'I want to paste a list of ingredients.' ![File upload progress during AI data extraction](/images/help/how-can-i-extract-data-from-product-specifications-with-ai-beta/02.png) Once uploaded, the AI engine processes the document through multiple iterations to ensure accurate data matching, which may require some time. After extraction completes, a mapping screen displays for reviewing and confirming data accuracy, with options to fill any gaps. ![Extracted data ready for review after processing](/images/help/how-can-i-extract-data-from-product-specifications-with-ai-beta/03.png) The AI extracts the essential required information for product creation, encompassing: ![Validated data populated into the product lifecycle](/images/help/how-can-i-extract-data-from-product-specifications-with-ai-beta/04.png) - **Generic product information**: name, ID, category, conservation details, etc. - **Ingredients**: amounts and country of origin. - **Packaging types**: amounts and country of origin. - **Facility countries**: production, storage, and consumption location. Following validation, you're directed to the product graph where default data can be replaced with actual lifecycle details. --- ### How to Organise Products with Workspaces, Spaces, and Folders Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-organise-products/ A well-organised account is essential for managing your product portfolio efficiently and ensuring the right team members have access to the right information. This guide will walk you through setting up and using the organisational hierarchy to structure your work, control permissions, and keep your product LCAs perfectly organised. This structure allows you to mirror your company's internal organisation, whether by business unit, geography, or product category, making navigation intuitive for everyone. ## Creating the Account Structure (global admins only) Only users with the **Global Admin** role can create the top three levels of the hierarchy: **Workspaces, Spaces, and Sub-spaces**. This ensures your account structure remains consistent and is managed centrally. ### Creating a Workspace ![Workspace area in the navigation](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/01.png) ![Workspaces list section](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/02.png) ![New workspace creation modal](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/03.png) - In the top right corner of your interface, click on the current workspace icon. A menu will open up. Click on your company name under the 'Company' section. - You will land on a settings page showing the details of the company. Here you can change the company name if you wish to, or you can access the users or workspaces tab. Click on **'Workspaces'**. - This will open a list of all existing workspaces in this account. From here, click the **'Create Workspace'** button at the top right of the screen. This will open a modal where you should enter the name of the new workspace and the target product count (used for insights on your progress). - Click **'Add'**. ### Editing an existing Space and/or Sub-space ![Editing an existing space or sub-space](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/04.png) Once you've created the first level of your organisation structure with all the required workspaces, navigate to the target workspace and manage its space/sub-space structure from there. Whenever a workspace is created, a 'Default' space and 'Products' subspace are created. The first step in aligning with your internal hierarchy is to edit these defaults. - Click on the menu icon (three-dots) next to the space or sub-space to see all available actions. - For a space, you can add a sub-space, rename the selected subspace or delete it. - For a subspace, you can delete if there is more than one subspace (one is required), or rename. ### Creating a Space and a Subspace ![Creating a new space and subspace](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/05.png) ![Create new space modal](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/06.png) ![New space and subspace structure view](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/07.png) To create a new space and subspace, all you have to do is: - Click on the + sign under the 'Sold products' section of your left menu. - A new modal will open up where you can specify the new space's name and create all the required subspaces. Simply click on 'Add subspace' to add a new one. - Once you're happy with this structure, click on Save. Your new structure will appear on the left-hand side and the first sub-space will be opened by default. Repeat these steps until you have built out the complete high-level structure for your organisation. ## Organising Products into Folders ![Subspace navigation for organising products](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/08.png) All users can create **Folders** to organise their day-to-day work. Folders are where your individual product LCAs are stored and must be created inside a Subspace. For even more detailed organisation, you can create sub-folders inside a folder. This nesting is supported **up to five levels deep**, allowing for highly specific project structures. ### To create a Folder or Sub-folder: ![Create folder button location](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/09.png) ![Folder name entry modal](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/10.png) ![New folder shown in the products list](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/11.png) - Using the left-hand navigation panel, navigate to the specific **Subspace** where you want to add your new folder. If you wish to create a sub-folder, access the folder by double clicking the folder name in the list until you reach the desired sub-folder. The path is displayed at the top to help you navigate back and forth. - Click the **'New'** button located at the top of the page and select **'Create folder'**. - A modal will open up where you can specify the name of your folder. - After you click **'Save'**, the new folder will appear in your list under the 'Folders' section. ## Adding Products to a Sub-space or Folder Once your new sub-space or folder is created, it's ready to be populated with your product LCAs. You can add products in several ways, depending on whether you are starting from scratch, reusing existing work, or referencing centralised company data. Here are the options available: ### 1. Creating a New Product This is the most straightforward option for brand new work. You can create a new product LCA directly inside your new sub-space or folder, ensuring it's organised correctly from the start. - Make sure you navigate inside the sub-space and/or folder where you wish to add your product. - From there, click the **'New'** button in the top right corner. - Proceed with the creation process as normal. > For a complete walkthrough, please see the product creation guides. ### 2. Duplicating a Product This is useful when you're creating a product that is similar to an existing one. You can duplicate it and then make your modifications, saving significant time. It can also be used if you want the same reference product in your project folder. - When you duplicate an existing product, you will be asked to choose a destination for the new copy. Simply select your new sub-space or folder during this process. > For full instructions, read the guide on how to duplicate a product. ### 3. Moving Existing Products ![Drag and drop to move products](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/12.png) ![Shift-selecting multiple products](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/13.png) ![Actions available for selected products](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/14.png) ![Move products destination modal](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/15.png) ![Move confirmation message](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/16.png) If you have products already created elsewhere that you need to reorganise, you can move them into your new folder or subspace. - Navigate to the location of the product(s) you wish to move. - Select one or more products. You have multiple ways to do so: - **Drag and drop**. This will show you the number of products selected as you drag the selection across. - **Shift-selection**. - Once selected, you can see the number of selected products as well as available actions at the top of the list. These actions are the same as in the product menu when only one product is selected (edit, model, history, delete etc.). When multiple products are selected you can: - Create a new folder with selected products. This will create a folder in the current level you are in (i.e. subspace or folder). - Move products. - Compare products (if 5 or less products are selected). - If you click on the **'Move'** icon a modal will open up where you can specify the space > sub-space > folder you want to move your product(s) into. By default, the 'no folder' option is selected if your product is just sitting in the sub-space. You can select an existing folder to move it into or create a folder/sub-folder from here. - After you click on 'Move', you will receive confirmation of the move and will be given the choice to 'go to folder' (i.e. the destination of your move) or close and stay in the original place where the products were. ### 4. Adding a Shortcut to a Raw Material (i.e. Internal Product) ![Raw materials navigation for adding a shortcut](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/17.png) ![Add shortcut menu option](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/18.png) ![Shortcut destination selection modal](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/19.png) ![Shortcut creation confirmation](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/20.png) ![Internal product shortcuts in the list](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/21.png) ![Shortcut menu actions](/images/help/how-to-organise-products/22.png) You may have some 'Internal Products' (e.g., common raw materials, packagings, or ingredients) that are re-used across many products. These global products live in a separate list, in the Raw Materials section of your interface, not within the organisational hierarchy created for 'Sold Products'. This is due to their global nature. To facilitate your day-to-day work, you can add a **shortcut** to these items in your project folder. This avoids having to switch tabs and helps keep all relevant project components in one view. - Navigate to the **Raw materials** section of your account using the left menu. Choose between Purchased or Internal depending on whether the product you want a shortcut for is made internally by your company or is a purchased good. - From the dropdown menu of the product you wish to add to your folder, select **'Add shortcut'**. - A modal will open up for you to select the destination of the shortcut. Find your project folder from this list and click on **'Add'**. - You will receive confirmation of the shortcut creation and can choose to navigate to the destination folder where you will find your shortcut or stay inside the Raw Materials list. A link to the internal product will now appear in your folder under the 'internal product shortcuts' section. It will be marked with a special shortcut icon to show that it is a link to a global item, not a product managed directly within your folder. A number of actions are possible on your shortcut if you open the menu: - Edit original, which will open the editor of the original internal product. - Details, to view the details of the original product. - Shortcut actions (do not affect the original product, only the link you created to it): - Duplicate the shortcut (only one shortcut of the same product per folder is allowed). - Move shortcut. - Delete shortcut. ## Examples & Best Practices How you structure your account will depend on your company's organisation. The key is to use **Workspaces** as the highest level of division. Here are a few examples of how you can set up your hierarchy: ### By Geography Ideal for global companies where regional teams operate independently. - **Workspace:** Americas - **Space:** Canada - **Sub-space:** Frozen Vegetable Products - **Folder:** Green Peas ### By Business Division A perfect model for corporations with distinct business units. - **Workspace:** Consumer Packaged Goods - **Space:** Beverages - **Sub-space:** Carbonated Soft Drinks - **Folder:** Q3 New Product Development ### By Product Category A straightforward approach if your portfolio is segmented into broad categories, with folders often representing brands or specific projects. - **Workspace:** Bakery - **Space:** Organic Breads - **Sub-space:** Sourdough Loaves - **Folder:** "Artisan Grains" Brand Launch --- ### How Do I Duplicate a Product Record? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/ From your **Products tab**, you can easily duplicate any product record by selecting the **three-dot menu** and choosing the **'Duplicate'** option. This feature is particularly useful when two products are similar (e.g., same product with different package sizes, or products with similar raw materials or production steps). Instead of starting from scratch, duplicating the record saves time and allows you to make small adjustments. ![Duplicate and modify a product record overview](/images/help/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/01.png) Once you select **'Duplicate'**, you will be prompted to edit the name and select where you want to duplicate the product to: which workspace, space, sub-space and folder within your account. ![Duplicate product record menu option](/images/help/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/02.png) From here, you can also create new folders and sub-folders down to five levels to place your duplicated product in. ![Selecting a destination folder for the duplicate](/images/help/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/03.png) Once you click on **'Duplicate'** you will be automatically redirected inside this newly duplicated product's edit flow. You can review and edit all properties. ![Reviewing and editing the duplicated product properties](/images/help/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/04.png) After making the necessary changes, clicking **'Next'** will bring you to the **product graph**. All the original product elements will be carried over, allowing you to make further edits as needed for the new product. If you've changed the **net amount**, you'll be prompted to confirm if you want to **automatically rescale** the product's content to match the new value. ![Automatic rescale of the duplicated product](/images/help/how-can-i-duplicate-a-product-record-/05.png) Choosing to rescale will adjust the product content accordingly, ensuring it's ready for mass balance validation from the start. Skipping this step will require you to manually adjust amounts to pass validation. Continue editing the product graph according to your needs before saving your changes. --- ### How Do I Edit an Existing Product Record Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-edit-an-existing-product-record/ From the **Products tab**, you can easily edit any existing product record or draft. To do this, select the **three-dot menu** next to the product name and choose the **'Edit'** option from the product list. This action will take you directly to the product graph, which will be pre-filled with all the information that was initially entered when the record was created. From here, you can modify any aspect of the product's lifecycle. ![Editing and saving changes to a product record](/images/help/how-can-i-edit-an-existing-product-record/01.png) If you need to update any generic product details (such as the product's name, ID, or add a picture), simply click on the pen icon next to the product's name and then **'Edit product details'**. This will take you back to the details tab where you can specify all generic information about your product. ![Editing product details fields](/images/help/how-can-i-edit-an-existing-product-record/02.png) Once you've completed all the necessary changes, click the **'Save changes'** button to generate a new report, which will replace the old one. If you encounter any errors and want to save the progress made during your editing session, you can choose to **'Save as draft'**. This will save all changes and revert the product to draft status. --- ### Can I Restore an Earlier Version of a Product Record? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-restore-an-earlier-version-of-a-product-record/ To access previous product versions, navigate to your Products tab and select the three-dot menu next to your desired product, then choose the **'Edit history'** option. ![Accessing version history of a product record](/images/help/how-can-i-restore-an-earlier-version-of-a-product-record/01.png) This action opens a popup displaying the complete edit history from initial creation through the current version. Each entry includes a timestamp and identifies which user made the modification. ![List of earlier product record versions](/images/help/how-can-i-restore-an-earlier-version-of-a-product-record/02.png) From the edit history list, you have two options for any revision: ![Selecting a version to restore](/images/help/how-can-i-restore-an-earlier-version-of-a-product-record/03.png) - **View**: Opens a preview showing that product revision with all lifecycle elements. - **Restore**: Creates a new version by copying the selected earlier revision. ![Confirming restoration of an earlier version](/images/help/how-can-i-restore-an-earlier-version-of-a-product-record/04.png) When you restore an earlier version, the system adds a new entry to the product's history as a copy of the chosen revision, rather than replacing the current version. --- ### How Can I Compare Products? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-compare-two-products-/ Navigate to your Products tab and locate the Compare button in the top right corner. You can easily compare up to 5 products side-by-side by toggling the Compare button. ![Compare button location](/images/help/how-can-i-compare-two-products-/01.png) ![Selecting products with the comparison banner](/images/help/how-can-i-compare-two-products-/02.png) Once activated, products become selectable with a banner appearing at the screen's bottom. Important constraint: select up to 5 products of the same type (e.g., an intermediate product can only be compared to another intermediate product, a food product can only be compared with a food product). ![Side-by-side product comparison results](/images/help/how-can-i-compare-two-products-/03.png) ![Reference product comparison showing positive and negative deltas](/images/help/how-can-i-compare-two-products-/04.png) The system generates a side-by-side view displaying differences across total impact, consumer grade, and impact by category, lifecycle, and process. ## Setting a Reference Product Any selected product can be designated as the reference product via the top right corner. Once set, badges with positive or negative deltas will appear on the comparison view, to see how the other products fare compared to the reference product. ## Viewing Options Like product reports, comparisons support multiple viewing modes: per unit of product (default), per kilogram, or per serving (if available for all selected products). --- ### How To Understand the PEF Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/ From your **Products tab**, click on the **report icon** for the product you wish to view a report for. This will take you to the **Product Report Overview**, where you can explore various impact assessments and detailed data about the product. ![PEF report dashboard overview](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/01.png) By default, you'll see the **PEF report**, but you can switch to the **GHG Protocol emissions** methodology by selecting it from the dropdown at the top. The impact report overview provides a comprehensive summary of the key takeaways from the PEF LCA and displays the following information: ![Emissions methodology breakdown on the dashboard](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/02.png) - **Product Details**: Clicking on the icon next to the product name will reveal some information about the product including its name, country of production, consumption, net amount, number of servings, and a product image (if available). - **Impact Overview**: An overview of the product's total environmental impact as well as 3 key impact categories: climate change, land use and water scarcity. - **Consumer Rating:** The product consumer rating (A–G), calculated for 1kg of product. - **First Party Data level**: Warns the user if the product is incomplete (draft), if the screening threshold hasn't been met (defaults were applied on behalf of the customer), or whether 100% first-party data was achieved meaning the results of the assessments can be used externally. - **Top Tips to improve your score**: Suggestions for reducing your product's impact. - **Impact Analysis Results by category:** Impact breakdown across all 16 PEF categories with their physical impact, the total impact points (for comparability) and percentage. - **Contextual Examples**: Translations of the physical outputs in easy-to-understand examples. - **Impact distribution by life cycle stage:** A detailed breakdown of the impact of the product down to the process level for each life cycle stage, presented for the overall impact by default (total environmental impact). The toggle in the top right allows the user to switch to any of the impact categories to view the results. Packaging is broken down between consumer-facing and transport packaging, the latter including the level number to visualise where each packaging item is used. ![Product details section of the dashboard](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/03.png) ![Impact distribution by life cycle stage](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/04.png) From this overview, you can: ![Switch methodology control](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/05.png) - **Switch methodology:** View the GHG protocol emissions report instead. - **Change the lens:** switch from the default 'per unit of product' to per kilogram/litre, or per serving if number of servings was specified. This will rescale the numbers automatically to reflect the selection. - **View datasets used:** clicking on the dataset icon will open a list of all datasets used in the calculation of the product's impact. - **Edit Product:** opens the product graph. - **See Screening LCA**: Available only if your product has 100% first-party data, the Screening LCA button brings you to the full report associated with this product (more details below). - **Download summary report**: Downloads the 1-page report that can be used for external sharing. ## Screening LCA report The full report accessible only for products with 100% first-party data (no defaults), consists of several sections, each contained within its own tab. You can navigate through these tabs by clicking on them, using the back/next arrows, or the buttons at the bottom of the page. ### 1. Summary ![Summary section of the screening LCA report](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/06.png) A summary of the report, including total environmental impact, methodology versions, and creator details. ### 2. Product Details A summary of general product information with a link to the product graph for more details. ### 3. Goal & Scope The scope of the assessment, including goal, functional unit, system boundaries, and methodology overview. ### 4. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) ![Life cycle impact assessment results table](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/07.png) ![Export LCIA results as CSV option](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-report/08.png) The main output, detailing the product's impact across 16 categories. Only 13 categories contribute to the total environmental impact, as per PEF recommendations. The following information is shown: - **Total environmental impact:** the normalised and weighted environmental impact for each of the 13 impact categories added together into one metric. - **Total environmental impact breakdown:** - **By impact category**: the normalised and weighted environmental impact for each of the 13 impact categories considered, with a table showing physical value, final environmental impact (the final impact calculated for this impact category for the product SKU with both the normalisation and weighting factors applied), and contribution (%) to the total impact. - **By life cycle stage**: how the final environmental impact is broken down by life cycle stage. - **By process**: how each process within the various life cycle stages contributes to this total environmental impact. Impact categories, life cycles and processes contributing a minimum of 80% of the total environmental impact are highlighted throughout this section in yellow (in the charts and tables). These are the areas that have the largest impact (positive or negative) on your overall product impact. Every table on this tab can be exported as a CSV file for further analysis. Simply click on the **'Export as csv'** button in the right hand corners of the table. ### 5. Interpretation Provides context to the results, discusses limitations, software improvements, and offers suggestions for reducing impact. ### 6. Appendix The final section of the report contains four appendices: - **Detailed breakdown by impact category**: additional detailed information about the environmental impacts of all 16 impact categories and how these are broken down by life cycle stage. - **PEF recommended relevance analysis**: deep dive into all the impact categories which contribute 80% of the total environmental impact of the product SKU. - **Normalisation and weighting factors**: As recommended by PEF and applied to the output of the analysis. - **Assumptions behind the contextual examples**: how these examples from our day to day life have been calculated. --- ### How to Understand the GHG Protocol Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-report-/ To access these reports, navigate to your Products tab and click the report icon for your desired product. This opens the Impact Report Overview, which displays the PEF report by default. To switch to the GHG Protocol assessment, select GHG in the dropdown at the top of the page. The resulting dashboard shows estimated Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions specific to the product. ![GHG Protocol report dashboard view](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-report-/01.png) **Important limitation**: This assessment covers only product-related emissions and should not be considered a complete organisational Scope 1, 2, and 3 evaluation. Scope 1 and 2 calculations rely primarily on secondary data and are intended for reference purposes only. ## Dashboard Components The GHG Protocol dashboard provides: - **Product Overview**: Name, net amount, servings, and product type. - **Total Estimated Emissions**: Overall emissions plus scope breakdown in kg CO2e and percentages. - **First Party Data level**: Status indicator showing whether the product is incomplete, uses default assumptions, or achieved 100% first-party data. - **Scope 1/2/3 Breakdown**: Detailed emissions by scope with expandable subcategories, including biogenic emissions reported separately. - **Optional reporting**: Individual gas emissions and avoided emissions from recycling. - **GHG Protocol Graph**: Visual representation across all in-scope categories. You can export this data as CSV by clicking the export button. ## Accessing Detailed Reports Click 'See Scope 3 Assessment' to view the comprehensive report. This detailed version is only available when your product contains 100% first-party data. Products below this threshold will display a warning about unmet screening LCA thresholds. The detailed report mirrors the PEF Report structure but replaces the LCIA tab with a Results section containing the GHG Protocol graph and scope breakdown table. Additional appendices cover Global Warming Potential Factors and Organisational Boundaries Assumptions. --- ### How Do I Export One Page Summary Reports to Share with Stakeholders? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-export-one-page-summary-reports-to-share-with-stakeholders/ The Sustained platform allows users to export concise one-page summary reports as PDFs for any product, whether final or intermediate. These reports serve as effective tools for communicating a product's environmental impact to stakeholders. **Export Process:** To initiate the export, navigate to your selected product's report overview. From there: ![Download summary report icon and button](/images/help/how-can-i-export-one-page-summary-reports-to-share-with-stakeholders/01.png) 1. Select the desired report type (either PEF or GHG Protocol). 2. Locate and click the download icon positioned on the right side. 3. Upon hovering over the icon, the label 'Download summary report' will display. 4. A file save dialog will appear within seconds. 5. Choose your desired save location for the PDF. 6. Once saved, the document is prepared for stakeholder distribution. The interface provides straightforward visual cues to guide users through this workflow, making it accessible for those needing to share environmental impact data with external parties. --- ## Change Modelling Discover how to use real-time change modelling to reduce product impacts during New and Existing Product Development (NPD/EPD). ### How Can I Model Changes to an Existing Product? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/ From your **Products tab**, find the product you wish to reformulate, open the three dot menu and select **'Model changes'**. ![Banner introducing how to model changes to a product in Sustained](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/01.png) Only complete products can be modelled. If a product is a draft, modelling will be disabled. Make sure you resolve all errors in your reference product before trying to reformulate it. This will open an interface similar to the product creation flow, showing the selected product and allowing you to model changes. ![Product record view with the option to start modelling changes](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/02.png) Each component of the product that offers the highest potential for improvement is highlighted with an orange circular sign and a **'high impact'** badge. These components guide you to focus on the areas that contribute most to the product's total environmental impact. ![Panel for selecting which part of the product lifecycle to change](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/03.png) The modelling interface functions similarly to the product creation flow. Across all lifecycle stages, you can: - **Change any variable** of an existing component by clicking on it and selecting or typing a new value. - **Remove components or steps** by following the same process as when creating products. - **Add new components or steps** just like in the product creation flow. ![Editing product details to model a proposed change](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/04.png) The impact of any changes will be displayed in real time, either as a badge at the top of the modal or within the component itself on the graph. ![Small action icon used while editing the change model](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/05.png) As you model you can also view which datasets are in use by clicking on the database icon at any time. This will provide you with a view of the dataset name, database, type of dataset (secondary, primary or internal product), the geography of the dataset and comments if available. Additionally, the cumulative effect of all the changes is shown at the top of the interface. This includes: ![Toolbar showing controls for the change-modelling workflow](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/06.png) - **Total impact change** in percentage. - A dropdown to view the impact change by **impact category**, with the highest impact category displayed by default. ![Lifecycle diagram highlighting the component being changed](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/07.png) You can expand this section to view more details, such as: - **Original impact** in impact points. - **Modelled impact** in impact points. - **Total impact change** in percentage (green for a reduction, red for an increase). - **Impact change by category**, showing the percentage change for each impact category. ![Form for entering the new values for the modelled change](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/08.png) To understand the potential for reduction at scale, you can use the **Monthly Forecast** feature. By entering the number of units you expect to produce over a month, you can see the total impact change at scale. For example, producing 10,000 units of the modelled product could result in a reduction of 46 tons of CO2e. ![Generated report comparing the original and changed product impacts](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/09.png) On the top-right of the interface, a menu provides additional helpful actions: - **Rename** your model by clicking on the pencil icon. - Use the **back and forth arrows** to undo/redo any changes. - **View the original product** with the **'See original'** option. - **Change the lens of the model** from the default 'per unit of product' to 'per kg or L' or 'per serving' using the scale icon. - **Visualise the new product** without impact change badges by toggling **'Changes'** off. - **View the datasets in use** in the modelled product by clicking on the database icon. ![Confirmation bar shown after the change model is saved](/images/help/how-can-i-model-changes-to-an-existing-product-/10.png) Once you're happy with the changes, click **'Generate report'**. This will generate a **PEF-based Impact Change Modelling report**, comparing the original product with the newly modelled product, which can be shared internally. --- ### How to Understand a Change Modelling Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/ To access a Change Modelling Report, expand the product row and click the report icon for your desired model. This directs you to a dashboard summarising key findings from the modelling analysis. ![Overview of a change-modelling report showing how impacts have changed](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/01.png) ![Original product details panel within the change-modelling report](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/02.png) The report overview includes several sections: ![Summary of changes made to the product](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/03.png) ![Chart showing differences in physical impact between versions](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/04.png) - **Original Product Details**: Reveals information about the initial product, including name, production country, consumption data, net amount, servings, and product image when available. - **Summary of Changes**: Presents the most impactful modifications made in the model. - **Impact Change Overview**: Shows the modelled product's total environmental impact alongside three key categories, climate change, land use, and water scarcity, indicating increases or decreases versus the original. - **Consumer Rating**: Displays the modelled product's rating (A–G), with the original rating visible on hover. - **Differences in physical impact**: Expandable section showing the delta between original and modelled products in physical impact terms. - **Impact Analysis Results Summary**: Comparisons organised by Impact Category, Life Cycle Stage, and Relevant Processes (original versus modelled). ![Impact analysis results summary comparing original and changed product](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/05.png) ## Available Actions ![Full report view detailing impact change results](/images/help/how-to-understand-a-change-modelling-report/06.png) From this page, you can: - **Change the lens**: Switch from 'per unit of product' to per kilogram/litre or per serving for automatic rescaling. - **View datasets used**: Access a list of all datasets used in impact calculations. - **Edit Model**: Opens the modelling interface. - **See Full Report**: Provides deeper comparison between original and modelled products, with interactive Impact Change Results by category. --- ## Volume Explore the Volume section of Sustained for managing your portfolio impact, including forecasting and tracking your product volumes. ### How To Calculate Your Baseline Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/ Accessing the baseline calculation feature begins by selecting **Volume** from the top menu, then choosing **Baseline**. This redirects you to the Baseline Overview page. If a baseline has not yet been set for the active workspace, the only option available will be to **calculate your baseline**. The baseline serves as your reference point for measuring sustainability progress throughout your reduction journey. ## Initial Setup ![Calculate baseline footprint button on the Baseline Overview screen.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/01.png) ![Two options for creating a baseline: create manually or upload a CSV file.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/02.png) Click **'Calculate baseline footprint'** to begin. You'll encounter two distinct methods for creating your baseline: 1. **Create manually**: Input production units for each product directly in the interface. 2. **Upload a CSV file**: Import production volumes using a CSV file. ## Create Manually ### Selecting the Reference Period ![Toggle to specify a starting date for the reference period.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/03.png) First, choose your reference year timeframe. A minimum of one year's worth of data is needed to set the baseline, ideally a full calendar year (January–December) or a tax year (April–April). If complete annual data is unavailable, toggle **'I want to specify a starting date'** to define custom dates with the end automatically set one year later. By default, the previous full calendar year is selected. ### Selecting Products ![Product selection list with sortable columns and search.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/04.png) Only **intermediate** and **final products** will be available for selection to avoid double-counting, as **internal products** are considered inputs to other products. At this stage, you can: - Select products individually or use the checkbox to select all. - View individual product reports via the **'View'** button. - Search for specific products by name. - Sort by different column headers. Click **'Add selected products'** once your selection is complete. ### Entering Manufacturing Quantities ![Entering the number of units manufactured for each selected product.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/05.png) Input the number of units manufactured for each product during your reference year. The **Apply to All** button applies identical quantities across selected products, overwriting previous entries. After entering all units, click **'Calculate my baseline'** to generate your baseline footprint report. ## Import File ![Selecting the reference period for the file import method.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/06.png) ### File Requirements ![CSV file upload step with required column format.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/07.png) For CSV import, ensure: - File format is **.csv**. - Column headers match the provided example. - Product IDs correspond with system records. ### Processing the Upload ![Reviewing extracted data before clicking Calculate my baseline.](/images/help/how-to-calculate-your-baseline-/08.png) After uploading your file, click **Next** to proceed to Step 3. This page displays extracted data with a notification indicating whether all records matched successfully or if some require attention. You may ignore unmatched records or verify that IDs and names are correct. Once data verification is complete, click **'Calculate my baseline'** to generate your baseline footprint report. --- ### How To Understand the PEF Production Baseline Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/ Clicking on **Volume** in the top menu opens a modal with five choices. If you select **Baseline**, you will be redirected to the **Baseline Overview**. ![Baseline footprint report shown after the baseline calculation is finalised.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/01.png) If a baseline is already set for the active workspace, you will be directed to your **baseline footprint report**, which consists of a dashboard and a full report. The creation flow will also redirect you here once the calculation is finalised. By default, the **PEF Production report** will be selected, but you can switch to the **GHG Protocol emissions tab** to view the baseline report using the **GHG Protocol methodology**. This article focuses on the **PEF Production** lens of the report. ## Dashboard Overview ![Baseline annual volume footprint dashboard summarising key takeaways.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/02.png) The **dashboard** summarises the key takeaways of the report: - **Total environmental impact** of the manufacturing output. - **Summary of the number of units produced** and the reference year. - **Top 3 impact categories and processes**. - **Top 3 tips** to improve your baseline impact. - **Worst offenders**. - **Product SKU contribution** to the total environmental impact. - **Highest and lowest impact products**. - **Breakdown by impact category**. - **Impact analysis results summary**: - By **Impact category**. - By **Life cycle stage**. - By **Process**. - **Major contributors summary**. - **Contextual examples** translating the physical outputs of the analysis into easy-to-understand comparisons (e.g., car journeys, showers, basketball court sizes). From this view, you can **reset the baseline** by clicking on the **'Reset baseline'** button. This will reset it for everyone in your workspace. ## Preliminary Baseline Status ![Preliminary baseline warning displayed when defaults were applied.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/03.png) If any product included in your baseline calculation has less than 100% first-party data (i.e., defaults were applied), the baseline will be marked as **preliminary**, with a warning displayed at the top. ## Full Baseline Report ![Accessing the full baseline report via the See Full Report button.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/04.png) ![LCIA section of the full report showing impact by product lens.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-baseline-report-/05.png) From here, you can also **view the full baseline report**, which follows a similar structure to other reports but with slight differences in the section contents. To access the full report, click **'See Full Report'** at the top. The full report includes: - **Summary**: Presents an overview of the assessment, including the number of products, units, and total impact. - **Volumes**: Summarises the production volumes used in the baseline calculation. - **LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment)**: This section includes a new **'impact by product'** lens, showing results in the following ways: - **Impact by product** - **Impact by category** - **Impact by life cycle stage** - **Impact by process** - **Interpretation**: Provides additional context and contextual examples to help translate the impact results, including comparisons to familiar benchmarks like car journeys or household activities. - **Appendix**: Includes four appendices: - **Detailed breakdown by product** - **Detailed breakdown by impact category** - **Normalisation and weighting factors** - **Assumptions behind the contextual examples** Data in tables can be exported as **CSV** by clicking on **'Export as CSV'**. --- ### How To Understand the GHG Protocol Baseline Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-baseline-report/ To access the GHG Protocol Baseline Report, select **Volume** from the top menu, then choose **Baseline** to reach the Baseline Overview. If your workspace already has an established baseline, you'll be directed to your baseline footprint report containing both a dashboard and comprehensive report. By default, the system displays the PEF Production report, but you can switch to the **GHG Protocol emissions tab** to examine GHG Protocol baseline emissions. ## Dashboard Overview ![GHG Protocol baseline emissions dashboard with Scope 1, 2 and 3 breakdown.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-baseline-report/01.png) ![Table view of GHG emissions data with the Export as CSV option.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-baseline-report/02.png) The dashboard provides key insights including: - Total emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3. - Number of units produced and reference year. - Scope 1/2/3 breakdown in kg CO2e and percentages. - GHG Protocol graph showing scope category contributions. You can toggle to table view to see biogenic emissions separately, detailed scope explanations, and optional reporting categories like individual emissions. Export data as CSV for further analysis using the export button in the top-right corner. **Important note:** This report addresses product-related emissions only and is not intended as a full Scope 1, 2, and 3 assessment. Scope 1 and 2 calculations rely primarily on secondary data for reference purposes. ## Full Report Access Click **'See full report'** to access the detailed GHG Baseline report, which mirrors the PEF Production Baseline Report structure but includes a **Results** section instead of LCIA, plus appendices covering Global Warming Potential Factors and Organisational Boundaries Assumptions. --- ### How Can I Set Targets in Sustained? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-set-targets-in-sustained-/ Clicking on **Volume** in the top menu opens a modal with five options. If you select **Targets**, you will be redirected to the **Target Setting** page. On this tab, you can set targets for each of the 16 environmental impact categories measured by **PEF**, as well as for the **'Total Environmental Impact'**, the overall measure of environmental impact calculated under the PEF framework. ![Environmental impact targets screen in Sustained.](/images/help/how-can-i-set-targets-in-sustained-/01.png) To set a target for a specific category, follow these steps: ![Entering a desired reduction target value.](/images/help/how-can-i-set-targets-in-sustained-/02.png) 1. **Select the type of target**: - **Long-term reduction target**: Set a specific percentage reduction with a target year. - **Year-over-year reduction target**: Determine how much you'd like to reduce your impact each year. By default, the **Target Year** option is selected. 2. **Enter your desired target**. The required annual reduction or the estimated long-term reduction (the year by which -100% will be reached) will be automatically calculated to provide context as you set the target. 3. Click the **'Set Target'** button. You will be asked to confirm, as the target will apply to everyone using this workspace. Once the target is set, it will appear at the top of the list, with all set targets visible. Categories without targets will follow. You can always **reset** any target using the **'Reset'** button, which will apply the change to everyone in the workspace. --- ### How Do I Upload and Manage Historical Reports? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/ Clicking on **Volume** in the top menu will open a modal with five choices. If you click on **Historical Reports**, you will be redirected to a list of all historical reports available for the active workspace. If no reports have been uploaded yet, this list will be empty, and you will be prompted to upload your first set of data. If at least one historical report exists, you can: ![Upload historical data option on the historical reports screen.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/01.png) - **Search** for a specific report by name. - **View** a report (if it has been generated). - **Delete** a report. To upload historical data, the process is very similar to that of setting a baseline, with the only difference being that you can upload manufacturing output data for as little as one month. The resulting report will also compare your data to the baseline to help contextualise your progress since the beginning of your journey. When you click **'Upload historical data'**, you'll be given the choice between manual data entry or file upload. ## Manual Data Entry ![Selecting the time period for a manual historical volume report.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/02.png) ![Entering historical report data manually.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/03.png) ![Generate Report button for the manually entered historical data.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/04.png) The first step in manual entry involves selecting the time period for your historical data. Ideally, this should be for a full month (from the 1st to the last day of the month), ensuring it does not overlap with any existing data to track progress consistently over time. You can select multiple months if granular data for each month is not available. By default, the last full month will be selected. If a full calendar month is unavailable, you can toggle the **'I want to specify a starting date'** option to manually set a start and end date. However, selecting specific starting dates will disable all progress tracking views in the workspace. After selecting the dates, you'll be prompted to select the products you manufactured during that time. You can select products individually or select all at once. Note that only **intermediate** and **final products** are visible to prevent double-counting, as **internal products** are considered inputs to other products. On this step, you can: - **Select products individually** or choose all using the checkbox. - **View an individual product's report** by clicking **'View'** next to the product name. - **Search** for a specific product by name. - **Sort** the table by different column headers. - Rename the historical report by clicking the icon next to the report name. You will now be able to do the following: - Enter the number of units of each product you manufactured over the specified timeframe. You can enter numbers for each product or **Apply to All** to apply any entered number to all products. This will overwrite any previously entered numbers. - View any product impact report. Once all numbers have been entered, click on **'Generate Report'**. This will use all the information provided and the individual product impacts to generate both PEF and GHG protocol based historical manufacturing output reports. ## Import File ![Selecting the time period before uploading the historical data file.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/05.png) ![Uploading the historical data file.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/06.png) ![Generate report step after importing the file.](/images/help/how-do-i-upload-and-manage-historical-reports/07.png) The first step will consist in selecting the time period of this assessment. Ideally, this is a full month (1st to last day of the month) and you need to ensure it doesn't overlap with existing data. This allows you to track progress consistently over time. Multiple months can be selected if the granular per month output isn't known. By default, the last full month for which no data was uploaded will be selected. If selecting a full month from start to finish is not possible because of lack of data, you can also toggle the 'I want to specify a starting date' option which will allow you to specify a start and end date. It must be for a minimum of 1 month. It should be noted that selecting specific starting dates will disable all progress tracking views within the workspace. After selecting the time period, the next step will consist in uploading your file. You need to make sure of the following for this step to be successful: - File format is .csv. - File structure includes the correct column headers as in the example provided. - Product IDs match the records in our system. Once uploaded, simply click Next. This will take you to Step 3, where all you have to do is review the automatically extracted data. At the top of the table, you will be able to see if all records from your file were matched successfully or if some couldn't be matched. You can either ignore the unmatched ones or make sure the IDs and names are correct in your file. If everything looks correct, you can immediately click on **'Generate report'**. This will use all the information provided and the individual product impacts to generate both PEF and GHG protocol based historical manufacturing output reports. --- ### How To Understand the PEF Production Historical Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-historical-report/ Access historical reports by selecting **Volume** from the top menu, then choose **Historical Reports**. From the resulting list, click **'View'** next to your desired report. ![List of existing historical reports for the workspace.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-historical-report/01.png) ## Dashboard Overview ![PEF Production lens dashboard summarising the historical report.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-historical-report/02.png) ![Contextual examples translating physical impact differences into relatable terms.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-historical-report/03.png) The default **PEF Production lens** displays key insights: - Total environmental impact from manufacturing output. - Actual manufacturing throughput overview (product SKUs, total units, date range). - Top 3 impact categories and processes. - Top 3 improvement recommendations. - Contextual examples translating outputs into relatable comparisons. - Progress tracking graph showing baseline, historical data, and targets. - Worst-performing products. - Product SKU contribution breakdown. - Highest and lowest impact products. - Impact breakdown by category, life cycle stage, and process. - Major contributors summary. You can switch to the **GHG Protocol emissions tab** to view results using alternative methodology. ## Full Report Structure ![Progress tracking section within the full historical report.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-pef-production-historical-report/04.png) Click **'See Full Report'** to access comprehensive details organised into tabs: - **Summary**: Product count, units, and total impact overview. - **Volumes**: Production volumes used in calculations. - **Progress tracking**: Baseline comparison, previous data points, targets, and likelihood of meeting goals. - **LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment)**: Results split by product, category, life cycle stage, and process; exportable as CSV. - **Interpretation**: Contextual examples clarifying results. - **Appendix**: Includes detailed product breakdowns, impact category analysis, normalisation factors, and contextual example assumptions. --- ### How To Understand the GHG Protocol Historical Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-historical-report/ Clicking on **Volume** in the top menu will open a modal with 5 choices. If you click on Historical Reports, you will be redirected to the list of all existing historical reports. If you already have some reports, you can view them by clicking on **'View'** for the relevant report. ![Historical data report list with the View option.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-historical-report/01.png) When opening a given report, by default the PEF Production lens will be selected but you can click on the GHG Protocol emissions tab to view the historical report using GHG Protocol methodology. This section focuses on the latter. The dashboard will summarise the key takeaways of the report: ![GHG Protocol historical volume report dashboard with scope breakdown.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-historical-report/02.png) - Total emissions estimated (scope 1, 2 and 3). - Summary of the number of units produced and the reference year. - Scope 1 / 2 / 3 breakdown in kg CO2e and %. - GHG Protocol graph showing the contribution across all scope categories. - This can be changed to a table view where biogenic emissions are reported separately, detailed explanations of what is in vs out of scope are presented, and optional reporting categories such as individual emissions are included. - Data on this table can be exported as a CSV file for further analysis. Simply click on the **'Export as csv'** button in the right hand corner of the table. **It is important to remember that this report covers product-related emissions only and is not intended as a full scope 1, 2 and 3 assessment. Scope 1 and 2 calculations rely mostly on secondary data and as such should be used as reference only.** ![Full GHG Protocol historical report with results and export option.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-ghg-protocol-historical-report/03.png) From this overview dashboard, you can click on **'See full report'** to get to the detailed GHG Historical report. This report follows a similar structure to the GHG Protocol Baseline Report. --- ### How Can I Create an Impact Forecast? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/ Forecasts are a projection into the future of what your impact would be if you produced a certain number of products. It can be very helpful to understand the potential benefits at scale of making some improvements at the product level since models can be included as inputs. Clicking on **Volume** in the top menu will open a modal with five options. If you click on **Forecasts**, you will be redirected to the list of all existing forecasts in your workspace. If no forecasts exist yet, you'll be prompted to create your first one. If at least one forecast is available, you can: ![Forecasts list and options for creating a new forecast.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/01.png) - **Search** for a specific forecast by name. - **View** a report (if it has been generated). - **Delete** a report. Creating a new forecast is simple. When you click on **'New Forecast'**, you will be presented with three options: 1. **Start from previous report** (available if you already have a baseline or historical report in your workspace). 2. **Enter manually**. 3. **Import from CSV file**. ## Start from Previous Report ![Starting a forecast from a previous report.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/02.png) ![Adding more products manually to the forecast.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/03.png) When selecting **'Start from previous report'**, you will choose a report to use as a template for the forecast. This can be any existing **historical report** or your **baseline report**. Once the report is selected, click **'Next'**, and you'll see the list of products included in the original report, along with their production volumes. The timeframe will be pre-selected to match the original report's timeframe (e.g., using the baseline will select the entire year). You can: - **Edit existing product production volumes**. - **Remove a product**. - **View a product report** in a new tab. - **Add a new product or model** by clicking **'Add more products manually'**. This will allow you to select products in your workspace and include them in the forecast to model the impact of changes at scale. A summary of selected products and their total units will be displayed at the bottom. Once satisfied with the selection, click **'Create report'** to generate your PEF-based forecast. ## Create Manually ![Renaming the forecast when creating it manually.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/04.png) ![Entering the number of units for each product in the forecast.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/05.png) When selecting **'Create manually'**, you'll choose the products you plan to manufacture during your desired timeframe. You can select products individually or select all. Only **intermediate** and **final products** are visible to avoid double-counting, as **internal products** are inputs for other products. Unlike the baseline or historical reports, this option allows you to select **models** instead of just products. This is useful when you want to model the impact of making changes to a product at scale. On this step, you can: - **Select products/models individually** or choose all using the checkbox. - **View an individual product/model report** by clicking **'View'**. - **Search** for specific products/models. - **Sort** the table by different column headers. - **Rename the forecast** by clicking the pen icon next to the report name. After selecting all products and models, click **'Add selected products'** to continue. Next, you'll: - **Specify the timeframe** of your forecast (year, quarter, or month). - **Enter the number of units** you plan to manufacture for each product. You can either enter them manually for each product or use **'Apply to All'** to apply the same number across all products. Once everything is entered, click **'Create Report'** to generate your PEF-based forecast. ## Import from CSV File ![Uploading a CSV file to create a forecast.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/06.png) ![Generate Forecast step after importing the CSV file.](/images/help/how-can-i-create-an-impact-forecast-/07.png) If you choose **'Import from CSV'**, you'll upload a file containing the product IDs and forecasted volumes. Ensure the following for a successful upload: - **File format**: .csv. - **File structure**: Correct column headers (provided in the example). - **Product IDs**: Match the records in your system. Once uploaded, click **'Next'**. In Step 3, you'll review the extracted data, ensuring that all records match. If any data couldn't be matched, you can either ignore it or correct the IDs and names in your file. Once everything looks correct, click **'Generate Forecast'** to create your PEF-based forecast. --- ### How to Understand the Forecast Report Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-to-understand-the-forecast-report-/ Access forecast reports by selecting **Volume** from the top menu, then choosing **Forecasts** to view all available forecasts. Click **'View'** next to a report to open it. ![List of available forecasts for the workspace.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-forecast-report-/01.png) ## Dashboard Overview ![Volume forecast dashboard summarising the report insights.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-forecast-report-/02.png) When opening a report, you land on a dashboard summarising key insights: - **Total environmental impact** of manufacturing output. - **Manufacturing output overview**: Product SKUs, total units, and assessment cycle length. - **Top 3 impact categories and processes**. - **Top 3 tips** for improving manufacturing output scores. - **Baseline comparison**: Forecasted impact versus baseline. - **Impact difference with baseline**: Graph showing historical data, forecasts, and target achievement dates. - **Worst offenders**: Products with highest environmental impact. - **Product contribution** to total environmental impact. - **Highest and lowest impact products**. - **Breakdown by impact category**. - **Impact analysis results summary** by category, life cycle stage, and process. - **Major contributors summary**. - **Contextual examples**: Physical outputs translated into relatable terms (e.g., car journeys, showers). ## Full Report Sections ![Full forecast report sections accessed via See Full Report.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-forecast-report-/03.png) ![Baseline comparison section within the full forecast report.](/images/help/how-to-understand-the-forecast-report-/04.png) Access the full report by clicking **'See Full Report'** at the top. It includes: - **Summary**: Overview of products, units, and total impact. - **Volumes**: Expected production volumes used in the forecast. - **Baseline comparison**: How forecasted volumes align with reduction targets. - **LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment)**: Results split by product, category, life cycle stage, and process. - **Interpretation**: Contextual examples translating impact data. - **Appendix**: Four detailed breakdowns covering products, impact categories, normalisation factors, and contextual example assumptions. Data in tables can be exported as CSV using the **'Export as CSV'** option. --- ### How Do I Use the Progress Tracking View Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-do-i-use-progress-tracking-view/ Access the Progress Tracking view by selecting **Volume** from the top menu, then choose **Progress Tracking** from the modal options. ## Available Actions ![Progress Tracking view showing the actions available to the user.](/images/help/how-do-i-use-progress-tracking-view/01.png) **If no products exist yet:** - Create your first product. **If at least one product has been created:** - Calculate your baseline. - Add targets. - Upload historical data. **Once baseline and/or targets are established:** - View a summary of your progress showing the comparison from baseline to the latest year, including percentage reduction or increase in impact and whether progress meets targets. - View your progress tracking chart (displays total environmental impact by default, but can be filtered by impact category, impact points, or physical impacts). - View a summary of your set targets. - View a summary of the latest historical report. ## Key Functionality ![Summary of the latest historical report within progress tracking.](/images/help/how-do-i-use-progress-tracking-view/02.png) This tab will show you your progress over time and projected trajectory based on historical data, helping you assess whether you're on track to meet your targets given the current pace. --- ## Manage Learn how to use the Manage section of Sustained to organise suppliers, locations, and data mapping. ### How Do I Manage Providers and Suppliers? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-do-i-manage-providers-suppliers/ Accessing the supplier management features requires navigating to **Manage** in the top menu, then selecting **Providers & Suppliers**. This takes you to a tab where you can view the list of all Providers & Suppliers across your entire company account, not just within the active workspace. ![Providers and suppliers list view in the Sustained platform](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-providers-suppliers/01.png) By default, your company appears as one entry with the type **'Brand owner'**. You can modify this to match your actual business model, such as manufacturer, brand owner, or ingredient supplier. A single supplier entry can represent multiple provider types simultaneously. ## Available Actions The following operations are available in this section: - **Create a new provider** by clicking the **'New provider'** button. - **Search** for specific providers by name (requires at least one existing provider). - **Filter** by provider type using the left menu. - **Sort** by different table fields. - **Edit** provider details. - **Navigate** to other **Manage** tab sections. ## Creating a New Provider ![Form for creating a new provider with its details](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-providers-suppliers/02.png) When establishing a new provider entry, you must provide: - **Provider name**. - **Provider ID** (optional field). - **Type of provider**: select one or more categories (manufacturer, brand owner, ingredient supplier). - **Controlled by you toggle**: indicates whether this provider operates under your company's control, which affects reporting. --- ### How Do I Manage Locations & Facilities? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities/ Clicking on Manage in the top menu and then selecting Locations & Facilities will take you to the locations management tab. Here, you can view the list of all Locations & Facilities across your entire company account, not just within the active workspace. If no locations have been created yet, the list will be empty. ![Locations and facilities section in the Sustained platform](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities/01.png) Several actions are available in this section: ![Manage locations and facilities list view](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities/02.png) - To **create a new location**, click the **'New facility'** button. - If at least one location has been created, you can also: - **Search** for a specific location by name. - **Filter** by location type (using the left menu), owner, or country (via the filters menu). - **Sort** by different fields in the table. - **Edit** a location's details. - **Navigate** to other sections of the **Manage** tab using the left menu. ## Creating a New Location ![Form for creating a new location with its details](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-locations-facilities/03.png) When you choose to create a new location record, you'll be prompted to provide the following information: - **Location name**. - **Location ID** (optional). - **Type of location**: Whether it's a **production facility**, a **warehouse**, a **store**, or a **consumption location**. - **Owner** (if applicable): Who owns this facility from your suppliers list. - **Country**: The country where the location is based. - **Address**: The exact location within the country. - **Facility status** (if applicable): Whether it's owned, rented, or third-party. - This is important for **Scope 3** classification. - **Agreement type** (only applicable to stores and warehouses that are third-party owned): Helps define whether you're paying for the service **directly** or **indirectly**. --- ### How Do I Manage Data Mappings from Data Import? Source: https://www.sustained.com/help-centre/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/ Clicking on **Manage** in the top menu and then selecting **Mappings** will take you to the **mappings management tab**, where you can see the list of all mappings used across your entire company account, not just within the active workspace. **Mappings** are essentially interpretations of customer data (i.e., what the data provided by the customer was matched to in our underlying datasets) when ingested automatically. This interface was built to allow for bulk management of those mappings. While our **AI matcher** does its best to match what it reads from your systems/documents and map it to existing datasets, it's not always successful. Therefore, this interface provides an efficient way for you to review and correct mappings, saving you from manually editing each product. ![Data mappings overview from data import](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/01.png) When you first open this tab, you will see a **modal** explaining the various badges present on the tab. These badges indicate the accuracy of a data match, and there are five types: - **Unmatched** - **Exact match** - **Best match** - **Default** - **User entered** If no data was automatically ingested from your systems or through a bulk import, this section will be empty. This is the case if you've manually created all your products, in which case no automatic mappings need reviewing. ![Modal explaining the data mapping status badges](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/02.png) If data was imported automatically via APIs or offline import, you will see a list of all your mappings, organised into two main sections: 1. **To be reviewed mappings**: This includes all **unmatched** (shown with a red background) and **best match** data, which require customer review. 2. **Resolved**: This includes **exact match** and **user edited** badges and are lower priority for review. ## Actions Available ![Available actions for managing data mappings](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/03.png) ![Action menu options for a data mapping entry](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/04.png) - **Find a specific mapping** by the name of the original data. - **Edit any mapping** by clicking the **pen icon** on the relevant row. - **Filter** to view only mappings that need to be reviewed or resolved. - **Filter** by mapping type (ingredients or packaging). - **Filter** to view specific match types (e.g., best match, exact match, unmatched). - **Navigate** to a different section of the **Manage** tab using the left menu. Each field in a mapping is assigned a **match quality**. A single mapping can have multiple badges (e.g., packaging type, packaging materials). In this case, the **worst quality** is displayed first, with a **+N others** label to show any other associated badges. You can click on **+N others** to view the other badges or **edit the mapping** directly to see the full details. ## Editing a Mapping ![Editing a data mapping interface](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/05.png) ![Selecting a matched dataset while editing a mapping](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/06.png) ![Confirming the updated data mapping](/images/help/how-do-i-manage-data-mappings/07.png) Clicking on any row of this table will open a given mapping, where you will see two main sections: 1. **Original Data Section**: This section shows what was extracted from your system or documentation, and how many products this mapping was used in. Prioritise reviewing mappings used in the largest number of products, as they will have the biggest impact if wrong. 2. **Mapped To Section**: This section shows which datasets the data was mapped to within Sustained. Each mapped field has its own **state**, which represents the confidence in the mapping as discussed earlier. If defaults are applied, it means the data couldn't be extracted, and our defaults were used instead. You can click on any of the **'Mapped To'** fields and modify the information as needed. Once you've made the desired changes, click **'Save'** at the top to propagate your changes across all products using this mapping. After saving, your fields will display **'user edited'** badges, and the **'updating products'** status will appear at the top as the changes are applied. ---