Level(s) Indicators Fuel EU EPD Momentum
Architects across Europe are starting to ask suppliers for numbers that plug straight into the EU’s Level(s) calculator. If you cannot answer with robust life-cycle data, your products risk sliding off shortlists the moment the tender goes green.
What is Level(s) and why should manufacturers care?
Level(s) is the European Commission’s free framework for measuring building sustainability from cradle to grave. It distils years of LCA science into a checklist that designers can complete without becoming carbon accountants (European Commission, 2025). When your customers talk Level(s), they are really asking you for transparent product footprints that drop seamlessly into their models.
Six macro objectives, sixteen indicators, one common language
Level(s) tracks everything from whole-life carbon to indoor air quality through sixteen indicators grouped under six macro objectives (European Commission, 2025). The structure mirrors EN 15804 modules, so data you already collect for an EPD often slots straight in. Think of it as the Rosetta Stone that lets product LCAs talk to building LCAs.
Indicator 1.2: the GWP bridge to product data
Indicator 1.2 demands the life-cycle Global Warming Potential of each building element, expressed in kg CO₂-eq per square metre. Designers reach for product EPDs because they contain exactly those cradle-to-gate A1–A3 numbers plus optional downstream stages. No credible EPD means designers must guess, and guesses rarely favour you.
EPBD 2024 turns Level(s) from nice-to-have to need-to-comply
The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will require all new buildings larger than 1 000 m² to disclose whole-life GWP from 2028, with smaller projects following in 2030 (Directorate-General for Environment, 2024). Annex III points directly to Level(s) indicator 1.2 as the method. Expect architects to chase verified product data long before those dates.
Public procurement and EU Taxonomy add extra pull
Draft EU Green Public Procurement criteria and sustainable-finance screening rules both reference Level(s), nudging municipalities and investors to demand it (European Commission, 2024). If your product enters public projects or green bonds, timely EPDs become an entry ticket, not a marketing extra.
How product EPDs plug into Level(s) calculations
- Your EPD provides module A1–A3 emissions.
- Designers scale those numbers by quantity in the bill of materials, satisfying indicator 1.2.
- The same EPD often supplies resource use and end-of-life data for indicators 2.1 and 2.2. One document, three boxes ticked.
Fast-track data, free your engineers
Collecting factory energy, waste and material flows can bog down R&D teams for months. A white-glove partner can orchestrate the data chase, validate gaps and publish through any EU or US program operator in weeks, not quarters. Speed matters: the sooner your EPD is live, the sooner spec writers can lock in your numbers and stop shopping competitors.
Next step: speak Level(s) in your sales calls
Ask prospects which Level(s) indicators keep them up at night and show how your EPD answers them. That single slide can turn a technical footnote into a sales advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Level(s) legally binding for product manufacturers?
No. Level(s) is voluntary for manufacturers, but it is becoming functionally mandatory because architects and public bodies use it. The EPBD makes Level(s) indicator 1.2 compulsory for new buildings, so product data that feeds the calculation is de-facto required.
Do I need a new EPD if I already have one to EN 15804?
Probably not. Most EN 15804-compliant EPDs already report cradle-to-gate GWP and other flows needed for Level(s). Check that the declared unit (per m² or per kg) matches your customers’ bill of quantities and that the underlying PCR is still current.
Which life-cycle stages matter most for Level(s) indicator 1.2?
Level(s) asks for whole-life carbon. Designers usually start with A1–A3 because those are mandatory in every EPD. If your product has high use-phase or end-of-life impacts, adding stages B and C can showcase improvements such as recyclability or energy savings.
How often must EPD data be updated to stay credible?
ISO 14025 limits EPD validity to five years. Updating sooner can pay off if you switch to lower-carbon inputs, because designers are increasingly reluctant to use data older than three years.
Is Level(s) accepted outside the EU?
Not officially, but many multinational design firms now apply Level(s) indicators on projects in the UK and Middle East because they align with EN 15804 and the EU Taxonomy.
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
