How Does Life Cycle Assessment Enhance Sustainable Product Development?

What is a Life Cycle Assessment and why is it important?

Sustainability is more important than ever. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the need for a circular economy and want to make environmentally responsible choices. However, with so much greenwashing in the market, it can be difficult to identify truly sustainable products.

This is where Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) makes a difference. LCA is a scientific method for evaluating a product’s environmental impact across its entire lifespan. It helps both businesses and consumers make informed, ethical choices based on real data.

Why does Life Cycle Assessment matter in sustainable design?

Life Cycle Assessment goes beyond carbon emissions or recycled content. It takes a big-picture view, looking at the full environmental footprint. This includes everything from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transport, use, and disposal.

LCA can reveal hidden environmental costs and help identify areas where a product can be improved. For businesses, it is a powerful tool for developing more sustainable products. For consumers, it allows for accurate comparisons based on facts rather than marketing claims.

What types of Life Cycle Assessments are there?

There are three main types of LCA, depending on how many stages of a product’s life are included:

  • Cradle-to-gate assesses environmental impact from raw material extraction to the factory door. It stops before the product is used or disposed of.
  • Cradle-to-grave covers the product’s entire life cycle from raw materials to disposal. This gives a full and accurate view of long-term environmental impact.
  • Cradle-to-cradle includes reuse or recycling at the end of life, showing how materials re-enter the production cycle in circular systems.

What does a Life Cycle Assessment measure?

LCA is comprehensive. While the carbon footprint is often the most visible figure, a good assessment will consider:

  • Global warming potential (kg CO₂ equivalent)
  • Water consumption
  • Eutrophication (impact on water quality)
  • Resource depletion
  • Acidification
  • Ozone layer depletion

By examining these multiple factors, LCA ensures that products are not just low carbon, but environmentally sound overall.

How did Gowercroft use Life Cycle Assessment to improve sustainability?

Gowercroft Joinery partnered with the University of Derby and the ERDF Low Carbon Programme to carry out a full cradle-to-grave LCA using the BRE’s LINA tool. This resulted in third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for three of our timber casement window ranges: Classic, Heritage, and Frontier.

We compared these timber products with aluminium and uPVC alternatives. Timber consistently performed better, especially when designed for long life and minimal maintenance.

What were the findings of the Gowercroft LCA study?

Our timber windows showed excellent results at every stage. Their cradle-to-gate performance was strong, but it was their cradle-to-grave impact that stood out.

  • Long product lifespan
  • Fewer maintenance cycles
  • Low operational emissions

These all contributed to a significantly lower environmental footprint than aluminium or uPVC windows.

For example, our Richmond Heritage Sash Window uses LandVac vacuum glazing with a centre pane U-value of 0.48 W/(m²K) and a glazing life span of 25 years. It only requires repainting every 8 to 10 years.

In contrast, a typical slim double-glazed competitor might have:

  • A higher U-value of 1.9 W/(m²K)
  • A glazing life span of only 5 to 10 years
  • Maintenance intervals every 5 years

The long-term carbon and cost savings from Gowercroft products were clear.

How is Gowercroft using this data to drive sustainability?

This study forms part of our wider sustainability strategy. We are now using LCA data to:

  • Reduce production waste
  • Improve durability
  • Choose greener supply chains

By designing with lifecycle performance in mind, we are building windows that meet today’s expectations and tomorrow’s standards.

What are the key takeaways from our LCA research?

Our Hardwick, Richmond, and Acadia ranges demonstrated:

  • Outstanding cradle-to-grave environmental performance
  • Industry-leading energy efficiency
  • Significantly lower emissions over their lifespan
  • Suitability for both conservation areas and low-carbon new builds

While their production footprints were already strong, the long life and low energy usage made them truly sustainable solutions.

Where can you learn more about our sustainability efforts?

You can explore our approach in more detail through the following resources:

Why choose Gowercroft for sustainable timber windows and doors?

With more than two decades of experience, Gowercroft Joinery manufactures everything in-house at our Derbyshire facility. This ensures complete control over quality, design, and environmental impact.

We invest continuously in research and product development. Our Classic, Heritage, and Frontier ranges offer tailored solutions for listed buildings, conservation areas, traditional homes, and high-performance new builds.

If you are looking for sustainable timber windows with verified environmental credentials, get in touch with our expert team. We are here to help you make informed, responsible choices that will stand the test of time.