To ensure all Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are consistent, comparable, and complete, the BCome methodology is built on a set of standardized assumptions and transparent limitations. These rules are applied to standardize calculations and to fill in gaps when specific data is unavailable.
Key methodological assumptions
These are the foundational rules applied to every LCA calculation on our platform.
- Product composition
- 95% rule: To streamline the process, you only need to declare materials that make up at least 95% of your product’s total weight. Trimmings and components that constitute less than 5% of the weight can be excluded from the declaration.
- Material loss: We automatically calculate standard material loss rates during production (e.g., fabric waste from cutting patterns) based on industry-average data for your specific product and material types, unless you are able to provide more accurate data.
- Transport
- Standardized distances: Transport distances are calculated from “country to country,” not from specific factory addresses, to ensure consistency.
- 10% buffer: An additional 10% is added to the total transport distance to account for unforeseen detours or transfers between factories.
- Packaging
- Standard weight: The weight of shipping (tertiary) and warehouse (secondary) packaging is assumed to be 12% of the total product weight being transported.
Assumptions for missing information
When specific details of your product’s lifecycle are unknown, our system applies conservative, industry-standard data to complete the analysis. This ensures a comprehensive assessment is always possible.
- Article weight: If a product’s weight is not provided, we estimate it based on our internal database of similar articles, which is primarily derived from Textile Exchange data.
- Material composition: If a material’s exact composition percentage is unknown (e.g., for a coated fabric), we apply standard, documented ratios based on the material type.
- Finishing processes: If the specific dye, print, or treatment is unknown, we apply a common, conventional process based on the product and material type (e.g., for a cotton garment, we would assume a standard batch dyeing process).
- Packaging materials: If packaging materials are not specified, we assume a conventional combination of a corrugated cardboard box and a plastic film.
- Supplier location: If a supplier’s country of origin is unknown, we use the main global exporting country for that specific process or material as a reference.
- Mode of transport: If the method of transport is unknown, we assume ship for travel between continents and truck for travel within a continent.
Limitations
For full transparency, it’s important to understand the boundaries of the BCome LCA methodology.
- “Last mile” transport: The LCA boundary ends when the product arrives at the brand’s warehouse. Transport from the warehouse to a retail store or directly to an online customer is not included in the calculation.
- Data source: The analysis is primarily based on secondary data from internationally recognized databases (like PEF database and ecoinvent), rather than primary data collected directly from every specific facility.
- Process generalization: Material losses and manufacturing processes are estimated based on the declared category of the material or product, which may not capture the unique efficiencies of a specific factory.