AFRY’s LCA and EPD services, explained
AFRY is a large Nordic engineering and consulting group that offers life cycle assessments and Environmental Product Declarations for manufacturers. If your team needs outside help to get an EPD over the line, here is what they appear to provide, how engagements typically run, and a few watch‑outs before you sign a scope.
Where AFRY fits in the LCA world
AFRY positions its sustainability work inside a broader engineering and design practice. Their pages describe product LCA, product carbon footprinting, and EPD documentation as part of a sustainability offering that plugs into manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure projects (AFRY sustainability). For product‑level work, AFRY outlines a dedicated competence area for life cycle services, including guidance on standards and data choices (AFRY LCA services).
What services manufacturers can expect
AFRY indicates support across the classic LCA to EPD pipeline. That includes ISO 14040/44 LCAs, ISO 14067 product carbon footprints, EPD drafting under ISO 14025 and EN 15804, and participation in third‑party review and verification activities (AFRY LCA services, AFRY EPD service, FI). They also reference help selecting applicable PCRs and aligning with program‑operator templates before submission.
Typical industries and geographic focus
AFRY works across energy and resources, industrial and manufacturing, consumer products, and the built environment. In the United States they market consulting and engineering offerings for manufacturers and asset owners (AFRY USA). In Europe, their LCA pages and references suggest activity with construction materials, building systems, and process‑industry products, with teams in the Nordics and DACH.
Data collection and tools in practice
AFRY describes data templates for suppliers, dashboards for results, and internal tools for modeling and documentation, which signals a consultant‑led approach rather than a self‑serve software product (AFRY LCA services). In real terms that usually means discovery workshops, a requirements questionnaire, spreadsheet or portal uploads, and iterative clarifications with plant teams. Expect higher internal effort and timelines measured in months, especially for multi‑site portfolios. Many buyers now prefer low‑friction intake and faster turnarounds, so push for clarity on what the team will actually need from you.
From PCR choice to a publishable EPD
Strong LCA partners help pick a PCR that matches how competitors report, then model A1 to A3 at minimum and add modules like A4 or C where relevant to your bids. AFRY says they support operator selection and verification steps, plus sensitivity testing and improvement ideas that fall out of the model (AFRY LCA services). If your category has several overlapping PCRs, ask AFRY to benchmark the most common rule set used in your sales region before locking scope.
Verification, validity, and renewals
Most program operators set EPD validity at five years, and many PCRs are also valid for five years before revision, which affects the next renewal cycle (EPD International, 2024). That detail matters commercially because expiring rules can change required modules or datasets on your next update. If AFRY is preparing your first EPD, confirm what happens when either the EPD or PCR clocks tick over.
What the engagement may feel like day‑to‑day
Traditional consultants structure work in phases. Scoping, data request lists, supplier outreach, modeling, review comments, operator submission, then publication. Each step adds value, yet it can pull operations, R&D, and finance into repeated data checks. If you have limited bandwidth, define an internal single point of contact early and agree on how plant data will be sampled across the chosen reference year. Otherwise small delays cascade and everything slips, wich nobody wants.
Competitor set you may compare against
Buyers typically consider a few categories in the same slot as AFRY. Multidisciplinary engineering groups in the Nordics and DACH, global sustainability consultancies with product‑level LCA teams, and boutique LCA shops focused on specific material families. Use the same evaluation lens for all of them.
A quick buyer checklist
- Standards and scope fit: confirm ISO 14040/44, ISO 14067, ISO 14025, and EN 15804 coverage for your exact product and market.
- PCR alignment: ask for a short memo on the recommended PCR and why it matches competitors.
- Data plan: agree on plant data granularity, supplier data expectations, and who chases what.
- Verification path: clarify the reviewer, operator, expected comment cycles, and publication sequence.
- Timelines and effort: request a week‑by‑week plan showing your team’s tasks alongside AFRY’s.
Final take
AFRY offers a full‑service, consultant‑led route to LCAs and EPDs with engineering depth and regional coverage. It suits teams that want a guided process and can commit internal time to data prep. If speed and ease are top priorities, press any partner for specifics on data intake, review cycles, and who actually does the heavy lifting so your launch date is predictable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AFRY provide EPD verification or only LCA modeling?
AFRY indicates participation in third‑party review and verification activities alongside LCA modeling and EPD drafting. You should still confirm who the independent verifier is and which program operator will publish the EPD.
How long are EPDs valid if AFRY prepares them?
Validity is set by the program operator, not the consultant. Most operators set five‑year validity, and many PCRs also have five‑year validity windows that affect renewals (EPD International, 2024).
What data workload should a manufacturer plan for when working with AFRY?
Expect scoping meetings, a structured data request, supplier inputs, and iterative clarifications. AFRY references templates and dashboards, but plant‑level data collection still requires internal time.
Which industries does AFRY typically support for LCAs and EPDs?
They describe work across energy and resources, industrial and manufacturing, consumer products, and the built environment, with active pages for the U.S. market and European teams (AFRY sustainability; AFRY USA).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
