Case Study: Zircon Industry Association achieves competitive advantage and improved reputation with Sphera LCA services

How LCA information Can Support Competitive Advantage and Improved Reputation

The Zircon Industry Association (ZIA) needed robust, industry-specific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) information to demonstrate zircon’s low environmental burden, support members’ sustainability profiles, benchmark performance and create communication opportunities across the value chain. ZIA engaged Sphera for LCA consultancy, using Sphera’s GaBi software and datasets to develop an independently verifiable LCA and a robust life cycle inventory (LCI).

Sphera developed a tailored LCA model and methodology, built representative LCI data, identified environmental hotspots, recommended improvement strategies, and supported independent review and publication of the results. The work enabled ZIA members (representing about 80% of global zircon tonnage) to set meaningful improvement targets, showed zircon’s very low environmental burden versus alternatives, and helped drive downstream adoption (e.g., by tile manufacturers), strengthening the industry’s competitive advantage and reputation.

Zircon Industry Association

Keven Harlow

Executive Director