Measurable decarbonization: manufacturing meets the moment

Manufacturing is maturing. As downstream industries make strides in sustainability, the spotlight is shifting upstream. Every supplier — from intermediate, part, component and product producers all the way up to machines and system providers — now faces growing pressure to step up. Leaders are taking action, using data to measure and report environmental impacts, set realistic decarbonization targets, and contribute to the net-zero movement.

Wherever you are on your sustainability journey, Sphera’s experts can help.

We transform mandatory disclosure requirements into customized decarbonization roadmaps that help your organization move from catching up — to staying ahead.

Talk to an expert

Challenges: What factors should you consider?

Scope 3 emissions are tough to quantify and reduce

Manufacturers are being held accountable for emissions linked to materials, components, parts and products they purchase like metals, polymers, electronics, electric and other equipment. But they have little information about or control over how those purchased goods are produced. And even after a product is made and sold, it may keep consuming energy — adding to a manufacturer’s Scope 3 footprint.

Technological impact is difficult to measure

Innovative products and production technologies such as pervasive electronics or additive manufacturing are not automatically green. Comparing environmental performance of methods like 3D printing against conventional manufacturing approaches isn’t straightforward unless you’re looking at the full picture: materials, energy use, process conditions and more.

Sustainability reporting requests are overwhelming

Manufacturers are flooded with sustainability reporting requests from governments, customers and increasingly investors. Each request may follow different standards, adding to the complexity. Yet meeting these demands isn’t optional; it’s essential to remain competitive and retain key business relationships — turning LCA, PCF and EPD into a mandatory license to operate.

Opportunities: What actions can you take?

Expert guidance can go a long way toward helping manufacturers address these challenges — and come out ahead. Here are just a few of the ways Sphera’s consultants can help you make progress.

Defining a decarbonization strategy involves quantifying your emissions. Life cycle assessments (LCA) and product carbon footprints (PCF) give you the data you need to inform your sustainability roadmap and comply with customer reporting.

Sphera’s consultants help you:

Conduct ISO-compliant LCAs and PCFs to identify the emissions hot spots hidden in different phases of your products’ life cycles.
Build parametric LCA models that show the environmental impact of a change of material, purchased goods and other aspects of production.
Develop data-driven strategies for achieving near- and long-term decarbonization targets by simulating change of supply chains.

Talk to an LCA consultant

Eco-design requires expertise and tools that provide the right indicators. LCA and PCF help identify emissions hot spots in your products, future designs and modified products. Decarbonization can often be achieved through circular economy measures and strategies, including extending product lifetimes, using renewable resources, repurposing waste as a resource and shared economy.

Sphera’s experts help you:

Enhance sustainability efforts through a structured approach to eco-design, including tailored workshops on circular economy strategies.
Combine LCA and circularity indicators to quantify environmental impacts while assessing risks and benefits.
Develop fact-based emission reduction measures solid enough to withstand public scrutiny.
Mitigate risks to your organization by evaluating eco-design measures and circular economy strategies prior to scaling.

Get expert advice

Stay resilient in the face of regulatory shifts. Prepare your data for streamlined reporting and year-over-year improvement.

Sphera’s consultants help you:

Prepare for compliance with ESPR, CSRD, CBAM and other regulations.
Improve Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 reporting through data gathering and management best practices including product-related improvements via eco-design and circular economy strategies.
Develop climate transition plans in line with IFRS and ESRS.

Speak with a consultant

To grow your life cycle assessment program, you’ll need to build your team’s internal capabilities — and procure software and data that support scale.

Sphera’s consultants help you:

Conduct ISO-compliant carbon footprint calculations with LCA tools such as Sphera’s LCA for Experts software.
Streamline assessment processes by implementing LCA Automation via import of bill of materials (BOM) or parametric LCA calculations.
Create parametric LCA models to evaluate multiple product variations, identify reduction opportunities, and support eco-design initiatives.

Connect with us