Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): What It Is and How to Get Started

If you're working toward Net Zero, developing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), or just trying to understand your environmental impact, you’ll likely come across the term Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

This guide will help you understand what LCA means, why it’s important, and how to complete one — without the jargon.

What Is a Life Cycle Assessment?


A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method for measuring the environmental impact of a product, service, or process — from raw materials to end-of-life.

Think of it as a cradle-to-grave analysis that looks at:

  • Where materials come from
  • How much energy is used
  • Emissions and waste created
  • What happens at the end of the product’s life

LCA is the foundation behind EPDs, carbon footprints, and many sustainability certifications like BREEAM, LEED, and PAS 2080.

What Does an LCA Measure?


LCA tracks and quantifies a wide range of impacts, including:

  • Carbon emissions (CO₂ and other greenhouse gases)
  • Energy and water use
  • Waste generation
  • Air, water, and soil pollution
  • Resource depletion (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals)

These impacts are calculated across multiple life stages:

  1. Raw material extraction
  2. Manufacturing and processing
  3. Distribution and transport
  4. Product use
  5. End-of-life treatment (e.g. recycling, disposal)

This helps businesses see the full picture and understand where they can make improvements.

What Standards Apply to LCA?


A credible LCA should follow internationally recognised standards, such as:

  • ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 – General LCA framework
  • EN 15804 – For construction products
  • GHG Protocol Product Standard – For product carbon footprinting
  • PAS 2050 – For supply chain carbon analysis

If you're using an LCA to support an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), you'll also need to follow specific Product Category Rules (PCRs).

When Do You Need an LCA?

You may need to carry out an LCA if:

  • You’re creating an EPD for a product
  • You're bidding on tenders that request embodied carbon data
  • You want to measure a product’s carbon footprint
  • You’re working toward green building certification
  • You're evaluating the impact of design or material changes
  • You're looking to reduce emissions in your supply chain

LCAs can apply to products, buildings, transport systems, or even entire services.

How Zeropath Can Help


Carrying out an LCA can seem complex — but with the right tools and support, it's completely manageable.

At Zeropath, we help you:

  • Define system boundaries and choose the right scope (cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave, etc.)
  • Collect and organise data from your supply chain and processes
  • Work with accredited LCA partners and tools
  • Interpret the results into clear actions and reporting
  • Use your LCA for EPDs, carbon reporting, or client tenders

We make the LCA process practical, compliant, and easy to build into your sustainability journey.

Common Challenges


  • Incomplete data: Missing supplier or usage information can delay assessments
  • Misaligned system boundaries: Comparing LCAs only works when scope is consistent
  • Not following standards: To be credible, your LCA needs to align with ISO or sector guidance
  • No action plan: An LCA is most valuable when it leads to change — not just reporting

Helpful Resources


  • ISO 14040 & 14044 Overview – ISO.org
  • Introduction to LCA – GHG Protocol
  • EPD Programme Operators
  • Embodied Carbon Primer – LETI

Need Help with Your LCA?


If you’re exploring an LCA for the first time or want to scale your reporting with confidence. we’re here to help.

Get in touch and let us show you how easy it is to get started, reduce uncertainty, and turn insight into action.