Life Cycle Analysis

Feasibility Studies

Feasibility studies are at least simple in concept. If you have a potential or usable textile resource and a product idea or need, BolderPath^TM will assess whether or not the project is possible, sustainable, affordable and quality. Feasibility services are case-by-case and generally billed by the hour. We do offer a free 30-minute consult to determine if the project will serve your needs and is a good fit.

There are many variables to consider even in the smoothest of projects. Our expertise in unconventional textiles and collection/processing logistics, our capacity and efficiency in localized manufacturing and absolute commitment to sustainable solutions is our value to you. Depending on the complexity of your material waste, your product goals and market conditions, feasibility is really a creative and exploratory space. Be assured, scientific and real world data, professional designers and merchandisers and creative intelligence will be guiding your project.

Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

BolderPath^TM has developed a comprehensive software package to represent our product and material life-cycle impacts. Through our partnership with re:thought consultants, we use life-cycle assessment data collected by universities, government agencies, and industry to establish standards to measure as much natural resource extraction and manufacturing impact data as possible. Combining this data with our unique operational data collection methodology called The Bill of Green^TM, BolderPath^TM can define the entire environmental impact of each product we offer. From each material’s mineral extraction through till receipt of product, the Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (6 Major reportable), water use, fuel consumption, energy use, and other important environmental indicators can be provided.

Because our software is capable of adapting to processes, transportation, material choices, fabrication techniques, as well as new products, you can request custom materials and product alterations without compromising footprint fidelity. Each decision has a comparative environmental impact assessment before any stitch is sewn, and we’re here to help you make the best ones.

Why deep assessment is so important to us

If you make or buy all of your raw materials, it’s a whole lot easier to gauge your footprint. Since we repurpose reclaimed materials, we have no way to track exactly where they came from or how and from what they were made. Our use of various recycled fabrics and hardware poses a challenge when trying to account for the thousands of plastic water bottles and apparel pieces that turn into our raw materials. Over 90% of material inputs we use to create your product comes with an original, virgin material and product lifetime. A vinyl billboard is printed in Chicago and travels for six months around Illinois and the Midwest, and is seen by 100 million people before eventually landing in Denver to be disposed. That’s when we step in and create a one-of-a-kind conference tote. The water bottle that was made in China, shipped to the U.S., consumed by you and put into the recycle bin, hopefully shipped back to China and turned into the strap that holds our Compact Duffel onto your shoulder is a good example too.

Not only does BolderPath^TM take responsibility for our own Cradle-to-Grave footprint (from when we collect or buy materials, including all manufacturing, to when you are done using the product we made), we also account for at least 25% of the impacts of making the original reclaimed or recycled material. We don’t encourage the production of virgin resources that don’t have sustainable chains of value, but we’ll do our part to let you know what it actually takes to provide you with the high quality products we create.