
Written by Iben Garland Sonne, Head of Community Impact
How to navigate it without losing your mind
Turning environmental data into a strategic advantage can seem quite messy, but we are here to help.
If you’ve ever tried to conduct a product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), you know that the method itself isn’t usually the main challenge, the data is.
Whether you work in product development, business development, or ESG, the same questions tend to pop up:
- Which data do we actually need?
- Where do we get it?
- How detailed does it have to be?
- What do we do when we don’t have it?
This is the everyday “data hassle” of LCA.
It can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset and structure it becomes manageable and, even more importantly, incredibly valuable.
Let’s break it down.
Why LCA data is so hard to gather
1. Products are messy in real life
Products rarely have a simple bill of materials. There are coatings, adhesives, sub-components, packaging materials, outsourced processes, and suppliers with incomplete documentation. And because Målbar LCA requires a full life-cycle perspective, every missing piece creates an uncertainty.
- Suppliers don’t always have environmental data (yet)
Most suppliers can give you technical specifications and compliance documentation, but ask for waste percentage, sub-supplier locations or energy mix and you’ll often get silence. Environmental data maturity is growing fast, but in many industries, it is still early.
The good news: You don’t need perfect data
The PEF framework acknowledge that LCA relies on a mix of high-quality primary data and well-selected secondary data, which is what Målbar is built on using Ecoinvent and EF datasets
The goal is transparency, not perfection.
You are allowed to:
- Use supplier data where reliable
- Use database data when suppliers cannot deliver
- Improve accuracy over time through iterative updates
Think of LCA as a continuous improvement tool, not a certification exam.
Why the data hassle is worth it
Behind all the spreadsheets and emails to suppliers lies something important:
You are building the environmental knowledge base of your company.
This knowledge enables you to:
- Make informed material choices
- Strengthen your sustainability claims
- Meet customer and regulatory requirements
- Prepare for upcoming EU policies (like the Digital Product Passport and Green Claims Regulation)
Every data point you collect is an investment in future efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness.
Remember
The data hassle of product LCA isn’t a sign that you’re doing it wrong –
it’s a sign you’re doing it right.
Environmental data has historically been fragmented, inconsistent, and undervalued.
Companies that start getting familiar with this data now will find it easier to create products with well-documented environmental information.
Thank you for taking on the struggle – and remember; We are here to help!



