Seeing a zero in one of the LCA columns is not an error. It indicates that a specific life cycle stage either doesn’t apply to your product or was bypassed entirely in its unique manufacturing process.
Here are the primary reasons you might see a zero impact.
1. The stage was marked as “Not applicable”
The most common reason for a zero is that a process was intentionally marked as non-existent for your product. When you declare your product’s traceability, you have the option to select “Not Applicable” for certain steps that weren’t performed.
- Example (Finishing): If you are analyzing a raw, undyed, and untreated fabric, you would select “Not Applicable” for dyeing. This correctly results in a zero impact in the “Finishing” column.
- Example (Packaging): If your product is sold without a specific type of packaging, like a polybag, the impact for that particular packaging stage will correctly be zero.
2. A life cycle stage was skipped in production
Sometimes, a product’s innovative manufacturing process completely bypasses a traditional life cycle stage. When a stage is skipped, its impact is accurately recorded as zero.
- Example (Seamless garments): A seamless garment is knitted directly from yarn into a finished product. This modern technique skips the entire “Material Processing” stage, which traditionally involves weaving or knitting large sheets of fabric that are later cut and sewn. Since the fabric creation step never occurred, the column for “Material Processing” will correctly show zero impact.
In summary
A zero in an LCA column provides important information. It reflects the specific and unique supply chain of your product, confirming that a process was either not applicable (like a certain finish) or was completely bypassed by its manufacturing method (as with seamless production).