Brightway, what is it and what can it do?

At corsus, we are constantly exploring better ways to understand the environmental impacts of our food choices. One of the tools helping us do this is Brightway, a powerful open-source software designed for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), whereas LCA is a method used to evaluate the Environmental Footprint of products and services throughout their life cycle.

But what exactly is Brightway? In simple terms, it’s a Python-based tool that allows researchers and sustainability professionals to build, manage, and analyze complex LCA models. What sets Brightway apart is its flexibility: instead of relying on rigid templates, users can write code to customize their models, update data, or test scenarios.

At corsus, we will use Brightway to update and expand our comprehensive LCA model that assesses the environmental impacts of the average German diet. This model covers everything from how food is grown in fields to how it’s consumed in households, known as “farm to fork.” Having such a model in a code-based environment makes it easier and faster to keep data up to date, incorporate the latest research, and explore new questions.

For instance, with Brightway, we can quickly simulate the impacts of different dietary patterns, such as flexitarian, vegetarian, or vegan diets. We can also test innovative scenarios, like what would happen if more people ate regionally produced foods or reduced their food waste.

In short, Brightway helps us turn complex data into useful insights, guiding decisions that move us toward a more sustainable food system. It’s one more way we’re using technology to make sustainability smarter and simpler.