WAP Sustainability’s LCA and EPD services, explained
Manufacturers weighing consultant-led LCAs and EPDs want clarity on scope, workload, and speed. Here is a factual look at what WAP Sustainability offers, how the work typically runs, and what teams should ask before they commit. Context matters when EPDs influence real bids and portfolios in markets where buildings account for roughly a third of energy‑related CO2 emissions ([UNEP Global Status Report, 2025](https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-status-report-buildings-and-construction-20242025)).
Who WAP Sustainability serves and where they focus
WAP Sustainability is a U.S. consultancy with offices in Tennessee. Their public materials emphasize work with North American manufacturers and industry associations in construction materials, with credentials and verifier approvals across several program operators.
Core LCA services
WAP provides custom life cycle assessments, critical reviews, and verification services for product LCAs across sectors. Their LCA page notes ACLCA‑certified reviewers and experience supporting multiple operators and schemes, including Environdec and PEP (LCA services).
EPD creation and verification support
On product transparency, WAP advertises turnkey support to create LCAs and Environmental Product Declarations, plus partnerships with major program operators and verifier status within the International EPD System (Product transparency). For planning purposes, note most EN 15804 EPDs run a five‑year validity window with mid‑cycle updates if results worsen beyond stated thresholds (EPD International, 2025).
PCR guidance and the rulebook reality
Teams should expect advice on which PCR to follow, especially for construction products under the International EPD System’s PCR 2019:14. Version 1.3.4 sunset on 20 June 2025, with 2.0.x now active, so schedules should align to current templates and verifier expectations (EPD International, 2025). Treat the PCR as the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and comparisons fall apart.
Tools and software in their stack
WAP markets several tools aimed at scaling workflows:
- Theta for Construction Products, framed as Buy Clean compliance software for categories like steel, glass, cement, slag, and concrete (Theta for Construction Products).
- Theta GCCA, a web tool for ready‑mix producers to generate concrete EPDs (Theta GCCA).
- epd.world, a workflow platform that imports results from common LCA tools and outputs OpenEPD files while automating EPD PDFs and verification handoffs (epd.world).
- An October 2025 post outlines an “omnichannel” trio of Theta, epd.world, and OpenEPD positioned to modernize creation and sharing of EPD data (platform announcement).
Data collection approach you should anticipate
Consultant‑led LCA and EPD projects typically start with scoping workshops, facility questionnaires, and data templates for energy, materials, waste, logistics, and packaging. Expect spreadsheet exchanges, supplier outreach and iterative model reviews. WAP also highlights supply‑chain LCA support and action plans for EPD optimization, plus a supplier data system for material ingredients used on HPD projects (Product transparency). Teams used to low‑friction digital intake may find the traditional cadence slower, with more internal time from operations and R&D.
Verification pathways
Beyond development, WAP advertises third‑party LCA verification across multiple operators and regions and positions staff as approved verifiers under several schemes (Certification and verification). For portfolio planning, program operator guidance confirms EPD validity is normally five years and requires at least annual internal follow‑up under current GPI rules (EPD International, 2025).
Typical industries and formats
Their software pages point to core construction categories: concrete and precast, cement and slag, steel, glass, asphalt, and asphalt emulsion. The mix suggests depth where Buy Clean‑style disclosures and portfolio EPDs are common.
What working with a traditional consultant feels like
Plan for structured discovery, plant data pulls tied to a reference year, allocation decisions, and reviewer checkpoints. Timeline is driven by site data readiness, PCR interpretation, and verifier queues. Internal effort is higher than teams expect. Modern buyers now compare this to faster intake, more automation, and fewer handoffs, so expectations on speed have shifted.
Competitors you will likely compare
For U.S. manufacturers in this segment, common alternatives include UL Solutions, SCS Global Services, NSF, IBU‑aligned boutiques, and broader sustainability firms like Anthesis, ERM, or Ramboll. Software‑centric options also compete for attention, often paired with independent verification. We do not see a single model winning every scenario.
A quick buyer’s checklist
- Ask which PCR and operator your category should use and why. Request examples of comparable products they cite.
- Confirm data intake methods, who chases suppliers, and how site gaps are handled.
- Map the verification path, named reviewers, and expected timing buffers.
- Clarify how results will be packaged for both PDF and machine‑readable formats, including OpenEPD.
- Align renewal plans to avoid expiries in active bid seasons. EPDs typically run five years (EPD International, 2025).
The takeaway
WAP Sustainability offers the classic consultant playbook plus homegrown tools that aim to compress workflow friction. If your team is ready for the workshops and data lifts, the model can deliver sturdy, verifier‑ready results for construction product portfolios. Define scope early, lock PCR choices, and hold the calendar with discipline. It is definately worth mapping the internal time cost next to turnaround before you green‑light the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What LCA and EPD services does WAP Sustainability advertise for manufacturers?
They list custom LCAs, LCA critical reviews, third‑party LCA verification, turnkey EPD development and publication support, PCR guidance, and optimization planning. See their LCA and Product Transparency pages.
Which software tools from WAP are relevant to construction EPDs?
Theta for Construction Products, Theta GCCA for concrete, and the epd.world workflow platform. These import results from common LCA tools and output OpenEPD files for publication.
How long are most construction EPDs valid and what upkeep is required?
Most are valid for five years with required updates if results worsen beyond thresholds. GPI requires at least annual internal follow‑up to keep information current (EPD International, 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.
