LCA Resources Added to the Sustainability Toolkit

The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) recently launched new tools to support Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) advancement within the animal feed and pet food industry. Read more and download the tools within the Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit below.

The LCA Process Overview defines the appropriate and effective use of LCAs including the following information:

1. LCA purpose, process and outcomes.
2. ISO panel review process.
3. Updated FAQ and glossary.

Companies can use the overview tool to inform their internal teams on the best use cases of an LCA, the process that an LCA goes through and the ISO process review steps.

The LCA Glossary defines terms commonly used when discussing elements in the LCA environment. Companies can use the glossary to understand important terms and concepts used when discussing and undertaking an LCA. Knowledge of these terms is important for using IFEEDER’s LCA resources as well as engaging with peers and consultants.

The LCA Industry Member Insights provide findings resulting from interviews with U.S. and Canadian animal feed and pet food members. Interview questions provided insights into the following:

1. Drivers for animal food industry LCAs.
2. Challenges for completing LCAs.
3. LCA boundary and indicator use by animal food industry.
4. Peer-to-peer experiential insights. 

Companies can learn from the experiences and insights of animal food industry members and see current trends driving and shaping LCAs for products and processes.

The LCA Decision Tree provides key questions and decisions to evaluate when considering an LCA. The decision tree includes questions related to:

1. Value (demand opportunities and value proposition).
2. Commitment (focus and resourcing).
3. Prioritization (goal and scope).
4. Strategic Considerations (execution and complexity).

Companies can use the decision tree tool to discuss the initial questions and decisions to consider when starting an LCA with their internal teams to gain alignment and a clear direction for their LCA.

The LCA Landscape Mapping and Profiles resource defines the players and their roles and capabilities related to LCAs and LCIs. The landscape includes information and profiles for players operating in the following areas of LCAs and LCIs:

1. Standards.
2. Regulations.
3. Datasets (LCI).
4. LCA Software.
5. LCA Practitioners.

Companies can use the landscape mapping tool to understand who is involved in LCAs and LCIs, where they fit in the LCA/LCI landscape, what their roles are related to LCAs, and how best to engage with them.

These LCA Resources are available in IFEEDER’s Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit.

NOTE: The information provided in IFEEDER’s Animal Food Industry Sustainability Toolkit is protected by copyright and is licensed exclusively to American Feed Industry Association members, paid subscribers and IFEEDER donors only. Reproduction or distribution of the material in any form to or for unlicensed parties is prohibited without express written consent from IFEEDER’s Executive Director Lara Moody. The contents of the member toolkit are not to be shared with individuals or companies outside of your own company.

DOWNLOAD MEMBER TOOLKIT

AFIA members can download the toolkit at the link above; for trouble accessing the member website, contact AFIA’s Erica Burson.

To purchase a subscription to the toolkit, visit AFIA’s Online Store.