Our Approach

What is Life Cycle Assessment?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool for modeling the sustainability of your product or package. From extraction of materials to disposal at end-of-life, LCA helps to identify your environmental impact at every stage of the product and package life cycle.

Why is LCA Useful?

External Communications

Marketing Claims

Third party reviewed LCAs can be used to communicate the sustainability of your product or package

Certifications

LCAs can also be used to verify information for certifications such as EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations)

Eco-Modulations

Certain EPR eco-modulation programs, like Oregon’s bonus scheme, may require a 3rd party reviewed LCA to verify the impact of your product or packaging

Life Cycle Phases

*Hover over each phase for more information

MATERIAL

The materials used in the creation of a product or package. Includes transportation associated with extraction of raw materials.

MANUFACTURING

The manufacturing processes used in the creation of a product or package.

TRANSPORTATION

Inbound and outbound transportation of a product or package.

USE

Associated with products, rather than packaging, except for in the case of reusables. In this case the use phase considers washing cycles as well as transportation associated with reuse and refill.

END-OF-LIFE

The end-of-life impacts of a packaging solution are modeled using the cut-off method. The cut-off method only attributes the environmental impacts directly caused by the selected product or package, such as landfilling, waste to energy, or composting end-of-life dispositions. Includes transportation associated with the end of life disposition.

Methodologies Offered In COMPASS

COMPASS Standard Indicators

Considers the total quantity of fossil fuel consumed throughout the life cycle. 

The total quantity of greenhouse gasses (GHG) emitted throughout the life cycle. Considers global warming potential for a 100-year timeframe.

The total quantity of greenhouse gasses (GHG) emitted throughout the life cycle. Considers global warming potential for a 100-year timeframe and includes the climate carbon feedback and accounts for carbon sequestration and biogenic carbon emissions.

Represents the relative available water remaining per area in a watershed after the demand of humans, aquatic ecosystems, and manufacturing processes has been met, compared to the world average.

Represents the availability of mineral resources and the impact of their depletion on future populations.

Emissions of phosphorus compounds released during the production of materials, which contribute to higher eutrophication in freshwater systems. Eutrophication is the abnormal increase in chemical nutrients that causes excessive plant/algal growth and decay resulting in an anoxic condition in freshwater systems, the major consequence being algal blooms.

The measure of the ecotoxicity impact of chemical releases to air, water, and land using aquatic toxicity factors.

The quantity of short-term environmental emissions resulting in cancer and toxic non-cancer impacts to humans released throughout the life cycle.

Carbon Accounting Methods

Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs)

Measures total greenhouse gas emissions (in kg CO₂e) from a product’s lifecycle. Scope can range from cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave, depending on system boundaries. Used for regulatory compliance, customer requests, brand differentiation, shareholder reporting, and scope accounting.
Learn More about PCFs

Scope 1, 2, and 3

Scope 1 includes direct GHG emissions from company-owned sources, such as fuel combustion, on-site power generation, and industrial gases. Scope 2 is indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam. Scope 3 encompasses all other indirect emissions, including those from supply chain and product end-of-life.
Learn More about Scope Reporting

Environmental Footprint (EF) Method

For more information on the EF Method in EcoImpact-COMPASS, contact us.

Go Beyond GWP

Fossil Fuel Use

Track your consumption of nonrenewable resources

Water Consumption

Assess your water use in context of water availability for your region

GWP with CO₂ Uptake

Take GWP a step further and consider carbon sequestration for bio-based materials.

Trayak's Trusted Sustainability Process

How can you see your initiatives through to the end? Explore Trayak’s trusted sustainability process, a field-tested method for holistic product and packaging sustainability below.
Circular diagram illustrating Trayak's approach to improving sustainability.
Determine Goals
Benchmark Portfolio
Improve Impact
Track Progress
Analyze and Report
Our Vision

Implementing sustainable practices into your current manufacturing and design processes is easier than it seems. Trayak’s vision is that all companies will design and manufacture their entire portfolio using sustainable strategies.

Our Mission

Trayak’s mission is to embed sustainability in your company’s mainstream product design, manufacturing, and launch processes. Partner with Trayak to harness the power of innovation and improve your impact on the environment.

Brand Story

Every brand should have a story. Here is ours.

The name Trayak is loosely defined from Sanskrit as “The Protector.” This concept has been the driving force for Trayak as a company, and it is reflected through our brand icon.

icon of arms embracing the Earth

We are driven to protecting our earth by embedding sustainable practices through our customers. This is our purpose every day. When we work with customers, we offer them protection — from wasted material, inefficient manufacturing methods, and lost revenue. As our mission states, we bring real innovation to product sustainability throughout the product life cycle for our customers.

For our employees, we enable them to create and share their ideas. We encourage their passion for protecting the earth in all of their work.

We welcome you to join us on our journey to protect our environment!