Life Cycle Assessment Verification

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Life Cycle Assessment Verification

Independent Assurance of the Accuracy of Your Product’s LCA

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental and human health impacts associated with a product from cradle to grave. When properly conducted and independently verified, LCAs can provide you with valuable insights to help you make the best-informed decisions about your production processes and supply chains, including the material and energy choices you make, vital for success in a competitive market. Verified LCAs are also a prerequisite for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and can provide valuable reference points for progress against corporate sustainability goals such as those included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Choose from a comprehensive range of LCA and related services that conform with international standards, including ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Learn more here about developing a new product LCA, a comparative product LCA, streamlined life-cycle inventory, preliminary LCA screening, and staff training. If you have already had an LCA conducted, and are seeking third-party critical review and verification of your LCA, we are ready to assist you.

SCS Experience

SCS has been a long-time provider of comprehensive LCA services, with decades of experience conducting and verifying studies for companies, industry associations, and NGOs addressing a broad range of products across the economy. This deep knowledge and experience positions us to provide the independent verification needed to confirm that your LCA studies are complete and accurate. Our lead verifier is recognized as both an LCA Certified Practitioner (LCACP) and Certified Life Cycle Assessment (CLAR) by the American Center for LCA (ACLCA).

Additionally, SCS provides third-party verification of EPDs, and is an internationally recognized Program Operator authorized to establish Product Category Rules (PCR) for new product categories.

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Choose from these LCA verification and related service options:

Critical reviews of LCA studies

Gain independent verification that your LCA studies meet international standards
Verification of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

Ensure high integrity EPDs through third-party verification
Product Category Rules for new EPD categories

Access SCS’ expertise to develop a PCR applicable for your products
Product LCA, Comparative LCA, and LCA Consulting Services

Find out about other LCA services, now provided through SCS Consulting Services here.

Independent verification of your LCA:

Provides third-party confirmation of your LCA results
Assures that your LCA meets international standards
Meets business customer specifications
Is required for companies seeking to publish Environmental Product Declarations
Supports and improves the quality of your LCA through independent expert feedback

What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
LCA is an analysis of the environmental and human health impacts associated with a product from raw material extraction, processing, and transportation through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. LCA includes life cycle inventory, during which material and energy flows are quantified, followed by life cycle impact assessment and interpretation of results.

What is the goal of an LCA study?
LCAs are conducted for many reasons: to track material and energy flows in an industrial system, to create metrics against which future progress can be assessed, to compare a product to other products, to meet buyer specifications, and to identify opportunities for improvement. Finally, LCAs are required for certain market claims and disclosures, such as verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Product Environmental Footprints.

Why are LCA studies independently verified?
LCAs are complex, requiring the establishment of study boundaries and involving a set of assumptions that can affect the outcome of such studies. For these reasons, international standards require that LCAs be independently verified if they are to serve as the basis of public or industry-facing claims or assertions, including EPDs. This includes ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14025, and ISO 21930.

1. Submit your LCA to SCS for critical review

2. We check your LCA against the applicable standards and provides feedback on non-conformities and opportunities for improvement

3. You address the non-conformities and document improvements in your LCA, then re-submit to SCS

4. We confirm that non-conformities have been properly addressed

5. We prepare a critical review report confirming that your LCA meets the requirements of the applicable standards