Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data quantifies the environmental impact of a product across its entire life cycle — from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. LCA data covers carbon footprint (product-level greenhouse gas emissions per ISO 14067), water footprint, material health, recyclability, and other environmental impact categories. LCA is conducted using specialised software (Simapro, GaBi, One Click LCA, openLCA) and results in structured datasets that feed into Digital Product Passports, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), ESG reporting, eco-design compliance, and green claims substantiation.

LCA data is becoming mandatory for a growing number of compliance frameworks. The ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) will require Digital Product Passports containing LCA-derived environmental data for products sold in the EU. The EU Green Claims Directive requires that environmental claims be substantiated by scientific evidence — LCA is the recognised methodology. CSRD sustainability reporting requires quantified environmental impact data across multiple categories. EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) are increasingly required for construction products under the Construction Products Regulation. Without LCA data, companies cannot substantiate environmental claims or meet digital product information requirements.

Cradle-to-gate LCA covers environmental impact from raw material extraction through the factory gate — used when the use phase and end-of-life are outside the manufacturer's control. Cradle-to-grave LCA covers the full lifecycle including use phase and end-of-life — required for eco-design regulations like ESPR and comprehensive ESG reporting. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are ISO 14025 compliant Type III environmental declarations with quantified lifecycle impact data — used in construction, manufacturing, and increasingly for CSRD reporting. Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) per ISO 14067 is the product-level carbon component of LCA — used for carbon reporting, Science Based Targets, and supply chain Scope 3 calculations.

LCA data from specialised software (Simapro, GaBi, One Click LCA) or supplied as structured datasets is imported into Sustalium and linked to product-level compliance frameworks. Environmental metrics flow into Digital Product Passports (material composition, carbon footprint, recyclability), CSRD disclosures (E1 climate, E2 pollution, E3 water, E4 biodiversity, E5 circular economy), carbon reporting (GHG Protocol Scope 3, Science Based Targets, ISO 14067), eco-design compliance (ESPR requirements for product durability, repairability, recyclability), and EPD documentation. When LCA data is updated — a product redesign reduces carbon footprint — all linked compliance documents update accordingly.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport requirements are the most significant — LCA data is the core content for product-level environmental information. The EU Green Claims Directive requires scientific substantiation of environmental claims — LCA is the recognised methodology. CSRD reporting standards (ESRS E1-E5) require quantified environmental data across climate, pollution, water, biodiversity, and circular economy. The Construction Products Regulation requires EPDs with LCA data for construction products. GHG Protocol Scope 3 reporting relies on product-level carbon footprint data from LCA. The EU Ecolabel and national eco-label programmes require LCA-based environmental impact data. Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) requires product-level carbon data for scope 3 target setting.