Abstract
With the advancement of biotechnology, consumers are demanding more scientifically advanced products as well as being more concerned with the environmental impact of products. A life cycle carbon footprint assessment is an important tool in reaching net-zero carbon production goals. This paper presents the greenhouse gas emissions of functional foods by highlighting TCI Co., Ltd. as a case study. TCI conducted life cycle assessments (LCAs) on two mainstream products that utilize common manufacturing processes to examine their carbon footprint and gain a better understanding of their environmental impact. The main finding shows that while the manufacturing stage accounts for around 20−30% of emissions, the raw material stage accounts for 70−80% for both products. This suggests that TCI needs to work closely with its suppliers to ensure a low emissions supply chain and to achieve its net-zero target. Not only do these LCAs allow TCI to increase the products’ transparency, but they can also be offered as a reference to other businesses producing similar products. Sharing of knowledge and practices in the biotechnology industry benefits the entire ecosystem and improves corporate sustainability.