We believe that transparency and responsibility go hand in hand. That’s why we measure the environmental footprint of our products using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs).
Curious how this works in practice? Watch our short animation to see how we calculate the footprint of a product, from the moment an order is placed to delivery at the customer’s gate.
In conversation with our expert
To make our LCAs both accurate and actionable, we collaborate with the independent experts at Anthesis. Since 2023, we have been working with sustainability consultant Sergio Tomás, who supports us in this process. With his background in biotechnology, Sergio explains why measuring matters, and how it helps move from data to real impact.
What exactly is an LCA?
Sergio: ‘An LCA looks at the full journey of a product: from growing ingredients like potato starch, to production, packaging, transport, and delivery. Most people only see what happens inside the factory. But the real impact often sits in the supply chain. Once you add it all up, you know exactly where to act.’
How did this project start?
‘We began with eight probiotic products and traced every step. Where do the ingredients come from? How are they transported? What packaging is used? Winclove’s supply chain is quite complex, so it was a lot of detective work, but essential for reliable numbers.’
‘Sometimes a small ingredient has a surprisingly big footprint’
What went smoothly, and what was challenging?
‘Working with Manon (Winclove’s Head of Purpose & Impact Management) went really smoothly, she was so quick in providing data. The hardest part was the recipes: some products include mixtures like vitamins, which made it tricky to get the details right. But once we had that, it was much easier for the next round.’
Were the results surprising?
‘Not in terms of what has the biggest impact, it’s usually the ingredients. But it was powerful to see it quantified. What I value about Winclove is that they don’t stop at the numbers. They use the insights to make changes, like testing alternative carriers and packaging.’
‘Measuring is knowing. But acting on those insights is what really makes the difference’
What advice would you give other companies?
‘Start by measuring. An LCA or carbon footprint gives you a clear picture. Without data, you’re just guessing, and sometimes a small ingredient has a surprisingly big footprint. Once you know where the impact really is, you can take targeted action. From there, you can expand into cradle-to-shelf or cradle-to-grave and involve partners too.’ (Cradle-to-shelf looks at a product’s journey from birth to the shop window, and cradle-to-grave from birth right through to the landfill, or wherever its life really ends – red.)
And personally; what did you enjoy about this project?
‘It was a great first project with Winclove because it combines two things I care about: sustainability and biotechnology. And I like that this isn’t a one-off. With Winclove it’s a journey, and we see the insights being used to drive real change.’
Want to learn more or work more closely with us?
We’re continuously improving our sustainability practices so we can offer you products with a low(er) footprint. If you’re a partner and want to learn more about this process or know how you can help reduce impact, get in touch with Manon Bezemer, our Head of Purpose & Impact Management, via m.bezemer@winclove.nl.
