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ENXSUITE Performs Becker Underwood's First Life Cycle Assessment of Natural Pest Control Product

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Now, phase II of the LCA project has begun leveraging ENXSUITE's expertise and platform.

ENXSUITE helped Becker Underwood determine the energy, materials and emissions involved in the life cycle of the Nemaslug, a beneficial nematode-based product that Becker Underwood has developed for natural pest control of crops. Nemaslug is an organic pesticide consisting of nematodes, or microscopic worms, which are deployed as a spray drench in soil to control the proliferation of slugs. The nematodes attack the pests naturally, then reproduce to continue their protection of crops. Unlike traditional pesticides, Nemaslug leaves no residue on crops, thereby minimizing harmful environmental effects and making crops suitable for organic labeling.

ENXSUITE measured the potential environmental impact of Nemaslug across its entire lifecycle, from materials extraction to eventual disposal, based on a wide range of inputs and outputs, including energy usage, water consumption, materials utilization, emissions to air, water and soil, solid waste and other process flows. The findings of this screening analysis help Becker Underwood gather intelligence on the stronger environmental attributes of the Nemaslug product and identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. This results in cost savings and increased efficiency of the processes that reduce environmental impacts.
"Working with ENXSUITE, we were able to better understand the value that a product LCA will bring to Becker Underwood," said Daniel Krohn, sustainability lead for Becker Underwood. "Moving forward with our sustainability efforts, LCA will be a strategic tool for improving the utilization of our resources throughout the value chain."

As large companies like Walmart increasingly roll out initiatives like the Sustainability Index, which require suppliers to evaluate and report on their products' lifecycles, LCAs are becoming critical to many business strategies. Organizations like Becker Underwood are beginning to see the value of greening their operations and value chain beyond PR and cost savings; sustainability can play a direct role in growing revenue. Other corporate benefits of LCA include validation of sustainability claims; enhanced supply chain efficiency; assistance in complying with evolving regulations and customer standards; product differentiation and innovation; and market expansion through improved customer retention and acquisition.

"For forward-thinking companies like Becker Underwood, ENXSUITE is key in helping them reduce risk, boost operational efficiency, drive product innovation and increase market leadership," said Beatriz Infante, CEO of ENXSUITE. "The completion of this LCA project is a significant achievement for Becker Underwood, and indicates energy and GHG reduction is a top priority. We're excited to begin work on the next round of LCA on its products and contribute towards Becker Underwood's innovation and growth."