System boundaries define which parts of a product’s life cycle are included in our environmental assessment. Think of it as drawing a clear line around the specific production stages we measure to ensure a focused and consistent analysis.
BCome applies a “cradle-to-gate” system boundary for its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This means we analyze the environmental impact from the very beginning of the supply chain (the “cradle,” where raw materials are grown or extracted) up to the moment the finished product leaves the factory (the “gate”).
What’s inside our boundary
The following stages and processes are included in our cradle-to-gate assessment:
- Raw material extraction: The impact of growing, harvesting, or extracting the initial fibers.
- Material processing: The transformation of fibers into finished textiles (e.g., spinning, weaving, knitting).
- Finishing: All coloration and treatment processes, such as dyeing, printing, and washing.
- Manufacturing: The cutting, sewing, and assembly of the final product.
- Transportation: All transport required between each of the stages listed above.
- Packaging: The impact of the shipping, warehouse, and retail packaging used.
- Material losses: We account for the average waste and material loss that occurs during the processing and manufacturing stages.
What’s outside our boundary
Our cradle-to-gate focus means the following stages are not included in the standard LCA calculation:
- Retail operations: The energy and resources used to run physical or online stores.
- Consumer use: The impact of washing, drying, or ironing the product by the end-user.
- Transport to consumer: The “last mile” delivery from the warehouse or store to the customer.
- End-of-life: The product’s disposal, whether it’s sent to landfill, incinerated, or recycled.
Note: While excluded from the cradle-to-gate LCA, aspects like end-of-life are addressed by other complementary indicators on the BCome platform, such as our Circular Economy Indicators (CEI).
Why we use this boundary
We focus on the cradle-to-gate scope because it covers the stages where brands have the most direct influence and can make the most impactful sustainability improvements. It provides clear, actionable data for creating more sustainable products through better material choices, supplier selection, and manufacturing specifications.