From corporate greenhouse gas inventories to design-relevant LCAs: an integrated framework for industrial decarbonization

Abstract

Purpose: Global decarbonization goals demand accurate and transparent greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting across both organizational and product levels. However, existing frameworks such as the GHG Protocol, ISO-based standards, and product-level approaches like Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are often applied in isolation, with limited operational integration for product design-oriented decision-making. This study develops and empirically validates an integrated framework linking organizational GHG inventories with product-level LCAs to enhance emission traceability, hotspot identification, and life cycle-based design support while strengthening methodological rigor and transparency.

Methods: The proposed framework integrates the methodological principles of the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064–1 for organizational reporting, along with ISO 14040/44 and ISO 14067 for product-level assessment, within a unified structure. Implemented through an Excel-based tool, it systematizes activity data collection, GHG quantification, and allocation across Scopes 1–3 and product life cycle stages. The framework was tested using operational data from an automotive component manufacturer, which converted corporate inventories into product-level life cycle inventory (LCI) datasets. Robustness was evaluated through qualitative uncertainty assessment and quantitative sensitivity analysis.

Results and discussion: Scope 3 supply chain emissions were found to dominate the organizational footprint (>90%), primarily driven by raw material extraction and processing of steel and aluminium. Product-level results indicate an average carbon intensity of 7.43 kg CO2e per part, with over 80% of embodied emissions originating from upstream material flows. The framework improves data traceability between operational activities and product emissions, enabling systematic identification of hotspots across materials, transport, and manufacturing processes.

Conclusions: The integrated framework addresses the long-standing divide between organizational GHG accounting and product-level LCA by providing a structured and adaptable approach that improves consistency between reporting and product development. By linking operational data with product-level insights, the framework supports both backward-looking emission inventories and forward-looking sustainability assessments. While demonstrated within an automotive manufacturing context, broader application depends on organizational data maturity and sector-specific conditions. Nevertheless, the framework provides practical decision support for low-carbon material selection and supply chain decarbonization, contributing to industrial progress toward net-zero and circular economy objectives.