Information required to perform life cycle assessment (LCA)

March 4, 2026

Information required to perform life cycle assessment (LCA)

As we mentioned in our previous article, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the most robust, recognized, and accurate tool for assessing the environmental impact of a product from the extraction of raw materials to the end of its useful life.

But making the calculation is not always easy, as many factors are involved and small companies, due to a lack of resources, often postpone this analysis. However, it is a very useful tool for implementing improvements in the real sustainability of products, offering more advantages than disadvantages.

In this guide, we provide you with all the information you need to perform a complete CVA, so that we can begin to lose our fear of performing this analysis.

However, before you start collecting data, it is essential to establish a few key points:

1. The purpose of the study: regulatory compliance, eco-design, consumer communication, impact reduction, preparation for future regulations such as the EU's Green Claims... Knowing why we want the data will help us to properly scale the process and focus it correctly.
2. Functional unit: It is important that we set the measurement so that we can convert all data to the same measurement: examples, "1 bottle of 50 ml face cream," "one production batch," etc.
3. System limits: we must define the scope. The most commonly used are as follows:
   1. From cradle to grave (most common), calculated from the creation of the product to its end in the environment.
   2. from cradle to door,
   3. door-to-door or
   4. cradle-to-cradle for fully circular models

Data to be collected

Required information on ingredients and raw materials

The analysis of a cosmetic product begins with understanding each ingredient that composes it. For a complete CVA, the following are required:

Technical data sheets for raw materials, including:

• Origin (natural, plant-based, mineral, biotechnological, synthetic).
• Geographical origin of the starting materials and place(s) of processing (synthesis, purification, extraction, etc.)
• Extraction or synthesis method.
• Energy consumption of the extraction process.
• Use of solvents or adjuvants.
• Yields and co-products/by-products.
• Density, physical state, and characteristics relevant to transport.

For all this information, we will determine the associated emission factors, i.e., type of transport used, distance from the source to our production plant, etc.

Data associated with the formulation

In addition to the nature of each ingredient, the following must be known:

• Exact percentages of each raw material in the formula.
• Processes involved in the manufacture of the mixture, such as temperature, mixing time, agitation, or special processes such as emulsification or homogenization.
• Actual energy consumption during manufacturing, if available, or average values based on machinery.

Information on packaging and its supply chain

The packaging of a cosmetic product usually accounts for a significant percentage of its total impact.

We must know:

• Primary packaging materials (glass, plastic, aluminum, bioplastic, etc.).
• Materials for all elements of the secondary packaging (boxes, labels, films).
• Percentages of recycled material and recyclability.
• Exact weight of each component.
• Container manufacturing processes.
• Countries of origin of the materials and place of assembly.

Consumer use stage

In cosmetics, the impact of the use phase can vary greatly depending on:

• Average amount of product used per application.
• Water temperature in rinsing products (gels, shampoos).
• Frequency of weekly use.
• Energy required for associated devices (e.g., diffusers or facial brushes).

Although difficult to measure, this phase is key to obtaining a realistic view of the life cycle.

Logistics data: transportation and distribution

Transportation has a significant impact on the overall footprint. In the previous sections, we have already included the impact of transporting raw materials and packaging. However, finished products are also distributed through our distribution chain.

Data to be collected:

• Transportation from manufacturing to the logistics center.
• Transportation from the logistics center to points of sale (or to the consumer in the case of online sales)
• Types of transport (truck, ship, plane).
• Net weight and gross weight of the packaged product.
• Type of tertiary packaging used for shipments.

End of life of the product and packaging

For a complete stroke, the following are analyzed:

• Actual recycling rates in our markets.
• Probability of incineration, recycling, or landfill.
• Potential for reuse or refill (if applicable).
• Liquid and solid waste generated by consumers.

New European legislation requires greater transparency to prevent greenwashing, which means that these assumptions must be based on verifiable data.

As you can see, there is a lot of data to collect, but it does not differ greatly from what we already need to know in order to prepare our security file.

The main difference is that we add the component of geographical distances and transportation methods, but this does not require any more effort than we have already put in and can be done in parallel with our cosmetic file.

Selection of emission factors and international standards

All this collected data must be converted into a single unit so that it can be compared and we can operate with it (add, subtract, multiply, etc.). For an ACV to be reliable, it must be based on:

• ISO 14040/44 — general framework for LCA.
• ISO 14067 — product carbon footprint.
• GHG Protocol — global benchmark for emissions accounting.

The MuttuLab approach: using digital tools

Traditionally, conducting a VCA could take months, required expert external consultants, and was very costly. In the cosmetics industry, where launches are frequent and reformulations are constant, this model was inconvenient and, in many cases, unfeasible, especially for small companies.

This is where MUTTULAB offers a new paradigm, providing an AI-mediated solution:

• Automation of data collection. The platform extracts data from documents, websites, and catalogs, without the need for prior preparation by the technical team.

• Generation of auditable reports in days. They comply with ISO 14040/44, ISO 14067, and GHG Protocol, validating the credibility of the results.

• Instant eco-design scenarios. Change ingredients, modify packaging, or adjust processes and see the impact in real time. This allows you to identify areas for improvement and evaluate the impact of changes before implementing them.

• Solution designed for cosmetics. Thanks to the partnership that Muttulab has established with Devera, the process is optimized for cosmetic formulas, complex packaging, and regulatory requirements in the sector.

• Accessible for SMEs. It removes economic and operational barriers, democratizing access to advanced sustainability analysis for companies of any size.

Conducting a comprehensive LCA requires a wealth of technical information about ingredients, manufacturing processes, packaging, consumer use, and product end-of-life. However, thanks to AI, brands no longer need to wait weeks or invest large budgets to obtain this information.

Today, it is possibleto accuratelymeasure the environmental impact of cosmetic products,compare them with the market, andidentify real improvements through eco-design.

Performing this type of analysis allows you to communicate transparently and comply with European regulations, but alsoto avoid greenwashing and differentiate your brand in terms of sustainability with quantifiable data, not just qualitative data.

Sustainability is no longer a matter of intuition, but of rigorous information.

Find out more about Celia Campos, Technical Director and co-founder at MuttuLab, author of this article.

Learn how we work at MuttuLab.