ESU-services for LCAs and EPDs, decoded
Considering a traditional consultancy to get your LCA and EPD work done? Here is what ESU-services offers, where they focus, and what the day-to-day will likely feel like so you can plan time, budget, and internal effort with clear eyes.
Who ESU-services is and where they focus
ESU-services is a Switzerland-based LCA consultancy founded in 1998 with its main office in Schaffhausen. They act as the SimaPro partner for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which signals a DACH focus with projects delivered internationally. See company pages for their address and team details, plus SimaPro distribution notes.
Typical sectors listed on their site include energy, food, civil engineering, basic minerals, chemicals, packaging, telecom, agriculture and lifestyle products. If you manufacture construction materials, machinery, or industrial components, they appear comfortable with both process and product footprints.
Helpful links
- EPD consulting overview: https://esu-services.ch/ourservices/epd/
- LCA consulting: https://esu-services.ch/ourservices/lcaconsulting/
- SimaPro software and support: https://esu-services.ch/simapro/
- LCI data services: https://esu-services.ch/data/
What they offer to manufacturers
ESU-services positions as a full-service LCA and EPD shop with options for single products and larger portfolios. Their menu spans studies, data, verification support, software, and training.
What shows up most clearly
- LCA studies aligned to ISO 14040 and 14044, with documentation in SimaPro format.
- EPD creation for construction under EN 15804 and for electronics under EN 50693, with ISO 14025 framing.
- Verification support and acting as approved individual verifiers under select EPD programs.
- PCR guidance and participation in standardization work when needed.
EPD creation and verification, in their words
Their EPD page outlines a start-to-finish path: scope and PCR selection, LCA modeling, EPD drafting to the relevant standard, and support to register and publish with a program operator. They list experience with the International EPD System, IBU, KBOB and PEP Ecopassport, all within the ECO Platform network. If you sell in multiple regions, that mix usually covers Europe and beyond.
Two numbers matter right now. Most operators state EPD validity is five years, and IBU says explicitly that an EPD is valid for five years before an update is required (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024). The International EPD System confirmed five-year validity for Process Certificates with annual audits and set the sunset for PCR 2019:14 v1.3.4 at 20 June 2025, guiding teams onto v2.x (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). During the 2025 transition, IES also communicated adjusted publication timelines given high demand (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Data collection approach and tools
Expect a guided intake across A1 to A3 for materials, transport and manufacturing, plus C and D scenarios where applicable. Their page walks through the specifics to collect, from energy carriers and water to waste, emissions, and end-of-life routes. Modeling is performed in SimaPro. For larger portfolios they lean on an Excel master inventory with VBA automation to batch import into SimaPro and populate EPD templates, which suits families of similar SKUs.
If you need background data, ESU-services curates LCI packages and can deliver EcoSpold or SimaPro-format datasets. That is useful when you need transparent unit-process documentation or when a supplier’s data gap would otherwise stall a verifier.
Timelines, effort and what the process feels like
Their LCA consulting page cites a typical completion window of 4 to 12 months and a guide price range of CHF 15,000 to 25,000 for a single study, then offers tailored quotes for scope beyond that baseline (ESU-services, 2025). In practice, most consultant-led projects involve a series of workshops, structured questionnaires, back-and-forth on bills of materials, and spreadsheet exchanges to reconcile site utilities, scrap rates and transport routes. Verification is separate and adds calendar time. The upside is methodological rigor and publishable documentation. The tradeoff is higher internal effort for your team if data is not centrally organized yet.
Modern buyer expectations are creeping in. Teams increasingly ask for low-friction data intake, publish-ready templates, faster scheduling with program operators, and the ability to scale from one EPD to many without starting over. If those are must-haves, probe for automation details early, not late. It is definately worth a few extra questions on day one.
Where your EPD can land
If you plan Europe-first publication, expect IBU or the International EPD System to come up quickly, both aligned to EN 15804 and ECO Platform. IBU notes verification usually takes several weeks depending on product complexity and data quality, and its declarations carry a five-year validity window (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024). The International EPD System requires annual internal follow-up during that five-year period to keep information current and may require an update if reported indicators worsen materially, which keeps published claims credible through the life of the EPD (EPD International, 2025).
When PCR guidance matters
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. ESU-services helps pick the right PCR, which is often the same one your competitors use for comparability in bids. Note that PCRs have their own expiry timelines. When a PCR sunsets, your already-published EPD remains valid to its date, yet your next renewal must follow a current PCR. The International EPD System reiterated the 20 June 2025 sunset for 2019:14 v1.3.4 and the upgrade path to v2.x, which is now the baseline for new construction product EPDs in that program (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Typical client profile and industries
The published track record spans industrial process LCAs, construction materials, energy systems, bio-based products, packaging and electronics. Manufacturers with established engineering or quality teams usually fit well because the intake requires disciplined data pulls from plants and suppliers.
Competitors you will likely meet in DACH and nearby
In RFPs, ESU-services often competes with global sustainability consultancies and boutique LCA firms operating across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Names you might encounter include Sphera, Ramboll, Quantis and denkstatt, plus Swiss boutiques like Treeze. This is a fragmented market where experience with your specific product family and program operator often matters more than size.
How to evaluate fit before you sign
Ask which program operator they recommend for your category and why. Request a sample data checklist for A1 to A3 and a redacted background report to see the level of documentation a verifier will read. If you have a large catalog, ask how their Excel plus SimaPro workflow scales to dozens of similar SKUs and how they manage verifier calendars when many EPDs are queued. Finally, confirm how they track PCR sunsets and internal follow-up tasks during the five-year validity period so your declarations stay market-ready.
Bottom line for manufacturers
ESU-services is a traditional consultancy with deep LCA roots, clear EPD services and recognizable tools. Teams that want hands-on guidance, SimaPro-native modeling, and the option to automate portfolio runs will find a familiar path. Plan for structured data work on your side, build a realistic calendar, and pin down publication venues and PCR versions up front so your EPDs land cleanly where you sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ESU-services provide EPDs for construction products under EN 15804?
Yes. Their EPD service page states support for EN 15804 alongside ISO 14025 and other standards for electronics.
Will ESU-services act as an EPD verifier?
They indicate they can verify EPDs as approved individual verifiers in selected programs and also support third-party verification scheduling.
How long are EPDs valid and what updates are required?
Major operators state five-year validity. IBU confirms five-year validity, and the International EPD System requires annual internal follow-up with updates if indicators worsen materially (IBU, 2024) (EPD International, 2025).
How long does an ESU-led LCA usually take and what does it cost?
Their LCA page cites 4–12 months and a guide price range of CHF 15,000–25,000 for single studies, with tailored quotes for broader scopes (ESU-services, 2025).
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.
