case study
Greening bottom lines through life cycle assessments
Peter-Jan Roose
Challenge
Sustainability can be a complex landscape—especially for product-centric companies seeking to reduce their environmental footprint. The first major hurdle was conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the product’s impact from raw materials to end-of-life. This involved measuring a wide range of indicators, including carbon emissions, land use, and water consumption. But data collection proved difficult: internal data was scattered across systems, and external data from suppliers and customers was often incomplete or unreliable. Making informed, science-backed decisions required a structured and pragmatic approach.
While the primary goal of the project was to enhance the environmental impact of the selected products, the results of the LCA also enabled us to improve the financial performance of our client in a short time span.
Approach
We applied a three-step LCA approach designed to balance speed with scientific rigor:
1. Rapid environmental scan using secondary data
We started with accessible, standardized data from LCA databases to map out key impact areas across the value chain. This gave a reliable first indication of where environmental improvements could be made—without needing months of data collection.
2. Quick wins and data prioritization
Based on initial findings, we identified high-impact areas and quick wins that could be implemented right away. We also pinpointed where deeper insights were needed using primary data sources, such as supplier-specific information.
3. Deep dive with primary data
While the client began implementing quick wins, we continued collecting and integrating more detailed data to refine the impact analysis and inform long-term improvements.
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Impact
Beyond reducing environmental impact, the project quickly unlocked financial benefits. The client achieved a 20% reduction in waste streams, saving hundreds of tons of raw materials and improving cost efficiency. The LCA also surfaced untapped revenue opportunities in the value chain. Follow-up actions focused on energy efficiency, logistics optimization, and material innovation—proving that sustainability, when done right, can drive both environmental and financial gains.
Summary
Developed a three-year sustainability strategy for a B2B furniture company
Delivered a full LCA using a phased, pragmatic approach
Reduced waste streams by 20%, saving raw materials and costs
Identified new revenue streams and operational efficiencies
Launched improvement actions across energy, logistics, and materials