Why LCAs and EPDs Are Essential for Green Building

Sustainability isn’t just about making greener choices anymore, it’s about proving them. In the construction sector, especially, there is a growing demand for reliable, standardized environmental data. That’s where LCAs and EPDs come in.

An LCA offers a complete picture of a product’s environmental impact. It is a scientific method used to calculate a product's or process's environmental footprint, from raw material extraction through production, use, and end-of-life. It accounts for everything from energy and water use to emissions and waste.

An EPD is the next step: a standardized, third-party-verified document that summarizes those results in a transparent, comparable, and shareable manner. 

“Typically, the EDP contains the carbon footprint of a certain product,” says Vanja, “but also additional impact categories such as ozone depletion or acidification potential. 

“Whereas an LCA forms the basis for understanding a product’s environmental impact, including carbon footprinting and beyond,” explains Raoul. “You can have an LCA without creating an EPD, but you cannot have an EPD without first doing an LCA. Together, LCAs and EPDs help companies align with growing regulatory demands while building trust with customers and partners.” 

“Construction has emerged as one of the most active and heavily regulated sectors for lifecycle data,” explains Raoul. “EPDs are increasingly required for building products to meet environmental standards and qualify for green building certifications.”

“They are used in the construction field, in green building certification, for the calculation of the life cycle impact of an entire building or the built environment,” furthers Vanja. “The main goal is to be used in the B2B sector. However, we also see a shift to the B2C sector over time.”

This growing demand is not just driven by voluntary sustainability goals. The European Union is putting clear expectations for how environmental performance must be measured and disclosed.

Carbon footprinting is often where companies start, but LCAs go much further, capturing a full spectrum of environmental impacts. And regulations are evolving to reflect that complexity.

“If the goal is to avoid excessive restrictions, then providing clear, measurable data is a practical way forward,” says Raoul. “This approach with data quantification is, in a way, a pragmatic solution, it’s about making it feasible.”

Moreover, the updated Construction Products Regulation (CPR) under the European Green Deal will require manufacturers to include EPD data with every CE-marked product on the EU market.

“One of the European Green Deal measures is the renewal of the CPR,” adds Vanja. “There, it's set up already that each single product shall have the data included in the EPD. In other words, EPDs will no longer be optional, they’ll be a prerequisite for market access.”

While construction is leading the charge, other industries are following suit. The EU’s evolving regulatory landscape drives new requirements for electronics, batteries, tires, and more.

“At Kiwa, we are already helping companies across these sectors apply the same lifecycle approach, supporting them through training, tools, and third-party verification. We’re ready with concepts for sectors like electronics and tires. And with our qualified experts worldwide, we are helping companies meet national and EU-level requirements.”

Kiwa also provides the full package for clients who don’t have in-house resources. “We offer a full service, from LCA calculations using our R<THINK tool to independent verification,” furthers Vanja. “If clients don’t have the internal capacity, we step in.”

Ultimately, Raoul and Vanja believe lifecycle data is the foundation of responsible business, and companies must integrate it into their core operations. “Everyone across the value chain needs to take responsibility,” they concur. “Without lifecycle data, there can be no sustainable product”.

Read more ESG stories in Trace Magazine, from data-driven sustainability to real-world sector impact.