When Katherine Chen started digging into her company’s environmental impact last year, she didn’t expect to find gold in garbage. “We were literally throwing money away,” says the operations director at a mid-sized furniture manufacturer. “Life Cycle Assessment Consultants (LCA) showed us how our waste could become our wealth.”
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is transforming how businesses view their environmental footprint. Think of it as CSI for sustainability – a forensic tool that tracks a product’s environmental DNA from birth to burial, or ideally, rebirth. Every raw material extracted, every mile traveled, every watt consumed leaves a trail. LCA follows these breadcrumbs, revealing the true cost of doing business on our planet.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Our “take-make-dispose” economy is burning through resources faster than ever. But companies wielding LCA are discovering hidden opportunities in the circular economy, where today’s trash becomes tomorrow’s treasure.
Just ask CHEP, the global supply chain giant. Their share-and-reuse model for pallets and containers might seem simple, but the numbers tell a powerful story. In 2023, their South African operation alone saved 28,330 tonnes of CO2 and preserved 118,386 trees. That’s not just environmental accounting – it’s smart business.
“LCA isn’t about checking boxes,” explains Dr. Sarah Martinez, a sustainability consultant who’s helped dozens of companies navigate this transition. “It’s about finding those sweet spots where environmental and economic benefits align. When done right, it’s a competitive advantage you can take to the bank.”
As investors and consumers increasingly demand environmental accountability, companies without solid LCA data risk being left behind. The message is clear: in tomorrow’s economy, what’s good for the planet must be good for business.
Here is a video from Ecoinvent helping us understand more about Life Cycle Assessment.
Life Cycle Assessment and How It Works
The concept seems deceptively simple: measure everything that goes into making, using, and disposing of a product. But diving into a full Life Cycle Assessment reveals layers of complexity .
“Think of LCA as an environmental accounting system on steroids,” says Mark Thompson, an environmental engineer at EPA. “We’re tracking water usage, carbon emissions, toxic releases, land use changes – basically anything that impacts our planet.”
The process typically unfolds in four stages. First comes goal-setting, where companies define what they’re measuring and why. Next is inventory analysis – the grunt work of data collection. Teams track down everything from electricity bills to transportation logs, building a detailed picture of resource flows.
The third stage, impact assessment, is where science meets strategy. Raw data gets transformed into meaningful metrics: carbon footprints, water stress scores, ecosystem damage indicators. “This is where we separate signal from noise,” explains Dr. Martinez. “Not all environmental impacts are created equal. A liter of water used in water-rich Sweden means something very different than one used in drought-prone California.”
Finally comes interpretation, turning mountains of data into actionable insights. Companies identify their biggest environmental pain points and model different solutions. Should they switch suppliers? Redesign packaging? Change manufacturing processes?
For outdoor gear maker Patagonia, LCA revealed that their cotton T-shirts’ biggest environmental impact came not from manufacturing or shipping, but from customers washing them. This insight led to their “Wear More, Wash Less” campaign – proving that sometimes the most effective solutions lie beyond factory walls.
The data demands can be daunting, but new software tools are making LCA more accessible to smaller companies. “Five years ago, this kind of analysis would have been out of reach for most mid-sized businesses,” Thompson notes. “Now it’s becoming table stakes for anyone serious about sustainability.”
12 Best Life Cycle Assessment Consultants
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a crucial tool for companies aiming to reduce their environmental impact. To help businesses navigate this complex field, we’ve compiled a list of 12 top-notch LCA consultants.
Evea
EVEA offer a variety of environmental and social performance assessment services, including:
- Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA)
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
- Carbon footprint assessments
- Eco-design and eco-innovation support
- Climate and biodiversity strategy development
- Responsible communication and environmental labeling
EVEA has methodological expertise in LCA, which they have been developing since 2005
- Attributional LCAs analyze the impacts of a “static” system at a given point in time.
- Consequential LCAs analyze the impacts resulting from changes in a product or service life cycle, considering market dynamics
EVEA’s LCA services adhere to standardized methods (ISO 14040 and 14044) and are recognized by institutions such as ADEME and the European Commission.
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Lifecycles offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects
- Circular economy consulting
- Sustainability consulting
- Tool development
- Data set creation
- Training programs
Their expertise spans from micro-level design and material selection to macro-level policy development and strategic interventions
Lifecycles
Lifecycles is an Australian company that specializes in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and sustainability consulting. Founded in 2003 by Tim Grant, a veteran with over 25 years of experience in LCA, the company has established itself as Australia’s most experienced provider of LCA, circular economy, and sustainability services
Lifecycles offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) projects
- Circular economy consulting
- Sustainability consulting
- Tool development
- Data set creation
- Training programs
Their expertise spans from micro-level design and material selection to macro-level policy development and strategic interventions
ERM (Environment Resources Management)
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) is a global leader in sustainability consulting, offering a comprehensive range of services to help organizations navigate the complex landscape of environmental and social responsibility. As the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, ERM brings over 50 years of experience to the table, providing unparalleled expertise across business and finance sectors.
As part of its product stewardship solutions, ERM offers comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) services to clients across various industries
Sustainable Product Evaluation: ERM uses eco-design tools and lifecycle assessments to guide clients towards environmentally-responsible practices and impactful decision-making
Risk and Opportunity Identification: Through LCA studies, ERM assists clients in early identification of risks and opportunities in their operations to maximize business value.
Comprehensive Assessments: ERM conducts LCAs across the full value chain of operations (cradle-to-grave), from raw material production and processing through manufacture, use, reuse, and end of life
- Carbon footprint
- Resource usage
- Water footprint
- Toxicity footprint
- Social metrics (e.g., human rights, health and safety
AFRY
AFRY, a Swedish powerhouse in engineering and consulting, is making waves in the sustainability sector. With roots stretching back to 1895, this company has evolved into a global leader in engineering, design, and advisory services.
AFRY’s commitment to sustainability shines through in its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offerings. Here’s what sets them apart:
Integrated Approach: AFRY doesn’t just do LCA. They integrate it with other environmental assessment tools, creating a holistic view of sustainability.
Global Goals Alignment: The company aligns its LCA work with global sustainability goals and circular economy strategies.
SimaPro Expertise: AFRY leverages SimaPro, a powerful LCA software, for everything from general screenings to detailed analyses.
Traceability: With SimaPro, AFRY can trace processes back extensively, ensuring thorough and reliable assessments.
Customization: The team can modify methods and datasets, tailoring the LCA to each client’s unique needs.
The Hedgehog Company
The Hedgehog Company is a sustainability consultancy firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded by Joost and Philip, the company specializes in helping organizations transition towards sustainability through data-driven approaches and creative solutions.
Their LCA consulting services provide detailed insights into the environmental impact of products, services, or entire organizations throughout their lifecycle.
- Applying appropriate LCA calculation rules (e.g., PEF, ISO, NMD, MKI)
- Ensuring compliance with regulations like the Green Claims Directive, CBAM, and Digital Product Passport
- Supporting sustainable product design and innovation
- Enabling data-driven sustainable business strategies
- Producing verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and MKI scores for client communication and tenders
Process
The LCA consulting process typically involves three main steps
- Start: Consultation, collaboration activation, and goal & scope determination
- Collect: Data gathering using tailored templates and support
- Assess: Performing the Life Cycle Assessment on the product, service, or organization.
Solinnen
Solinnen is a leading consultancy firm in France, specializing in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and eco-design services. Since 2010, they’ve been at the forefront of sustainability consulting, helping organizations across various sectors.
Solinnen’s approach is tailored to each client’s unique needs. They’re known for finding creative solutions to complex environmental challenges. If they can’t directly meet a specific need, they’ll connect clients with relevant experts in their network.
Solinnen’s LCA services follow a comprehensive methodology:
- Goal Definition
- Scope Setting
- Inventory Analysis
- Impact Assessment
- Interpretation
This approach allows for a thorough evaluation of environmental impacts across all stages of a product’s life.
Client Base
Solinnen works with a diverse range of clients:
- Private companies
- Public organizations
- Various industrial sectors
- Service-based businesses
Their expertise spans France, Europe, and North America, making them a go-to choice for international sustainability projects.
McGrady Clarke
McGrady Clarke provides bespoke energy management and sustainability services to clients across the UK and Europe. Their expertise spans various sectors, including manufacturing, leisure, construction, retail, transport, and property management.
The company’s rapid growth is evident from its recent six-figure investment from the North East Small Loan Fund. This funding boost aims to support service expansion and team growth, with plans for larger premises in the pipeline.
McGrady Clarke offers comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) services to help businesses evaluate their environmental impact. Their approach to LCA is thorough and data-driven, covering the entire product lifecycle. Key LCA Services:
- Raw material analysis
- Energy consumption evaluation
- Greenhouse gas emissions calculation
- Waste generation assessment
- Product design optimization
Their LCA process typically involves four main stages:
- Goal and scope definition
- Life cycle inventory
- Impact assessment
- Interpretation and improvement recommendations
iPoint
iPoint is a leading provider of software and consulting services for compliance and sustainability management. Founded in 2001, the company has grown to serve a global clientele, including Fortune 500 companies across various industries.
iPoint’s LCA consulting services follow a structured approach:
- Scope and goal definition
- Data collection and inventory analysis
- Impact assessment
- Evaluation and interpretation
This methodology helps businesses identify environmental hotspots and develop improvement strategies.
By leveraging iPoint’s solutions, companies can:
- Streamline compliance processes
- Reduce environmental impacts
- Make data-driven sustainability decisions
- Prepare for circular economy challenges
WAP Sustainability
WAP Sustainability isn’t just another consulting firm. They’re sustainability catalysts with a track record of success. They’ve been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., making the Inc. 5000 list multiple times.
WAP Sustainability offers top-notch LCA services to help companies make smart choices. They’re not just number crunchers; they’re sustainability detectives. Here’s what they bring to the table:
- Comprehensive Analysis: They look at products from cradle to grave, uncovering environmental impacts at every stage.
- Decision Support: Their LCAs help businesses make informed choices about product design, materials, and supply chains.
- Environmental Footprint Reduction: By identifying hotspots, they help companies shrink their eco-footprint.
- FTC-Compliant Reviews: They offer LCA reviews that meet Federal Trade Commission standards.
- EPD Verification: WAP provides Environmental Product Declaration verifications, boosting product transparency.
SCS Global
SCS Global Services is a trailblazer in sustainability certification and standards. Since 1984, they’ve been leading the charge in environmental stewardship. Their expertise spans various sectors, from forestry to food safety.
SCS Global’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) team is at the forefront of environmental impact analysis. They offer a comprehensive suite of LCA services to help businesses reduce their ecological footprint.LCA Offerings:
- Individual material studies
- Manufacturing decision-making tools
- Comparative analysis with peer review
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Their LCA experts use cutting-edge software and databases. This ensures accurate, cost-effective assessments across various industries. From textiles to building materials, SCS Global has you covered.
Anthesis Group
Anthesis Group is a global sustainability consultancy founded in 2013 with a mission to guide organizations towards sustainable performance.
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Anthesis is a global leader in delivering actionable Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) across different sectors2. Their LCA services include:
Comprehensive Assessments: Anthesis conducts LCAs using major methodologies and software systems, aligning with international standards such as ISO 14040 and 140442.
Strategic Approach: The company focuses on providing actionable results that drive sustainable improvements in line with client objectives, such as net zero aspirations2.
Customized Solutions: Anthesis offers various LCA services, including:
Strategy sessions to determine LCA objectives
- Impact improvement workshops
- Scope 3 integration
- Education and capacity building
- Communication support for effective result dissemination
Types of LCAs: Anthesis covers different types of LCAs to:
- Inform strategic decision-making
- Guide product innovation
- Communicate environmental impacts objectively
- Identify ways to reduce environmental impacts
- Support procurement teams in assessing environmentally friendly options
Earthshift Global
EarthShift Global provides expert guidance in life cycle assessment, helping clients analyze the environmental impact of their products, processes, and services. Their consulting services cover various sectors, including academia, chemicals, and manufacturing.
- Providing practical and purposeful sustainability solutions
- Helping organizations understand their environmental impact and leverage in sustainability
- Assisting with process changes, product redesigns, and supply chain risk identification
Software Solutions
- Offering LCA software tools like PackageSmart and EarthSmart
- Developing custom sustainability software for non-LCA teams.
Training and Education
- Educating clients on applying LCA results to specific situations
- Providing expertise through involvement in various LCA communities and initiatives
Summary of the LCA Process
The LCA process consists of four main stages:
1. Goal Definition and Scoping
In this initial phase, you:
- Define the purpose of the study
- Establish the context and system boundaries
- Identify assumptions and limitations
- Determine the functional unit (the reference unit for analysis)
- Select impact categories to be considered
This stage sets the foundation for the entire assessment, ensuring that the study’s objectives are clear and achievable.
2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Analysis
During the LCI phase, you:
- Collect data on inputs (energy, water, raw materials) and outputs (emissions, waste) for each stage of the product’s life cycle
- Quantify these flows
- Create an inventory of flows between the system and the environment
This step involves extensive data collection and analysis, often utilizing databases and software tools to manage the complex information.
3. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
The LCIA stage involves:
- Translating inventory data into potential environmental impacts
- Assessing impacts across various categories (e.g., global warming, eutrophication, human toxicity)
- Using standardized methods to calculate impact scores
This phase helps in understanding the relative significance of different environmental impacts associated with the product or process.
4. Interpretation
The final stage includes:
- Summarizing and evaluating results from the LCI and LCIA
- Checking for completeness, sensitivity, and consistency
- Drawing conclusions and making recommendations
- Communicating findings to stakeholders
This phase is crucial for translating the technical analysis into actionable insights for decision-makers.
Applications and Benefits
LCA provides numerous benefits for businesses and organizations:
- Identifies opportunities for environmental improvement across the entire product life cycle
- Supports informed decision-making in product design and development
- Enables comparison between different products or processes
- Assists in meeting regulatory requirements and environmental standards
- Enhances transparency and credibility in environmental claims
By offering a holistic view of environmental impacts, LCA empowers companies to make more sustainable choices and improve their overall environmental performance.
LCA Consulting Careers -Breaking Into the Business of Environmental Impact
LCA consultants are emerging as key players in corporate sustainability. These specialists combine environmental science with business analytics, helping companies map their environmental footprints and identify improvement opportunities.
Entry-level positions typically require a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, or sustainability, while senior roles often demand master’s degrees and professional certifications like the Life Cycle Assessment Certified Professional (LCACP).
Salary Snapshot (US Market, 2024):
- Junior LCA Consultant: $58,000-$77,000
- Mid-Level Consultant: $77,000-$95,000
- Senior Consultant: $95,000-$135,000
- Principal/Director: $135,000-$200,000+
Major employers include environmental consulting firms like thinkstep and ERM, research institutions, and in-house sustainability teams at large corporations. Tech companies like Apple and Google maintain dedicated LCA teams for product development.
The field’s growth mirrors rising corporate sustainability commitments. “We’re seeing a shift from ‘nice-to-have’ to ‘must-have’ in terms of life cycle thinking across industries.” says Jennifer Wu, Global Head of Sustainable Investing at J P Morgan. “Companies are realizing they need hard data to back up their environmental claims, and that’s exactly what LCA provides.”
Beyond technical skills, successful consultants need strong communication abilities to translate complex data into actionable business insights. Experience with LCA software like SimaPro or GaBi is increasingly essential, as is knowledge of environmental regulations and reporting frameworks.
CONCLUSION
The growing demand for environmental accountability from investors and consumers alike has transformed from a niche activity to a business imperative. Companies that embrace LCA are not only reducing their environmental footprint but also uncovering better ways to transform waste into valuable resources.
As LCA tools become more accessible and the field continues to evolve, we can expect to see a surge in demand for skilled LCA experts. These professionals will play a pivotal role in guiding businesses towards a more sustainable future, combining environmental expertise with business acumen to drive meaningful change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main stages of an LCA?
The four main stages of an LCA are: 1) Goal and scope definition, 2) Inventory analysis, 3) Impact assessment, and 4) Interpretation
What environmental impacts are typically considered in an LCA?
LCAs typically consider impacts such as climate change, resource consumption, acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, and smog formation
How long does it take to complete an LCA?
The duration of an LCA can vary depending on the complexity of the product or process being assessed. It typically takes between a few weeks to 6 months
What are the benefits of conducting an LCA?
Benefits include identifying opportunities for environmental improvement, supporting informed decision-making, meeting regulatory requirements, and enhancing credibility of environmental claims
REFERENCES
ResearchGate: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Guide to Best Practice
EPA: Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment Methodology and Standards
RIT.edu: What is life cycle assessment (LCA)?
Harvard Business School: Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview