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Introduction
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This life cycle assessment (LCA) tool enables brands to model product carbon footprints (kg CO2e) through 5 lifecycles phases: Materials, Manufacturing, Transportation, Use, EOL. The tool can help sustainability, innovation, design, development, and supply chain teams to identify key opportunities for carbon reductions on a per product basis. Allbirds uses a version of this tool, complete with proprietary data and third-party verified according to ISO 14067:2018, to share the carbon footprint of all products with customers.

Getting Started: Download the Carbon Footprint Manual at FreeTheFootprint.com for full context of how to gather product primary data, identify secondary datasets, calculate the carbon footprint with this LCA tool, label products, and reduce the carbon footprint over time.
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System Boundaries
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Methodology• Functional Unit: 1 pair of shoes or 1 apparel item, including packaging. Most footwear and apparel products come in a wide range of sizes, so it’s important to establish a standard size to ensure items are comparable. Allbirds uses the most produced size, normalized for men’s and women’s styles. The draft Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Footwear suggest the use of size UK 8.5. Download our Carbon Footprint Manual at FreeTheFootprint.com for additional details.
• Carbon Footprint Standard: The LCA tool models carbon footprint based on principles of ISO 14067:2018.
• Use of CFP-PCR: Per Section 6.2 of ISO 14067:2018, existing PCRs (product category rules) were reviewed and quantification of CFP (carbon footprints of products) should consider the EU PEF T-Shirt for apparel or leather footwear PCR (by Envirodec).
• LCIA Methodology: IPCC 2013 GWP 100. Characterization Factors: GWP100 Characterization factors for all GHGs are taken from IPCC Fifth Assessment (AR5) Report (Chapter 8, Appendix 8A, Table 8.A.1) https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WG1AR5_Chapter08_FINAL.pdf. Includes fossil emissions, biogenic emissions/removals and direct land use change.
• Modeled Impacts: The LCA tool focuses on the climate change impact (kg CO2e) of products. Other environmental and social issues should also be considered when assessing broader product impact.
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This LCA tool calculates a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint for products, which includes the following 5 phases:
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MaterialsProduction and extraction of raw materials, including waste
Material processes that occur before Tier 1 factory, which may include yarn formation, textile formation, preparation, coloration
Packaging
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ManufacturingManufacturing processes that occur at Tier 1 factories, which may include molding, cutting, stitching, and product assembly
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TransportationRaw materials, primary textiles, and materials transportation to Tier 1 factory (if not included in materials phase)
Product transportation from Tier 1 factory to distribution centers
Product transportation from distribution centers to customers, including returns
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Product useCustomer care, including washing and drying product over lifetime
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End of lifeFinal disposal of products after use
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LCA Tool Tabs and Calculation Overview
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Notes:
• Example calculations for a T-Shirt and Sneaker are included in the LCA tool to demonstrate functionality; the product data is meant to be representative of products in market, but is not based on specific Allbirds products. Placeholder data is included in place of proprietary datasets (e.g., material carbon intensities) and labeled with 'PLACEHOLDER VALUE' in the relevant tabs (see Key summary table below).
• To simplify the LCA tool, some of the calculation columns are hidden. As you get comfortable with the basics, you can expand the columns to get a better understanding of how to model functions.
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Product Data Tabs
Instructions
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Enter ProductFirst step to calculate the carbon footprint of a product. Input the product weight, packaging weight, manufacturing steps and weight of relevant components. Adjust end of life landfill, incineration, and packaging recycling percentages, as needed.
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Calculation- Materials + ScrapCalculates materials phase carbon footprint. Input product components, materials, blends, packaging, weights, and material wasted during manufacturing.
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Calculation- Energy ConsumpCalculates manufacturing phase carbon footprint. Input Tier 1 factory manufacturing processes and location.
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Calculation- TransportCalculates transportation phase carbon footprint. Input Tier 1 factory, warehouse, and customer locations, as well as distribution breakdown. Option to input the transportation of raw material to Tier 1 factory, if not included in the materials phase.
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Calculation- UseCalculates product use phase carbon footprint. Input washing and drying methods, number of cycles over product lifetime, and customer location.
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Calculation- EOLCalculates end of life phase carbon footprint, based on material composition entered in 'Calculation- Materials + Scrap' tab.
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SummaryShows summary of all product carbon footprints by phase, as well as overall DQR and Uncertainty score per product
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DashboardShows additional detail for carbon footprint breakdowns, such as emissions per component, material blend, material process, and manufacturing steps.
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KeyInstructions
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Input dataUser should select from a dropdown or enter data; instructions provided throughout LCA tool.
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Do not editUser should not edit cells; includes calculation steps, helpers for calculations, and assumption details.
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Calculation resultShows carbon footprint phase calculation results as well as breakdowns by component, manufacturing step, and transportation leg.
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PLACEHOLDER VALUEIndicates the use of placeholder data, entered to demonstrate LCA tool functionality (proprietary data cannot be shared). User should not use this data to calculate specific product carbon footprints; data must be updated.
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The following equations demonstrate a high-level summary of the calculations for each LCA phase:
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