Kukaco: Empowering Sustainable Textile Innovation with LCA
How a Finnish startup used LCA to uncover hidden supply chain challenges and strengthen product transparency
Company
Kukaco is a sustainable textile startup based in Helsinki, dedicated to reviving textile manufacturing in Finland with an emphasis on environmental responsibility and local production.
Challenge: Proving Sustainability with Facts, Not Assumptions
As sustainability is central to their mission, Kukaco wanted to gain a fact-based understanding of the environmental life cycle impacts of their key products, particularly their T-shirts made from 96% organic cotton and 4% elastane.
They needed reliable data to validate sustainability claims and identify areas for improvement. However, transparency in the supply chain was a challenge. While Kukaco believed their suppliers were sustainable and open, they lacked the verified data needed to prove it.
Partnering with Environmental Impacts Academy
Kukaco needed a simple, resource-efficient way to conduct an LCA without taking time away from their small team. They wanted an external person to carry out the work, but with expert oversight to ensure reliable results.
Environmental Impacts Academy offered the perfect balance, combining professional LCA guidance with hands-on execution through our Hands-On LCA Talent Pool. This allowed Kukaco to gain high-quality insights without the complexity or cost of traditional consulting.
“I would definitely recommend this approach to others. We were happy with the skillset of our intern, and the entire process was made super easy for us!”
Solution: Learning by Doing, Guided by Experts
After clarifying the project scope, we pre-screened 3–5 qualified candidates from our Hands-On LCA Talent Pool based on relevant skills and background. Kukaco selected Minni, who then received expert mentorship from our LCA specialists while conducting the project for Kukaco.
With guidance from Environmental Impacts Academy experts and teachers, Minni carried out a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment comparing Kukaco’s organic cotton–elastane T-shirt with a conventional cotton equivalent.
She gathered data from suppliers, modeled material and process flows, and analysed key environmental hotspots, providing Kukaco with credible insights into their products’ true impacts.
Results: A Discovery That Changed Their Supply Chain
During the LCA, Minni and the Kukaco team discovered something unexpected: the suppliers they considered transparent and sustainable were unable to provide the necessary environmental data for their “organic” cotton.
This lack of visibility raised concerns about the credibility of the sustainability claims tied to the material. Equipped with this knowledge, Kukaco made the strategic decision to switch to a new supplier with full traceability and verified environmental data — ensuring their values were reflected in every step of production.
The project became a turning point, giving Kukaco both a deeper understanding of their true impact and the confidence to make evidence-based business decisions.
Want to uncover hidden sustainability insights and boost transparency in your product line?
Our Hands-On LCA Talent Pool connects you with trained interns like Minni — ready to deliver real results and fresh insights for your products. Book a short discovery call to explore how this model could work for your company.