Net Zero and Life Cycle Assessments

Summary

ProCook is the UK’s leading, direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand that designs, sources, and retails high-quality products through over 60 stores nationwide.  The company has over 1,600 items of kitchenware, kitchen accessories, electricals and tableware in its range. ProCook has a long-standing focus on improving sustainability, encompassing products, people and planet and became a B Corp organisation in 2022.

Scope 

JRP were appointed by ProCook to complete a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions footprint as a base year from which to develop their Net Zero strategy, and to carry out a Net Zero gap analysis. JRP were subsequently asked to complete Carbon Life Cycle Assessments on 3 popular products in ProCook’s kitchenware range.

JRP carried out detailed emissions footprint analysis and calculations across all three scopes for the company’s entire estate which included all stores, their HQ a distribution centre and supply chain.

Results

JRP’s report identified a substantial emissions footprint for energy consumption in their stores (over 400 tonnes CO2e per year), and over 29,000 tonnes CO2e per year that could be attributed to the scope 3 emissions arising in the supply chain for products that are the core of ProCook’s brand. Most work towards Net Zero will therefore need to be in developing relationships with manufacturers, understanding the impacts of design and materials on associated emissions, and considering the potential for recycled materials.
 
The report was discussed at a workshop with key staff to develop the company’s outline emissions reduction strategy. JRP’s report detailed the findings of that process and developed the foundation for ProCook’s journey to Net Zero.

The Scope 3 calculations allowed the highest contributors to the ProCook emissions footprint to be identified in order to plan a strategy which prioritised the most significant improvements.

ProCook then asked JRP to undertake a more in-depth review of the Scope 3 emissions in the form of a cradle-to-grave carbon life cycle assessment (LCA) of three best-selling product lines.

Each LCA considered each stage of the life cycle including: raw materials and pre-processing, production, distribution and storage, packaging and waste, use and end of life disposal. JRP calculated a total in kg of CO2e, including emissions for each stage of the product’s lifecycle.

JRP’s reports identified opportunities for decarbonisation and included recommendations to address the highest areas of emissions.Further work with suppliers was recommended to understand their actual energy use and practices, and to set the standard expectations for supplying ProCook. This should enable significant reductions in embodied emissions of products.

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