In-depth articles
Understand the regulations driving environmental documentation
Dedicated, thorough guides to the key frameworks. Written to give you the answer fast – and the depth when you need it.
01 · Basics
What is LCA?
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a systematic mapping and evaluation of environmental and resource impacts across the entire life cycle of a product or product system.
An LCA assesses the whole life cycle: raw material extraction, production, transport, use phase and disposal or reuse. “Cradle to grave” — or ideally “cradle to cradle”.
LCA is typically used in early-phase concept studies to account for the environmental impact of different concept choices or technical alternatives. It is also used as a tool to find the most environmentally friendly solutions during a project, and to document environmental savings on completed deliveries.
LCA can answer:
- What are the most important environmental issues for a product or system?
- Where in the life cycle do the most important environmental issues arise?
- What is the greatest potential for product improvement from an environmental perspective?
- How can you document total environmental impacts for comparison with competitors?
02 · Basics
What is an EPD?
An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a concise, standardized document that describes the environmental impact of a product or service.
An EPD is based on an LCA, but presents the results in a standardized format so they are comparable across suppliers. The document is verified by an independent third party.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) forms the foundation of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), providing verified data on a product’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle.