We deliver reliable Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to help you meet regulatory requirements, improve product sustainability, and communicate verified environmental performance.
A life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic and scientific methodology used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the entire life cycle of a product, process, or service. It is a comprehensive approach that considers all stages of the life cycle, from raw material extraction and production to distribution, use, and disposal. The goal of an LCA is to quantify and assess the environmental footprint and benefits associated with a particular system or product, providing a holistic perspective on its sustainability.
Ex: For a smartphone, the process begins with emissions produced during the extraction of raw materials, such as the metals used in the manufacturing stage. Emissions from consumed energy are also considered at this stage. The assessment will then account for emissions produced in the distribution phase (i.e., caused by the transportation of the smartphone from the producer to the consumer), the energy consumption during its use phase and the ecological footprint associated with its disposal, at the end of the smartphone’s life.
In Phase 1 of a life cycle assessment (LCA), the goal and scope are determined, setting the direction for the entire project. Goals can vary, from identifying environmental hotspots to reducing a product's carbon footprint. This phase defines the boundaries of the assessment, whether it's a cradle-to-grave analysis covering raw material extraction to disposal or a cradle-to-gate analysis focusing on the product until shipment.
Defining the system boundaries in a life cycle assessment (LCA) involves setting the limits of the analysis, determining what processes and activities will be included or excluded. This decision is crucial for accuracy and relevance, guided by the goals and objectives of the LCA. Balancing comprehensiveness with practicality is key to ensure meaningful insights into the environmental performance of the subject, whether it's a cradle-to-grave analysis covering the entire life cycle or a cradle-to-gate analysis focusing on pre-shipment stages.
This phase consists of the careful examination of resource consumption, emissions, and other relevant flows associated with raw material extraction, production, distribution, use, and disposal. The goal is to create a robust inventory of environmental inputs and outputs, providing a quantitative foundation for assessing the overall environmental impact of the product or system.
Impact assessment in a LCA is the stage where the comprehensive inventory data, gathered in the previous phase, is translated into potential environmental impacts. This involves applying specific models and characterization factors to quantify the significance of various environmental effects associated with the material and energy flows identified during the inventory analysis.
The goal is to derive meaningful insights into the environmental performance of the analyzed system, identifying areas for improvement and formulating scientifically informed recommendations. This phase is crucial for translating the quantitative outcomes of the LCA into actionable insights.
LCAs facilitate the identification of hotspots and areas for improvement across the entire life cycle, guiding efforts to reduce resource consumption, emissions, and overall environmental footprint. Additionally, LCAs contribute to the development of eco-friendly products and processes by offering a systematic approach to assess and optimize sustainability aspects.
Comprehensive Perspective: Engaging in a life cycle assessment (LCA) offers a thorough understanding of the environmental consequences linked to a product, process, or service, taking into account every stage of its life cycle.
Environmental Impact Reduction: LCAs identify and address environmental hotspots in a product's lifecycle, leading to targeted improvements and an overall reduction in environmental impact.
Resource Preservation: LCAs reveal opportunities for efficient and sustainable resource use by highlighting areas of inefficiency and suggesting alternatives for better resource conservation.
Savings: Cost Implementing LCA recommendations streamlines processes, promotes the use of economical materials, and results in cost savings for organizations through increased efficiency.
Risk Management: LCAs assist in identifying and evaluating potential risks throughout a product's lifecycle, enabling organizations to implement effective risk management strategies.
Stakeholder Relationships: Demonstrating commitment to sustainability and transparency through LCA practices strengthens relationships with stakeholders, fostering engagement, enhancing brand reputation, and providing a competitive edge in the market.
Supply Chain Optimization: By assessing the entire value chain, LCAs aid in optimizing supply chain processes and identifying sustainable sourcing practices.
Market Differentiation: Products with lower environmental impacts, as determined by LCAs, can be marketed as environmentally friendly, providing a competitive edge.
Sustainable Practices: Organizations can adopt sustainable practices based on LCA insights, contributing to corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Continuous Improvement: Regular LCAs support a cycle of continuous improvement, allowing organizations to track progress, implement changes, and monitor their environmental performance over time.
Type III Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a third-party verified and registered document that communicates the environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle. Based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), an EPD provides transparent, science-based information on environmental performance, supporting sustainable decision-making across value chains. They play an increasingly important role in sustainability and ESG consulting, as they enable companies to disclose verified environmental data in a credible and comparable way. This helps organizations respond to growing ESG disclosure requirements, sustainable procurement criteria, and customer expectations for transparency.
Such an EPD reports predetermined environmental indicators, such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), energy use, water use, acidification, eutrophication, and abiotic resource depletion to name a few.
These indicators are calculated according to a predefined set of rules, called Product Category Rules, ensuring methodological consistency and allowing fair comparison between products within the same category.
EPDs are widely used in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and industrial production, where environmental performance is a key selection criterion.
They support green building certifications, sustainable supply chain management, and product-level ESG reporting.
For companies, they are used to reduce greenwashing risks and strengthen credibility with clients, investors, and regulators.
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As part of our sustainability and ESG consulting services, we support companies throughout the full EPD process, from conducting a robust Life Cycle Assessment to preparing EPD-ready documentation aligned with applicable ISO standards and Product Category Rules. Our approach ensures reliable data, compliance, and efficient delivery, enabling companies to use EPDs as a strategic sustainability and ESG communication tool.
