The marketing team at LCA.no had the pleasure of interviewing Inger Johanne Brodal Dahl, our energetic Key Account Manager. In this interview, you can read more about her background, market experiences, assessment of future prospects in sustainability and environmental documentation, related to the tools we provide. Enjoy reading!
Interviewer: Inger Johanne, can you tell us a little about your background and your path to LCA.no?
Inger Johanne: I have a background in innovation and project management from Østfold University College and innovation, technology, and knowledge from the University of Oslo. My bachelor’s thesis focused on LCA analysis for a local designer in Fredrikstad, which sparked my interest in sustainability and carbon footprint. After my bachelor’s degree, I had several engagements at Norsus (formerly Østfold Research) on various projects including textile projects, food waste, and recycling. I have worked in sales for most of my career, most recently with circular workwear solutions. I enjoy combining my knowledge and interest in sustainability with sales, getting to know companies and people, and finding the right solutions for their needs.
Interviewer: Based on your experience, how do you assess the overall maturity level in the market regarding understanding and reporting of carbon footprint?
Inger Johanne: I have worked with several industries but have the most experience with the extensive work we have done with companies in construction. Larger companies generally have good maturity in this area, while smaller companies often have less maturity. This can be because smaller companies have fewer specialist roles and administrative capacity. There is also a tendency for the reporting requirements in tenders to be randomly set up, which can be challenging.
Interviewer: Can you share examples of how you have helped customers adopt our LCA Tools?
Inger Johanne: I focus on what I call consultative sales. I want to help our customers choose the right solution at the right time. This involves understanding the customer’s specific needs and challenges before presenting a solution. First and foremost, I take the time to learn about the customer’s business, their goals, and the challenges they face. There is a big difference between a contractor business that has main contracts with billion-dollar values and a one-person company that is a subcontractor. Then I work with the customer to identify their specific needs. This may include asking questions about their current environmental documentation, what systems they use, and what goals they have for sustainability. Often, together we find areas where our tools and services can improve the efficiency and accuracy of their reporting. With a clear understanding of the customer’s needs, I present customized solutions from our portfolio. This can be anything from an EPD generator to a complete LCA project for project-specific analyses. I make sure to explain how each solution can solve their specific challenges and customer needs. I spend quite a lot of time demonstrating our solutions. It is important not to use too many resources on a software demonstration before we are aligned on the customer’s challenges, needs, and goals. If we are, the demonstration will provide much greater value. Some sales processes are very fast, but in some organizations, the decision process is naturally more complex. There are several stakeholders who need to be involved and have their specific challenges and wishes for software. My goal is to help customers buy correctly. This increases the likelihood of a long-term customer relationship.
Interviewer: What feedback do customers give about using the software?
Inger Johanne: Generally very positive feedback. Although some customers initially see this as extra work, we try to show them how using verified data can effectively give them a competitive advantage. What we see with several of our customers is that when they come to us, they have a need to document because they have received requirements for EPDs. When they have started the documentation and begin to get an overview of the value chain and carbon footprint, the interest in optimizing and improving also arises.
Interviewer: What are the biggest challenges customers face in their environmental work?
Inger Johanne: The biggest challenges include lack of knowledge and resources, distinguishing between genuinely sustainable products and “greenwashing,” as well as costs and availability of sustainable alternatives. Time and internal resources are also significant barriers.
Interviewer: How does your and LCA.no’s expertise help improve customers’ understanding and handling of environmental documentation?
Inger Johanne: At LCA.no, we help companies understand and handle environmental documentation through customized solutions, whether it involves a few EPDs, an EPD generator, or an LCA project. We offer training and advice to strengthen their internal handling of environmental documentation, and we perform data management and analyses. Our support helps customers effectively communicate their environmental performance and make sustainable decisions.
Interviewer: Have you noticed a change in how different industries approach environmental documentation and sustainability?
Inger Johanne: Absolutely, there has been a clear trend in recent years. Many industries now see environmental documentation and sustainability as important factors for their reputation, customer loyalty, and even profitability. In certain industries, especially construction, infrastructure, and building, we have noticed a significant increase in demand over the past year. Regulation is still the main driver for many, so it helps when regulation and legislation become clearer. It’s a significant part of our job to stay updated on the frameworks for environmental documentation and standards.
Interviewer: What do you think drives the interest and need for better environmental documentation in the business world?
Inger Johanne:
Stricter regulations require companies to document their carbon footprint, such as a 30% climate share in public procurement (Norway) and carbon quotas for products imported to the EU from 2025. Investors are also pushing for this, and good environmental documentation is important for risk management, reputation protection, and efficient resource use. It is worth mentioning that reporting in relation to ESG is an important influence.
Digital product passports are also now on the horizon in the EU. I see this as one of the biggest drivers going forward.
Interviewer: Considering technological development, the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), and changing market expectations, how do you see the development in sustainability and environmental reporting in the coming years?
Inger Johanne: There will be a surge with more requirements from the EU. One example is the introduction of product passports. Another is the initiatives around the circular economy. Digitization and data sharing are essential for reporting. We need to agree on what should be reported and use the correct standards such as LCA, which looks at the entire lifecycle of products. Verified data is crucial. We also see now that customers are more concerned with the use of data than before. In addition to the published EPD, output data is now important to integrate with other systems, for example, on websites to show customers the carbon footprint of the products they purchase.
Interviewer: What are your personal expectations for the future of LCA.no?
Inger Johanne: We aim to be an internationally leading provider of digital tools for climate reporting. Through my sales role, I will contribute to creating new and long-term customer relationships that are the foundation for a leading position. We are proud to have customers on four continents!
Interviewer: Is there anything else you would like to add or any advice you would give to companies that want to improve their carbon footprint?
Inger Johanne: I would encourage companies to start with environmental documentation now. It can provide significant competitive advantages and is crucial for sustainability. You gain valuable experience and competence that will be essential in the years to come!
Thank you, Inger Johanne, for sharing your valuable insights and experiences!