Mastering One Click LCA for Building Product Teams
Deadlines, scattered plant data, and rising requests for product EPDs create pressure from sales and specifiers. This practical guide shows how professionals can set up projects in One Click LCA, structure data once, and turn analytics into decisions that win specs without slowing operations.
Why One Click LCA matters to manufacturers
Buildings consume about one third of global energy and drive roughly 37 percent of energy and process related CO2 emissions, so embodied carbon now shows up in real bids and standards (UNEP GlobalABC, 2025) (UNEP GlobalABC, 2025). LCA software is no longer a nice to have. It is a way to keep products in the consideration set when projects require verified numbers.
Map the scope before you click New Project
Decide the goal first. Is this an internal hotspot scan, a client facing LCA, or a product EPD that will be verified and published. Pick the governing method that matches the market, usually EN 15804 or ISO 21930 for construction products.
Choose the Product Category Rule like you would pick the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Scan competitor EPDs, note the PCR they cite, and check revision timelines so renewal work is predictable.
Set up your first project the smart way
Start with a minimal, clean project structure. One building or one product line per project keeps results readable. Name variants so the bill of materials, plant, and date window are obvious months later.
Use templates for common assemblies and import bills of materials from BIM or spreadsheets to avoid manual entry. Keep units consistent and pick one mass or area basis for a family so comparisons are fair.
Data intake that saves weeks
Before modeling, gather three packets of data:
- Foreground production data for a recent 12 month reference period per plant and product
- Energy by type and source factors, plus transport legs and waste treatments
- Material specs with suppliers, recycled content, and packaging
If a product just launched, a prospective approach can start with a shorter data window, then refresh after a full year. Most program operators set EPD validity at five years, with annual internal checks to keep information current (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Make early design moves with Carbon Designer style tools
When project teams test options in early design, quick models guide material and layout choices. Simple massing plus realistic intensity values can reveal low regret shifts, like slimmer structural systems or lower clinker cement. Treat the output as decision support, then confirm with detailed LCA once drawings mature.
Turn on Portfolio Analytics for portfolio level signals
Portfolio level dashboards help track embodied carbon across many projects. Filter by region, phase, or tag to find recurring hotspots. A timeline view can show whether recent design rules are working or drifting.
Use EPD Usage Analytics to see product traction
Manufacturers can watch how often published EPDs appear in live models and specs. Spot fast movers and sleepers by region and category. That view helps decide which SKUs deserve the next optimization pass or where an EPD refresh will matter most.
Reporting that meets evolving rules without rework
Set reports to follow the applicable standard and the PCR. For Europe, EN 15804 A2 indicators are the default. For North America, ISO 21930 content aligned with EN 15804 conventions helps comparability. Keep Module D logic documented so reviewers understand end of life benefits and burdens.
LEED v5 is tightening embodied carbon expectations and keeps rewarding product specific, third party verified disclosures. Treat naming, declared unit selection, and plant scope as branding choices that also steer credit compliance.
Quality checks that verifiers appreciate
Run completeness checks on flows and units. Confirm background database versions in the report body, not just a footnote. Add sensitivity tests for top inputs, like clinker factor or recycled content rates. A short traceability table that links inputs to sources can cut review rounds.
Scale to many SKUs without chaos
Families of similar products can share a base model and variant logic when the PCR allows it. Keep a change log for resin, pigment, or energy shifts, then trigger a refresh only when thresholds are crossed. PCRs are typically reviewed on five year cycles, so renewal planning should track both EPD validity and PCR sunset dates (UL Solutions, 2024) (UL Solutions, 2024).
Choose partners and workflows that reduce internal lift
The biggest schedule risk is data wrangling across plants and teams. Favor workflows and partners that take on collection, gap closing, and project management so engineers and product managers can focus on decisions, not spreadsheets. Insist on clear checklists, weekly status reviews, and one source of truth for files.
Keep the commercial lens front and center
On projects with whole life carbon goals, a product without a product specific EPD is penalized in modeling. That penalty can sideline an otherwise competitive product at the last mile. A current EPD removes friction, speeds approvals, and protects margin because the conversation stays on performance, not discounts.
Renewal rhythm that avoids scramble mode
Build a two year out calendar that flags upcoming EPD validity dates and PCR changes. Most EPDs carry a five year term under major operators, and internal follow up is expected at least annually to keep disclosures accurate during that period (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Set reminders, reserve verifier capacity early, and keep a standing folder for new utility tariffs and supplier changes so updates are painless.
The through line
Mastering One Click LCA is less about clicking and more about clarity of scope, clean data, and steady renewal rhythm. Do that and the software becomes a lever for faster specs and resilient revenue. Get the rulebook right, keep the files tidy, and the numbers will do the talking. It is not glamorous work, but it works. And yes, perfection can sometimes wait while we ship teh next verified EPD.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of global emissions come from buildings and construction, and why does that matter for LCA software adoption?
In 2022, buildings used 34% of global energy and drove about 37% of energy and process related CO2 emissions (UNEP GlobalABC, 2025) (UNEP GlobalABC, 2025). This keeps embodied carbon on bid checklists, which is why practical LCA workflows and product EPDs matter commercially.
How long are EPDs typically valid, and do PCRs expire on a regular cycle?
Most program operators set EPD validity at five years with annual internal follow up to keep data current (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Many PCRs are reviewed on roughly five year cycles, so teams plan renewals with both clocks in mind (UL Solutions, 2024) (UL Solutions, 2024).
What should teams prepare before starting a One Click LCA project to avoid delays?
- A clean bill of materials with quantities and units.
- Plant level energy by source, transport distances and modes, and waste routes.
- A 12 month reference period per product and site, with supplier names for key inputs.
These three packets cover most review comments and reduce rework.
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.
