Intertek’s LCA and EPD services, at a glance
If your product needs an LCA or an EPD, Intertek shows up on most shortlists. They are a global testing and assurance firm with sustainability consulting embedded across regions. Here is what they appear to offer today, how engagements typically run, and what manufacturers should factor into timelines, effort, and verification.
Who Intertek is in this space
Intertek is a large assurance, testing, inspection, and certification provider with sustainability services delivered under Intertek Assuris. Their public pages position LCA as a core method and link it to declarations like EPDs, water footprints, and related reporting. See their Life Cycle Assessment overview and related services at Intertek Assuris for details (LCA services, Sustainability overview).
What they offer manufacturers
Intertek’s materials present a full stack around product impacts:
- LCA studies for products and processes, using established ISO 14040 and 14044 frameworks, with compliance and critical review support (LCA services).
- EPD creation support, education, and verification readiness across ISO 14025, EN 15804, and ISO 21930 contexts; they publish German resources that explain EPD rules and verification steps (German LCA and EPD explainer, EPD webinar).
- Carbon work that can complement or precede EPDs, including product carbon footprint casework, project validation and verification, and branded certification schemes (PCF case study, Carbon project VVB, CarbonClear).
LCA delivery and toolset
Intertek indicates the use of globally recognized LCA software and databases and describes a structured approach that spans scoping, data collection, modeling, reporting, and critical review. They also offer short courses on LCA to orient internal teams (Intro course, Implementing LCA).
EPD creation and verification support
Manufacturers can expect help aligning to the correct rule sets and drafting the EPD based on the completed LCA. EPDs for building products generally remain valid for five years, so verification and timing matter when planning renewals (EPD International FAQ, 2025 link). Intertek’s public material discusses EPD verification requirements and the standards that govern them, and they can coordinate with recognized program operators during publishing (German LCA and EPD explainer).
PCR guidance and program operator coordination
Selecting a PCR is part rulebook, part market signal. Intertek’s materials suggest they support compliance interpretation and critical review against the relevant standards. In practice, that often includes helping clients confirm which PCR competitors use, checking expiry windows, and aligning the publishing plan with the preferred operator.
Carbon footprinting and claims programs
If your strategy includes labeled climate claims, Intertek markets several certification pathways. CarbonClear addresses carbon intensity at a product or facility level and sits alongside CarbonZero neutral claims guidance (CarbonClear). They also highlight accreditation and recognition as a validation and verification body for carbon projects, which is useful where you need third‑party assurance alongside an LCA or EPD roadmap (Carbon project VVB).
Industries and geography
Intertek’s building and construction footprint is anchored by the ATI group, with 14 labs across North America and 2,000 plus defined test protocols, which helps when LCA and EPD work needs to dovetail with physical product testing for codes or performance. They also state a network of more than 1,000 labs and offices in 100 plus countries, relevant for multi‑site data collection and regional LCAs (Intertek ATI overview, 2025).
What the client experience typically looks like
Expect a consultant‑led process: kickoff workshops to define scope, structured questionnaires and evidence requests, and iterative spreadsheet exchanges while metering, bills, waste logs, and BOMs are compiled. Site calls and document reviews are normal to firm up data quality. Timelines often stretch when internal data owners are busy, so plan for a few cycles of clarifications before verification sign‑off. You will likely recieve spreadsheet trackers and versioned drafts rather than an always‑on intake portal.
Data collection and software
Beyond classic spreadsheet and interview workflows, Intertek has announced partnerships and platforms that aim to streamline traceability and product data, including a Digital Product Passport angle that can indirectly support LCA evidence gathering (Trace For Good announcement, 2024). Modern buyers increasingly expect low‑friction data intake, audit trails, and quicker turnarounds, so teams should pressure‑test how evidence moves from plant to model to declaration.
Timelines, verification, and renewals to plan for
Verification is conducted by an independent third party, separate from the LCA authoring role, and program operators will check conformance before publishing. Keep an eye on PCR updates and plan renewal cycles so you do not bump against validity cliffs, especially when seasonal production data affects modeling assumptions. Five‑year validity is standard under many operators for product EPDs, which means your next reference year and re‑verification window should be penciled in early (EPD International FAQ, 2025 link).
Typical competitors in Intertek’s lane
In the same global, enterprise segment, manufacturers often compare offers from UL Solutions, SCS Global Services, SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, DNV, ERM, Ramboll, Anthesis, and WSP. The mix shifts by region and product category, but the engagement model is similar: consultant‑led scoping, evidence collection, modeling, and coordination for verification and publishing.
When Intertek tends to be a fit
Intertek usually aligns with manufacturers that want a single brand across testing, certification, and sustainability services, or those who need multi‑region coordination. Teams with established internal data owners can make good progress in the conventional workshop and spreadsheet cadence. If your priority is minimizing internal lift and compressing calendar time, probe deeply on how data ingestion, model iteration, and verifier handoffs are operationalized.
Final take
Intertek offers recognizable LCA and EPD help, plus adjacent carbon and certification programs that can round out a broader sustainability story. The value for manufacturers sits in pairing technical credibility with disciplined project management, clear PCR choices, and a verification plan that avoids surprises. A simple rule helps: treat your plant data like the lead actor, and make every scene change traceable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Intertek provide full‑service LCAs and support for EPDs, including verification coordination?
Yes. Their pages describe LCAs aligned to ISO 14040 and 14044, plus EPD support and education with references to ISO 14025, EN 15804, and ISO 21930. They can coordinate with program operators for publishing. See the LCA overview and German EPD explainer for specifics.
What data will our team need to prepare for an LCA or EPD with Intertek?
Expect to compile site utility data, production volumes, material and supplier lists, packaging, waste streams, and transport details. Intertek typically uses questionnaires, spreadsheets, and document reviews, with workshops to align scope and assumptions.
How long are EPDs valid and when should we plan a refresh?
Many building product EPDs are valid for 5 years. Plan your next reference year and verifier slot early so you do not slip near the expiry window. Source: EPD International FAQ, 2025.
Which industries does Intertek seem most active in for sustainability work?
Public materials show activity across building and construction, chemicals, food, consumer goods, textiles, and energy. The ATI group supports building products with labs across North America.
Which competing firms are often evaluated alongside Intertek for LCAs and EPDs?
UL Solutions, SCS Global Services, SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, DNV, ERM, Ramboll, Anthesis, and WSP commonly appear in the same enterprise segment.
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.
