Building Your First LCA Model in CarbonGraph

Link to Video

If you’ve ever wondered about the environmental impact of a product but weren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) might sound complex, but with CarbonGraph, building your first model is easier than you think.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through modeling the environmental impact of a toothbrush—from raw materials to manufacturing—using CarbonGraph’s intuitive, AI-powered platform. Our goal? To show you how quickly you can establish a baseline model that helps guide reduction strategies for energy use, waste, emissions, and more.

Why Start with a Baseline Model?

Many people hesitate to begin an LCA because they don’t have all the answers. But the reality is, you don’t need perfect data to start modeling. LCA is an iterative process, meaning you can begin with what you know, explore different scenarios, and refine your model over time.

By setting up a baseline model in CarbonGraph, you can:
✔️ Quickly estimate impacts across carbon emissions, water use, land use, and more.
✔️ Identify high-impact areas in your product’s lifecycle.
✔️ Experiment with design and manufacturing choices to evaluate trade-offs.
✔️ Advance your reduction roadmap—whether it’s cutting energy use, increasing recycled content, or optimizing material selection.

Modeling a Toothbrush: A Simple Example

In the accompanying video, we’ll guide you step-by-step through building an LCA model for a toothbrush. Here’s what we’ll cover:

1️⃣ Raw Materials: Modeling plastic or bioplastic inputs, including extraction and processing.
2️⃣ Manufacturing: Adding transformation steps like injection molding and considering energy consumption.
3️⃣ Energy Use: Estimating electricity or fuel use during production.
4️⃣ Refining the Model: Understanding which factors have the biggest environmental impact and how to adjust them.

By the end, you’ll see how easy it is to start building, analyzing, and improving an LCA model, as you work towards your reduction roadmap goals.

Get Started Today

CarbonGraph is the Product Insight for Reduction Roadmaps Company—helping businesses make data-driven decisions to lower their environmental footprint faster.

📽️ Watch the video and start building your first LCA model today!