07/01/2025
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Faced with environmental challenges and the urgent need to tackle climate change, measuring the ecological impact of products is becoming a priority for companies committed to a sustainable approach.

 

Lifecycle Analysis is a method for assessing the environmental impact of a product, from manufacture to end of life. By identifying each stage where improvements can be made, LCA enables us to rethink our industrial choices to reduce their ecological footprint.

For LuminoKrom®, this approach is fully in line with our commitment to sustainable, low-carbon lighting solutions. By comparing our photoluminescent paint to other conventional lighting solutions, we wanted to scientifically demonstrate our low environmental impact.

But what exactly is LCA? What is it used for, and why is it essential to an eco-design approach?

This article takes you to the heart of this essential assessment tool for a more planet-friendly future.

Definition of Life Cycle Assessment

 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an evaluation method that measures the environmental impact of a product, service or process throughout its life cycle. This means that it takes into account all the data from the stages of its "life": from the extraction of the raw materials needed for its production, to its transport, use and finally its end of life (recycling, disposal or waste).

 

schema-acv-en

Source : European Commission

 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an evaluation method that measures the environmental impact of a product, service or process throughout its life cycle. This means that it takes into account all the data from the stages of its "life": from the extraction of the raw materials needed for its production, to its transport, use and finally its end of life (recycling, disposal or waste).

The main objective of LCA is to understand where, when and how a product generates environmental impacts, such as CO2 emissions, energy consumption, use of natural resources and waste production. By identifying these critical points, it helps companies to make informed decisions to reduce their ecological footprint.

What makes LCA so indispensable is its global approach. Rather than focusing on a single stage, such as product production, for example, it provides data with a complete view of all the stages in the life cycle. This makes it an essential method for eco-design, sustainable innovation and the objective comparison of several products or solutions in terms of their impacts.

In short, LCA is a genuine evaluation guide for adopting more responsible practices in line with today's environmental challenges.

What is the purpose of LCA?

The main aim of Life Cycle Assessment is to better understand and reduce the ecological impact of products and services.

 

Here are the detailed objectives of the Life Cycle Assessment:

  •  Identifying environmental impacts: LCA quantifies a product's impact on the environment at every stage of its life cycle, including greenhouse gas and carbon emissions, water consumption and the depletion of natural resources.
  • Highlighting critical stages: By analysing all the phases and stages of the life cycle (manufacture, transport, use, end of life), the Life Cycle Assessment helps to identify the processes where the impacts are most significant, in order to prioritise the actions to be taken.
  •  Promoting eco-design: The results of LCA data can be used to design or improve products in such a way as to limit their ecological footprint, for example by using recyclable materials or reducing energy consumption.
  • Comparing several solutions: LCA offers a complete scientific study to compare different alternatives, or products, and choose the one with the lowest environmental impact.
  • Helping transparency and communication: By providing objective data, LCA helps to demonstrate a real commitment to sustainability to stakeholders (customers, partners, institutions).

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Why did LuminoKrom® decide to carry out an LCA?

Since its creation, OliKrom, the company that produces LuminoKrom®, has paid the utmost attention to developing environmentally-friendly materials. Our photoluminescent paints are part of this approach, with their ability to store light during the day and illuminate at night without consuming any energy or releasing any CO2.

Ecological responsibility and innovation are at the heart of our values. As the creators of the first low-carbon luminescent paint that is visible at night without energy, we have always wanted to offer a solution that combines safety and respect for nature.

To take this eco-responsible approach a step further, we decided to carry out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of our products.

This analysis was essential to objectively demonstrate how LuminoKrom® differs from conventional lighting solutions, which are often based on electrical devices or materials that consume more energy. Unlike these alternatives, our paint works without any external energy source and is activated by natural or artificial light.

In carrying out this analysis, we wanted not only to validate our environmental commitments, but also to inspire industrial players and local authorities to opt for more responsible solutions, adapted to the ecological challenges of today and tomorrow.

What are the results?

The floor was given to APESA, an external expert firm commissioned to carry out a comparative study. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out, a method governed by international standards ISO 14040 and 14044.

APESA is a technology centre serving the needs of businesses and local authorities. Founded in 1995 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, APESA offers customised support on a range of CSR issues (creation of societal value, eco-innovation and environmental assessment, HSE prevention and regulation, biomass waste recovery, etc.).

To assess the impact of LuminoKrom® paints, APESA had access to all the raw materials, their origins, compositions, safety data sheets, modes of transport, etc. All the synthesis and industrialisation protocols were studied in order to measure the environmental footprint of LuminoKrom® paint using three impact indicators:

  • Climate change
  • Eutrophication of fresh water
  • Resource depletion

 

And the conclusion? LuminoKrom® is the most environmentally-friendly lighting solution!

If we compare the overall environmental impact of existing lighting solutions on the market, 1 km of public lighting using light masts is equivalent to 184 km of lighting using LuminoKrom®.

The LCA enabled us to make a precise comparison between our product and traditional lighting solutions. The results confirm that LuminoKrom® has a much lower environmental impact, while offering long-lasting, efficient performance.

 

 

Need more information about the report?

To find out more about this study and its conclusions, please read
the article dedicated to the APESA LCA report

 

Read the article

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is much more than a simple evaluation tool: it is an essential compass for guiding companies towards more responsible choices in the face of the current environmental impact of consumer products. By precisely identifying the ecological impact of each stage in a product's life cycle, it can help rethink industrial practices and encourage eco-design.

At LuminoKrom®, we chose LCA to scientifically confirm our commitment to sustainable innovation. The results show that our photoluminescent paint is a much more environmentally friendly signage solution than conventional lighting alternatives.

Businesses and local authorities: it's time to act. Choose responsible solutions like LuminoKrom®, and together we can build a safer, more sustainable future for our planet.

Would you like to consult our detailed report?
Contact one of our experts!

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