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Life Cycle Assessment

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Lay’s Chips analyzes the environmental impact from raw material extraction to disposal, highlighting significant water and carbon footprints. Key findings indicate that potato farming and packaging contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste. Recommendations include adopting sustainable farming practices, eco-friendly oils, recyclable packaging, and enhancing consumer awareness for better disposal methods.

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Praveen S.D
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59 views11 pages

Life Cycle Assessment

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Lay’s Chips analyzes the environmental impact from raw material extraction to disposal, highlighting significant water and carbon footprints. Key findings indicate that potato farming and packaging contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste. Recommendations include adopting sustainable farming practices, eco-friendly oils, recyclable packaging, and enhancing consumer awareness for better disposal methods.

Uploaded by

Praveen S.D
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2025

LIFE CYCLE
ASSESSMENT
TABLE OF
CONTENTS

01. INTRODUCTION

02. VISION

03. STAGES

04. ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS

05. RECOMENDATIONS

LCA REPORT 2025


Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Lay’s
Chips:
Lay’s Chips are one of the most

INTRODUCTION
recognizable snack brands globally, loved
for their crispy texture and wide range of
flavors. However, like any consumer
product, they come with an environmental
cost. This Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
aims to analyze the environmental impact of
Lay’s Chips throughout their journey—from
raw material extraction to disposal—and to
propose sustainable solutions to minimize
their ecological footprint. By understanding
the life cycle of this snack, we can uncover
opportunities for more sustainable
production and consumption practices.

LCA REPORT 2025


VISION BEHIND
THIS ASSESSMENT

" The vision behind


conducting this LCA is to
promote transparency and
awareness about the
environmental impact of
everyday products. By
analyzing a globally
popular brand like Lay’s,
we can inspire individuals,
industries, and
policymakers to adopt
more sustainable
practices. This study also
aims to encourage
innovation in packaging,
farming, and
manufacturing processes,
ultimately contributing to
an eco-friendlier future.

LCA REPORT 2025


STAGES

LCA REPORT 2025


1. Raw Material Extraction
Potatoes
Potatoes are the main ingredient, requiring
significant water and fertilizer during farming.
Water Use: About 287 liters of water are needed
to grow 1 kilogram of potatoes.
Fertilizer Impact: Fertilizers release nitrous oxide,
a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate
change.
Vegetable Oil
Oil, such as palm or sunflower oil, makes up 35-
45% of the chips’ weight.
Environmental Concerns:
Palm Oil: Production often leads to
deforestation in countries like Indonesia and
Malaysia.
Sunflower Oil: Requires large amounts of
water to grow.
Packaging
Each bag uses multi-layer plastic, about 7-10
grams per bag.
Problem: This plastic is difficult to recycle and
contributes to long-term waste.
LCA REPORT 2025
2. Manufacturing
Lay’s chips are processed in factories where
potatoes are washed, sliced, fried, seasoned,
and packaged.
Energy Use: Frying is energy-intensive, using
∼1.5 kWh for every kilogram of chips.
Water Use: 4-6 liters of water are used per
kilogram of chips, mostly for cleaning
potatoes.
Waste: Potato peels are often reused as
animal feed or composted, reducing waste.

3. Distribution
The packaged chips are transported from
factories to warehouses, retail stores, and finally
to consumers.
Transportation Distance: Chips travel an
average of 500-1000 kilometers.
Fuel Use: Trucks transporting chips emit CO₂,
contributing to the product’s carbon footprint

LCA REPORT 2025


4. Consumption
This stage involves the consumer
purchasing and consuming the chips.
Environmental Impact: Minimal at this
stage compared to other stages.
Packaging Waste: The discarded bag
contributes to plastic waste

5. End-of-Life (Disposal)
After consumption, the packaging is typically
thrown away.
Recycling Rate: Less than 10% of
flexible plastic packaging is recycled
globally.
Landfill Impact: Plastic bags take around
450 years to decompose, releasing
microplastics and greenhouse gases.

LCA REPORT 2025


KEY ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS

01 Footprint Carbon

Total Emissions:
Producing 1 kilogram Farming Manufacturing Distribution

Distribution Farming

of chips results in ∼2-3 10% 10%

kg of CO₂ emissions.
Farming: ∼0.2-0.3
kg CO₂
Manufacturing:
∼1.5-2.5 kg CO₂
Distribution: ∼0.1-
0.2 kg CO₂ Manufacturing
80%

LCA REPORT 2025


02 Water Footprint

Manufacturing
4.2%
About 300 liters of water are
used to produce 1 kilogram of
chips, primarily during potato
farming.

03 Waste Farming
92.6%

Recycled

Non-recyclable plastic 10%

packaging contributes
significantly to
environmental
pollution.

Landfilled
90%

LCA REPORT 2025


RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
Recommendations for Sustainability

Sustainable Farming: Use water-efficient


irrigation and organic fertilizers for
potato farming.

Eco-Friendly Oil: Switch to sustainably


sourced palm or sunflower oil.

Recyclable Packaging: Develop


biodegradable or mono-material
packaging.

Optimized Transportation: Use electric or


fuel-efficient vehicles for distribution.

Consumer Awareness: Educate


consumers about proper disposal
methods for packaging

LCA REPORT 2025

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