Industrial Ecology Consultants: LCA and EPD services
Thinking about outsourcing an LCA or EPD but wary of drawn‑out data chases? Here is a quick, fact‑based read on Industrial Ecology Consultants, what they offer, where they tend to focus, and how to assess fit if speed and low‑friction data collection matter to your team.
Who they are
Industrial Ecology Consultants is a U.S. consultancy based in Newton, Massachusetts, led by Thomas P. Gloria, Ph.D. Their site outlines classic LCA consulting, verification and training activities across manufacturing sectors, with a long track record in building products and furniture.
What services they advertise
Their services page lists several tiers of life cycle work. Streamlined LCAs for internal prioritization are quoted at 2 to 4 weeks. Internal LCAs for strategy at 8 to 16 weeks. External LCAs to support EPDs at 3 to 6 months, and policy‑support studies at 6 to 12 months, alongside training, method development and third‑party review (Industrial Ecology Consultants, 2025). They also flag conformance with ISO 14040, 14044, 14025, ISO 21930 and EN 15804 on that page.
If you are scanning for EPD help specifically, the External LCA path is described as supporting Type III declarations under ISO 14025. That places them in the traditional consultant lane where project plans, spreadsheets, and long interview cycles set the pace.
Footprint in EPD creation by product type
Across 354 total EPDs with 9 issued in the past year, their historical portfolio clusters in construction finishes and fixtures. The largest concentrations appear in Paint by Area, Carpet, Chairs, Door Hardware, and Resilient Flooring, followed by Water Closets and Acoustical Ceilings. In total we see work spanning 64 distinct product categories. That mix signals experience with interior products and building components more than heavy structural materials.
How they typically work with manufacturers
From their own timelines and service descriptions, expect classic LCA project phases. Data requests land as questionnaires and bill‑of‑materials templates. Teams should budget time to reconcile plant data, utilities, waste, and supplier inputs to a single reference year. Most construction EPDs remain valid for five years, so timing publication to avoid renewals during peak bid seasons is practical planning wisdom (EPD International news on five‑year validity, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
What this means for speed and workload
Traditional consultants can deliver rigor, yet the model often leans on the client’s staff to wrangle data into the consultant’s forms. If your commercial priority is getting credible EPDs live with minimal disruption, test for three things during scoping. First, what portion of data collection will be handled for you. Second, how flexible the team is in accepting data in your systems’ native formats instead of questionaires. Third, whether they can hit a compressed publication window without compromising verification.
Competitive set they likely meet in bids
In North America, Industrial Ecology Consultants will frequently encounter boutique and mid‑size peers such as EarthShift Global, Sustainable Solutions Corporation, Franklin Associates, and Long Trail Sustainability. All offer LCA and EPD development services. Capabilities and throughput vary widely, so request recent, product‑specific examples in your category and publication timelines from the past 12 months rather than legacy case lists.
Quick notes on verification and market pull
EPDs are Type III declarations built on ISO 14040 and 14044 and governed by a PCR. They are typically verified by an independent reviewer and published through a program operator. Major operators and rating systems continue to recognize five‑year validity periods, with program rules requiring internal annual follow‑ups to keep declarations current (EPD International, 2025). LEED v5 was ratified by USGBC members on March 28, 2025, which keeps verified, product‑specific EPDs firmly in play for project submittals in North America (USGBC support update, 2025) (USGBC, 2025).
When to shortlist them
They are a fit if you want a conventional LCA consultancy that can run studies, chair critical reviews, and teach internal teams. They are less ideal for manufacturers seeking the fastest possible route to multiple product‑specific EPDs with very low internal lift. When time to publish and ease of data handoff are the deciding factors, probe workflow, toolchain, and who is doing the heavy lifting across plants before you sign. A small change in process can shave weeks, sometimes months, off the calendar (IBU and Environdec both describe EPDs as five‑year instruments that must be kept up to date, which makes cycle time more than a nice to have) (EPD International, 2025).
Where to read more
Service details and timelines are outlined on their LCA services page. You can also reach their general site for contact and background. Helpful starting points:
- Life Cycle Assessment services page with LCA and EPD support descriptions (Industrial Ecology Consultants, 2025)
- Company site homepage for navigation to other offerings and contact info (industrial-ecology.com)
Bottom line for manufacturers
Industrial Ecology Consultants represents the old‑school consulting approach. It can work, particularly for one‑off studies or complex reviews. If your business case hinges on speed to a verified EPD and minimal disruption to R&D and plant teams, insist on clarity around data collection effort, accepted data formats, and a concrete publication schedule up front. That is how you protect ROI when the clock is ticking for specs and submittals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Industrial Ecology Consultants publish timelines for LCAs and EPD‑support studies?
Yes. They quote 2 to 4 weeks for streamlined LCAs, 8 to 16 weeks for internal LCAs, 3 to 6 months for external LCAs used for EPDs, and 6 to 12 months for policy‑support studies (Industrial Ecology Consultants, 2025).
How long do EPDs remain valid in most programs today?
Typically five years, with mandatory internal annual follow‑up procedures under updated operator rules to keep information current (EPD International, 2025).
Is demand for EPDs likely to persist under LEED v5?
Yes. LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025 and continues to recognize verified EPDs in its framework, so teams will keep asking for them in submittals (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC, 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.
