Microsoft’s LCA methodology with Makersite
Using automated LCA models to identify and evaluate hotspots in their supply chain, Microsoft reduced the carbon footprints by up to 28% for the Surface Pro 10 within 2 years
“[With Makersite] we are efficiently scaling up our LCAs so our engineers can focus on designing the best and most sustainable products instead of only focusing on disclosures.“
Kelly Stumbaugh
Director Devices, Ecodesign, Ecolabels, and Carbon Emissions at Microsoft
What you’ll learn
- Microsoft has partnered with Makersite to transform their Life Cycle Assessment (LCA software) methodology from directional modeling to a supply chain-specific environmental impact accounting process.
- The new methodology automates and scales the modeling of complex electronic products with an unprecedented level of primary data coverage.
- Makersite’s artificial intelligence analyzes the bill of material (BOM) of each device and the material composition from full material declarations (FMD) collected from suppliers to automatically model each part, component, and sub-assembly down to its actual chemical composition.
- The benefits of Microsoft’s new methodology include improved quality and representativeness of the modeling of the product’s composition, better identification of environmental impact hotspots in the supply chain, and increased accuracy by reducing the inconsistencies associated with the LCA practitioners’ decisions.
The outcomes
- The percentage of the total carbon footprint calculated based on suppliers’ primary data went from an average of 20% in the previous LCA methodology to close to 50% with the new methodology
- Microsoft works with Makersite to implement eco-design by transforming their LCAs from directional modeling to a supply chain-specific environmental impact accounting process
- Microsoft published its LCA 2.0 methodology process which is powered by Makersite’s AI, data and apps to support product and supply chain decisions
UPDATE: Microsoft Surface Laptop 10
- In April 2024, Microsoft released the Eco Profile for their latest line in Surface Laptops
- By using Makersite’s automated LCA models to identify and evaluate hotspots in their supply chain, Microsoft reduced the carbon footprints by up to 28% for the Surface Pro 10 within 2 years.
- View the Microsoft Surface Laptop 10 Eco Profile below 👇
Last updated April 2024
Ecodesign balancing cost, environment and compliance criteria
At Microsoft, actions to reduce the environmental impacts of activities are driven by data. They achieve reductions in the carbon footprint of Surface, Xbox, and other products by implementing a structured Ecodesign approach that balances design decisions based on technical, economic, and environmental considerations.
To quantify the environmental impacts of devices and measure improvements, Microsoft uses Life Cycle Assessment (short: LCA). LCA is the systematic assessment of environmental impacts associated with all the stages of the life cycle of a product, process, or service. In their new methodology for LCAs, Microsoft is working together with Makersite, to automate and scale the modeling of their complex electronic products.
An AI approach to LCA
To transform their LCAs from being a purely directional modeling process to a more supply chain-specific environmental impact accounting process, Microsoft has invested in an innovative approach leveraging internal software engineering teams and Makersite to power sustainable products and supply chain decisions at scale.
The new approach was created to automate and scale the modeling of complex electronic products with an unprecedented level of primary data coverage. The key differentiation from common practices is that Makersite’s artificial intelligence analyzes the bill of material (BOM) of each device and the material composition from full material declarations (FMD) collected from suppliers to automatically model each part, component, and sub-assembly down to its actual chemical composition.
A model of a representative manufacturing process is associated with each part in the BOM using data from Makersite, IDEA, and Ecoinvent, cutting out much of the manual effort and providing our LCA practitioners a running start. Effective scaling up of this modeling is enabled by the integration of Microsoft’s product data management system with Makersite.
While their LCA software experts are still involved in the process, they can now focus on completing the model with suppliers’ primary data, performing the quality analysis, and ensuring the model is representative.
Watch Microsoft talk about how Makersite is used for Automated LCA’s and product modelling
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Xavier Vital, Ecodesign Program Manager, at Microsoft, speaks about how Microsoft use Makersite’s AI-powered Product Lifecyle Intelligence software to improve the efficiency of collecting and modelling both product and supplier data.
The benefits of Microsoft’s new LCA methodology
- Improved quality and representativeness of the modeling of the product’s composition leveraging full material declarations shared by the suppliers. Parts are modeled down to their chemical composition by leveraging supplier-provided full material declarations, with data quality checks performed by Microsoft LCA practitioners.
- A disaggregated model that enables the progressive replacement of secondary datasets by supplier-specific (primary) data to model manufacturing processes.
- The percentage of the total carbon footprint calculated based on suppliers’ primary data went from an average of 20% in the previous LCA methodology (a level representative of most complete LCAs) to close to 50% with the new methodology.
- Increased accuracy by reducing the inconsistencies associated with the LCA practitioners’ decisions, such as the choice of datasets.
- Reduction of the modeling time allowing Microsoft to focus their efforts on collecting and processing suppliers’ primary data and performing data quality assurance and data analysis.
- Better identification of environmental impact hotspots in the supply chain.
- Enable the measurement of benefits associated with a potential increase in product lifespan due to repairability.
See what the Ecodesign team at Microsoft are saying about Makersite
Microsoft Ecodesign Documentation
👉 Read the Microsoft Consumer Devices Life Cycle Assessment 2.1 Methodology
“By using automation and our AI, Makersite made it possible for Microsoft to analyze data at an unprecedented speed and scale. We’re proud of our collaboration and happy to accompany Microsoft on its way to reduce its environmental impact through actionable data.”
Fabian Hassel
VP of Services at Makersite and project leader for the Microsoft collaboration
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