Industry Report
LCAS ARE POWERFUL TOOLS – BUT ONLY WHEN USED CORRECTLY
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, developed in the 1970s, is a powerful tool for measuring the environmental impact of products and services. By examining a product’s footprint from raw material extraction to disposal, LCAs give businesses, policymakers, and consumers a broader understanding of environmental impact: covering emissions, resource use, pollution, and waste. In the wide-format printing sector, where PVC, solvents, and chemical additives have long raised sustainability concerns, LCAs can help the industry confront difficult realities and move towards more responsible practices. However, LCAs can also be used selectively to support a preferred narrative. When applied rigorously, they drive meaningful change; when misused, they risk enabling greenwashing.
NOVA ABBOTT, HEAD OF MARKETING, KAVALAN,
EXPLORES LCAS AND WHAT ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE WIDE-
FORMAT PRINTING SECTOR.
THE EVOLUTION AND PURPOSE OF THE LCA The ethos behind LCAs is straightforward: define the scope, gather the data, assess the impacts, and interpret the results. Today, governments, NGOs, and businesses rely on them to inform decisions, set policy, and measure progress. But a robust LCA must cover a product’s full life cycle, from cradle to grave. Without transparency and comprehensive data, assessments risk telling only part of the story.
THE PROBLEM WITH SIMPLIFIED PCFS While LCAs consider multiple environmental factors, Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) often focus solely on greenhouse gas emissions. Most PCFs in the wide-format printing industry are based on limited cradle-to-gate data, relying on standard life cycle databases that mainly account for energy and water use during manufacturing.
This creates a serious blind spot. For materials
like PVC, significant emissions come from chemical reactions, additives, and complex production processes, not just energy or water use. Off-the- shelf PCFs fail to capture these factors. As a result, companies may present PVC or certain textiles as having favourable carbon footprints while ignoring the far greater greenhouse gas emissions and toxic pollution generated in their production. Only detailed, site-specific testing can provide an accurate picture. Without it, simplified PCFs risk becoming tools for greenwashing rather than credible environmental metrics.
WIDE-FORMAT PRINTING UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT The wide-format printing industry is at a turning point. Historically reliant on PVC and chemical-heavy substrates, it now faces pressure to adopt more
14 | August/September 2025
sustainable materials. LCAs have the potential to guide this transition, but only if the methodology is applied thoroughly. The LCA framework consists of four stages: Goal and Scope Definition, Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), and Interpretation. Each stage is critical. A weak link at any point can produce misleading results.
THE BIGGER QUESTION: INTENT MATTERS Not all LCAs are misleading. Some are designed for internal use: guiding product design, identifying hotspots for improvement, or complying with regulations. But when LCA data is used in marketing, the temptation to present the most favourable results is strong. Environmental groups have increasingly criticised recycled content claims that use vague terms like ‘up to X% recycled’ or ‘made with recycled materials’ without clarifying sourcing or environmental trade-offs. This highlights the need for clarity and honesty when communicating sustainability claims.
SOLUTIONS: TOWARDS TRUE IMPACT MEASUREMENT
So how can LCAs deliver on their promise? • Full disclosure: Every LCA and PCF should clearly outline its scope, data sources, assumptions, and limitations.
• Investment in site-based data: Whenever possible, data should come directly from suppliers and manufacturing partners, especially for upstream processes.
• Standardisation: Industry-specific guidelines are essential for consistent reporting.
• Third-party verification: Independent audits can help prevent misrepresentation, though certification should remain the role of specialist organisations.
• Legislation: As climate policies evolve, mandatory and verifiable PCFs should become standard in high-impact industries.
CONCLUSION: A DOUBLE-EDGED TOOL At its best, the LCA is a powerful mechanism to hold industries accountable, highlight weak points, and inspire innovation. At its worst, it reassures buyers without driving real change. For wide-format printing, and any industry under
environmental scrutiny, there is a clear opportunity: to lead with transparency, robust data, and continuous improvement. The debate around LCAs and greenwashing will only intensify. The question is whether businesses will engage honestly or risk being left behind as accountability expectations rise.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
