- Pursuing the "life" of plastic -
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is the process by which a product or service is assessed from its creation to its disposal.
This is a method to quantitatively evaluate the extent to which a certain activity has an impact on the environment.
For example, a plastic bottle cap.
The cap goes through the process of drilling for oil, transporting the raw materials, manufacturing it, using it, and then being thrown away.
In fact, it produces a variety of CO2, waste, and energy.
LCA visualizes the entire life cycle and identifies where the environmental impact is greatest.
This will give you some clues on how to reduce it.
The four steps of LCA
Setting goals and scope
It is important to clarify "what purpose and to what extent you are evaluating." LCA covers a very broad range, so if you do not clarify the purpose, it will become unclear.
Inventory Analysis
It is about investigating and quantifying all flows that lead to environmental impact. We collect all figures related to product manufacturing.
Impact assessment
Based on the collected data, we calculate the actual "level of environmental impact."
Interpretation of results
The final step is to consider how to utilize the results of the evaluation.
We will convert the CO2 amount into other easy-to-understand expressions and disseminate it for your benefit.
Benefits of LCA
Quantification
The environmental impact is visualized as actual numbers, rather than just a feeling or image, so it can be viewed objectively.
Improvements are visible
You can see what changes you need to make to improve things, and make concrete improvements, such as shortening collection routes.
Communicate in a fun way
You can communicate environmentally friendly choices in a fun way. You can easily communicate the environmental impact of your products to users.
Disposal Process
*This is when all plastic is incinerated.
Regeneration Process
*This is our own unique process.
-Notes-
-Shipping costs are assumed to be the same.
・Machinery and other equipment is assumed to be equivalent.
Amount of carbon dioxide that can be reduced through the recycling process
2.181
kg-CO2/kg
References
Plastic cleaning: Waterworks Bureau (2023). "CO2 calculation tool". Tokyo Metropolitan Government. https://www.waterworks.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kurashi/co2
Simple incineration: Japan Chemical Industry Association (2022). "LCA evaluation of industrial waste plastics."
Electricity use: Ministry of the Environment (2024). "List of calculation methods and emission factors in the calculation, reporting, and disclosure system." https://policies.env.go.jp/earth/ghg-santeikohyo/calc.html
Plastic processing: Ministry of the Environment "Emissions unit database for calculating greenhouse gas emissions of organizations throughout the supply chain" (March 2025 edition) https://www.env.go.jp/earth//ondanka/supply_chain/gvc/estimate_05.html