Footwear Sustainability Tool based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) presented by Eurofins | BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd
We are delighted to invite BFA Members to an exclusive webinar where Managing Director, Dr Andrew Hudson, will introduce Eurofins new online tool to support brands, retailers, designers, technologists and sustainability managers in assessing sustainability impacts for footwear. Mark your calendar for 12 September at 1 PM (UK).
This toolkit, which is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, allows Users to profile footwear and understand potential impacts from individual materials and components, manufacturing and retail locations, retail channels and level of customer use (wear). This simple-to-use and cost-effective tool allows assessments to be made in a matter of minutes to allow Users to identify potential hotspots and key sustainability improvement target areas.
The Footwear Impact Calculator uses a combination of impact indicators based on:
- Climate change (referred to as Carbon footprint in this tool) – quantifies the environmental consequences of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, contributing the global warming and its associated effects on ecosystems, climate and human health.
- Land use – measures the impact of how much land is occupied or transformed for product or process-related activities and subsequent effects on biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Water use – quantifies the amount of water consumed or withdrawn throughout the product or process-related activities and assesses their impact on ecosystems.
The key benefits of this tool:
- It is web-based – no software required
- It is available as a ‘Pay-As-You-Go’ or Subscription service
- An assessment can be done in minutes
- It provides actionable data
- It does not require expertise to use
- It is inexpensive
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Hudson, Managing Director of Eurofins |BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd
Andrew holds a PhD in Chemistry and has worked in the leather and textile value chains for 24 years in a variety of technical and commercial positions.
Andrew has worked on several projects focusing on improving the sustainability profile of materials and successfully supported the development and commercialisation of a novel leather alternative material. Andrew has been involved with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) program for 5 years culminating with a position on the Chemical Suppliers Advisory Group expert sub-team. In addition, Andrew was the Chemical Industry representative on the Leather Working Group (LWG) Technical Sub-Group until his appointment to Eurofins BLC.