LCA^2 in Canada: What Manufacturers Need Now

LCA^2, decoded

LCA^2 is Canada’s push to use life cycle assessment twice. First at the product level through EPDs. Then again at the asset level to compare whole‑building options. The National Research Council’s initiative backed targets to cut operational emissions 40% by 2030 and embodied carbon in structural materials 30% by 2025 (NRC, 2024) (NRC, 2024).

Why this matters on bids

The federal Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction now requires whole‑building LCA and brings structural and reinforcement steel into scope, expanding beyond earlier concrete‑only requirements. Departments were instructed to integrate the updated standard on July 22, 2025 (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 2025) (TBS, 2025). Earlier federal guidance told bidders to disclose concrete embodied carbon and propose a 10% reduction when applicable (CanadaBuys, 2023) (CanadaBuys, 2023).

The Canadian backdrop is getting more LCA‑literate

Ottawa stood up a Centre of Excellence for Construction LCA to standardize datasets and tools for buildings and materials. That means more consistent rules of the road and fewer ambiguous asks in tenders. The result is simple to read. projects expect better data, sooner.

Provincial signals you can bank on

British Columbia requires most new buildings to meet at least the entry carbon step from March 10, 2025, and local adoption keeps growing. As of June 9, 2025, 32 local governments referenced the Zero Carbon Step Code. Earlier estimates tied these frameworks to 44% of new large multi‑family units and 30% of small residential units in 2024 (B.C. Government, 2025) (BC Gov, 2025).

How LCA^2 changes your EPD playbook

Think of LCA^2 like playing both offense and defense. Offense is product‑specific EPDs that earn points in procurement scoring. Defense is whole‑building LCA that keeps your product competitive when modelers run scenarios that penalize high‑carbon options. If your EPD is missing or stale near renewal, you risk being swapped for a model with a conservative factor.

Picking the right PCR without the rabbit hole

A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. In Canada, smart teams check which PCR competitors use, when it expires, and which program operator your customers trust. If a product‑specific PCR does not exist, a reputable generic construction materials PCR can keep momentum without sacrificing comparability.

Data collection is the time sink, not the math

Winning teams start with a clean reference year, mapped meters and masses, and named suppliers. They pre‑tag utility invoices, waste streams, and transport modes by lane. This sounds basic, yet it is the difference between a six‑week sprint and a six‑month slog. Dont let scattered spreadsheets dictate your timeline.

Fast‑lane checklist for Canada‑bound EPDs

• Confirm PCR fit and operator before modeling, then align declared unit with competitor EPDs.
• Lock your reference year data early, including upstream transport and energy mixes specific to Canadian plants where relevant.
• Publish product‑specific EPDs first for core SKUs, then iterate for variants so whole‑building models can actually select them.

A brief word on fuels and heavy industry

Parallel to buildings, the federal Fuel LCA Model underpins Clean Fuel Regulations and hydrogen incentives. Its message travels well. Canada expects transparent, ISO‑aligned LCA for climate‑linked claims, which raises the bar across sectors (ECCC, 2024).

Bottom line

LCA^2 in Canada favors manufacturers who make EPDs easy to specify and easy to model in whole‑building studies. Get your data house in order, publish quickly on priority SKUs, and you will meet evolving federal and provincial asks while staying first in line when designers compare options.