Product
6
mins

How to Conduct Double Materiality with Dcycle

Updated on
February 11, 2025

The double materiality analysis in Dcycle follows a structured process based on company data. It identifies relevant sustainability issues according to the company's economic activities and integrates stakeholders to assess both environmental and social impact as well as financial relevance.

1. Defining the Business Context

The first step is identifying the most relevant suppliers and customers. The company provides a list of suppliers and customers along with their sales values. Using the Pareto principle, suppliers accounting for 80% of total expenses and customers generating 80% of total revenue are selected.

Additionally, stakeholders potentially affected by the company’s activities, including employees, investors, and local communities, are identified.

2. Selecting Sustainability Issues

Sustainability issues are determined based on internal documents, such as the Non-Financial Information Statement (EINF) or risk analyses, as well as publicly available references, such as industry-specific materiality matrices.

Stakeholder surveys are conducted to assess the social impact, risks, and financial opportunities associated with each preselected sustainability issue.

3. Evaluating Sustainability Issues

Each sustainability issue is rated on a scale from 1 to 4, measuring both its positive and negative impact, as well as its financial relevance:

  • Positive impact = magnitude × scale.
  • Negative impact = magnitude × irreversibility × scale.
  • Financial risk and opportunity = magnitude × probability.

The questionnaire results define the magnitude variable. Each stakeholder group carries the following weight in the final evaluation of each sustainability issue:

  • Core + Risk Analysis: 0.8
  • Workers at company sites + Suppliers + Customers + Investors + Users: 0.2

The values for scale, irreversibility, and probability are adjusted based on industry and economic activity intensity.

4. Determining Double Materiality

The final result of the assessment is a materiality percentage. If a sustainability issue scores above 70% in impact materiality or financial materiality, it is considered material and must be reported.

This process ensures that Dcycle delivers a precise, data-driven analysis, helping companies make informed sustainability decisions and meet compliance requirements.

Take control of your ESG data today.
Optimize your double materiality analysis with Dcycle.
Start nowRequest a demo
Vanesa García
Head of Product Design

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Can You Calculate a Product’s Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint calculation analyzes all emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, usage, and disposal.

The most recognized methodologies are:

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • ISO 14067
  • PAS 2050

Digital tools like Dcycle simplify the process, providing accurate and actionable insights.

What Are the Most Recognized Certifications?
  • ISO 14067 – Defines carbon footprint measurement for products.
  • EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – Environmental impact based on LCA.
  • Cradle to Cradle (C2C) – Evaluates sustainability and circularity.
  • LEED & BREEAM – Certifications for sustainable buildings.
Which Industries Have the Highest Carbon Footprint?
  • Construction – High emissions from cement and steel.
  • Textile – Intense water usage and fiber production emissions.
  • Food Industry – Large-scale agriculture and transportation impact.
  • Transportation – Fossil fuel dependency in vehicles and aviation.
How Can Companies Reduce Product Carbon Footprints?
  • Use recycled or low-emission materials.
  • Optimize production processes to cut energy use.
  • Shift to renewable energy sources.
  • Improve transportation and logistics to reduce emissions.
Is Carbon Reduction Expensive?

Some strategies require initial investment, but long-term benefits outweigh costs.

  • Energy efficiency lowers operational expenses.
  • Material reuse and recycling reduces procurement costs.
  • Sustainability certifications open new business opportunities.

Investing in carbon reduction is not just an environmental action, it’s a smart business strategy.