World Centric uses Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to evaluate environmental impact at each stage of a product’s lifecycle, from material sourcing through end-of-use. This analysis informs design and material decisions rather than retroactive claims. By prioritizing plant-based materials over petroleum-based plastics, we reduce associated emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in demonstrably lower-impact alternatives to conventional plastic products.
Raw materials set the baseline of a product’s environmental footprint. Using renewable, plant-based inputs such as bamboo and sugarcane instead of fossil fuel–based plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene (or polystyrene) delivers the largest relative impact reduction at this stage. Because these plants absorb carbon during growth, raw material production can show negative emissions. This benefit represents only one phase of the lifecycle, alongside manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life, all of which contribute to total environmental impact.
Figure: Life Cycle Assessment comparison of emissions, energy use, and freshwater use for common packaging materials, based on one pound of raw material production. Lower-impact materials appear on the left. Bagasse impacts are allocated from sugarcane production based on yield. Results are calculated using the TRACI impact assessment methodology.
We produce multiple plant-based forks using the same raw materials, knowing that design and performance choices change environmental outcomes. Rather than collapsing those differences into a single claim, we present them as good, better, and best. Not to steer preference, but to make tradeoffs visible. In the comparison shown, Life Cycle Assessment data indicates the bamboo fork has the lowest overall impact, with carbon-negative performance and reduced energy and water use. Against the scale of global material consumption, this distinction is small. Still, clarity matters when choices compound at scale.