A supply mix is a Production mix with the addition of the import of the specified product to the geographical area. This matters in Life Cycle Assessment for accurately representing the total availability of a product within a defined geographical boundary.
Whilst the production mix is only the production-volume-weighted average of suppliers producing a specific product within a geographical area, the supply mix provides a more complete picture by accounting for both domestic production and imported quantities. This distinction is particularly important when modelling product systems in LCA, as many geographical areas rely on a combination of locally produced goods and imported products to meet total demand.
The supply mix calculation combines the weighted contributions of all domestic producers with the weighted contributions of imports. This approach ensures that Life Cycle Inventory analysis accurately reflects the environmental burdens associated with both production activities within the geographical area and the upstream impacts embedded in imported products.
In practice, determining the appropriate geographical boundaries for a supply mix requires careful consideration of market structures, trade flows and the goal and scope of the LCA study. For globalised products with significant international trade, the supply mix may differ substantially from the production mix, as imports can make up a large proportion of total supply. Conversely, for products with limited trade or strong regional production, the supply mix may closely approximate the production mix.
As Chief Operating Officer, Iris leads our organisational development and oversees day-to-day operations. Before joining 2-0, she worked in the biotechnology sector. As an LCA consultant, Iris has devoted her expertise primarily to the domains of sustainable agriculture and food production. She is dedicated to teaching LCA and is responsible for our educational efforts. Iris holds an M.Sc. in Biology – Biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen.
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Glossary terms are clearer once you have seen them applied. Our guide to what LCA is and how it works walks through the complete methodology: goal and scope, inventory modelling, impact assessment, and interpretation.
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