BM Certification for LCAs and EPDs: What to Expect
If a product line needs an LCA and an EPD, BM Certification shows up as a familiar name, especially in Europe. Here is what they appear to offer, how the engagement typically runs, and what a manufacturer should vet before green‑lighting a scope and a schedule.
Who they are and where they operate
BM Certification is an independent certification body with a growing sustainability portfolio that includes LCA and EPD work. Their website lists presence across many European markets with additional sites in Asia and Australia, and coordination from a UK entity.
Core LCA and EPD services
BM indicates a service bundle that covers the essentials for construction manufacturers: product life cycle assessment, EPD development and consulting, help preparing and analyzing the data a company must supply, and coordination through third‑party verification and publication. See their service page for details and contact routes.
- LCA and EPD overview: https://bmcertification.com/product-life-cycle-assessment/
BM first announced these offerings in 2022, positioning them alongside broader sustainability services (BM Certification news, 2022) https://bmcertification.com/standing-up-for-sustainability/.
Verification and program operators
Their copy references third‑party verification and registration in an EPD system, which in practice means working with a recognized program operator. In the construction sector these commonly include the International EPD System, IBU, BRE, UL, and Smart EPD. Teams should confirm the target operator, language requirements, and any ECO Platform recognition early, since those choices influence templates, PCR versions, and reviewer availability.
PCR guidance and standards alignment
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly: ignore it and the game falls apart. Expect the consulting scope to include advice on the applicable PCR and on EN 15804 for construction products. For context, under the International EPD System, the workhorse construction PCR 2019:14 version 2.0.1 is active and valid until 2030‑04‑07, with the older 1.3.4 version sunset on 2025‑06‑20 (EPD International, 2025) (https://www.environdec.com/pcr-library/pcr_6b99d07c-4b75-4763-4485-08dd775d2e49).
Data collection and tools
BM’s pages describe assistance with data preparation and analysis rather than naming a specific LCA software stack. That is normal for traditional consultants. If tool transparency matters for your IT or QA sign‑offs, ask which database versions will be used, how background datasets are selected, and how supplier specific data will be substituted when gaps appear.
Carbon footprinting and related services
BM also publishes guidance and verification services for organizational and product carbon footprints, referencing ISO 14064‑1 and ISO 14067, plus the GHG Protocol. Their process outline gives a sense of delivery flow from scoping to report and recommendations: https://bmcertification.com/calculation-of-carbon-dioxide-co2-emissions-co2-footprint-calculation/ and a summary of verification offers: https://bmcertification.com/bm-certification-expands-its-range-of-services-with-several-carbon-footprint-verification-services/.
Typical client experience with a traditional consultancy
Manufacturers should plan for a hands‑on internal lift. Expect discovery workshops, a structured questionnaire, spreadsheet templates for bills of materials, utilities, packaging, and transport, and iterative reviewer comments. Turnaround tends to track how quickly plants can deliver clean, complete data and how busy verifiers are. Many teams now expect lower‑friction data intake and faster cycles, so set expectations with stakeholders up front.
Industries and geographic focus
BM’s broader certification portfolio spans forestry and wood products, construction product conformity, supply chain programs like FSC and PEFC, and food safety systems. That mix suggests frequent work with timber, building materials, and manufacturing clients, with delivery across Europe and selected markets in Asia and Australia. If a project requires local language support or site visits, confirm which office will lead.
Timelines and validity windows to plan around
Most construction EPDs are typically valid for five years, and program operators expect an update within that window if reported indicators worsen beyond defined thresholds. Plan renewals to avoid expiry during bid seasons (EPD International, 2025) (https://www.environdec.com/pcr-library/pcr_6b99d07c-4b75-4763-4485-08dd775d2e49). If you sell in markets that require EN 15804 A2 reporting, verify that the study and templates align to the current PCR version and indicator set.
How BM scopes data and deliverables
Their pages emphasize help with preparing and analyzing company data for LCA and EPD work. In practice, that usually means material inputs, energy by source, waste streams, transport legs, packaging, and declared unit definitions. It is definately useful to ask for a sample data template and a list of default background datasets before kickoff to avoid rework.
Competitors you are likely to see in the same tenders
For similar project sizes in the Baltics, Nordics, and UK, common competitors include engineering consultancies and specialist LCA groups. Names that often appear on RFP shortlists in this region and segment include Sweco, Ramboll, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, and Anthesis. Some program operators also maintain rosters of approved verifiers that may shape who reviews the work.
What to check before you commit
Ask five concrete questions: which program operator will publish, which PCR version and indicator list will be used, which LCA database and version will underpin results, what the data collection plan asks of each plant, and when the verifier is booked. Then request a sample EPD layout and a redacted comment log from a prior review. These artifacts tell you more about quality and cadence than any slide deck.
Links for a closer look
- LCA and EPD service page: https://bmcertification.com/product-life-cycle-assessment/
- Carbon footprint calculation: https://bmcertification.com/calculation-of-carbon-dioxide-co2-emissions-co2-footprint-calculation/
- Sustainability verification and certification index: https://bmcertification.com/sustainability-verification-and-certification/
- News note on adding LCA and EPD services in 2022: https://bmcertification.com/standing-up-for-sustainability/
The bottom line for manufacturers
BM Certification presents a familiar consulting model for LCAs and EPDs backed by a multinational certification footprint. If your team wants a predictable workshop‑plus‑spreadsheets path and is ready to mobilize plant data quickly, their scope maps to that expectation. If your priority is minimal internal time and faster turnaround, evaluate how any partner will intake data and coordinate verification, since that is where schedules are won or lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BM Certification publish EPDs itself as a program operator or only help create them?
Their site describes LCA and EPD development, data preparation support, and cooperation through third‑party verification and publication. That indicates consulting and coordination rather than acting as the program operator.
Which standards will an EPD under BM Certification typically follow?
For construction products, expect alignment with EN 15804 and ISO 14025, with PCR selection driven by product category. Under the International EPD System, PCR 2019:14 version 2.0.1 is valid until 2030‑04‑07 (EPD International, 2025) (https://www.environdec.com/pcr-library/pcr_6b99d07c-4b75-4763-4485-08dd775d2e49).
How long is an EPD valid and when should we plan a refresh?
Validity is typically five years, with earlier updates expected if reported indicators worsen beyond thresholds set by the operator. Build a renewal plan well before the printed validity date to avoid tender disruption (EPD International, 2025) (https://www.environdec.com/pcr-library/pcr_6b99d07c-4b75-4763-4485-08dd775d2e49).
Does BM Certification disclose which LCA software it uses?
No public tool listing appears on their service pages. If software transparency matters for your quality system, request it during scoping.
What effort should our plants expect during data collection?
Workshops to align scope, detailed spreadsheets for inputs and utilities, document evidence for energy and waste, and several review cycles. The pace largely depends on how quickly sites can deliver clean data and how early the verifier is booked.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
