Module A: Where Product Footprints Begin
Most environmental declarations start in the factory gate, yet many teams still treat Module A like a black-box acronym. Crack it open and you find the biggest, quickest wins hiding in plain sight.
What Module A Covers
Module A tallies everything from raw-material extraction through the moment a finished product rolls off the line. Think mines, mills, transport to the plant, and the manufacturing energy bill. Standards such as EN 15804 call this trio A1-A3.
Why Module A Dominates the Footprint
Upstream steel, cement, polymers, or glass often swallow half to three-quarters of a product’s total global-warming potential before the pallet even moves (NMD, 2025). Skip clean data here and the rest of the LCA wobbles like a table with a missing leg.
Data Hunt: Nailing Reliable Upstream Numbers
Supplier invoices and utility meters only tell part of the story. You still need credible secondary datasets for raw-material backgrounds and regional power grids. Paywalls slow you down, but every gap you fill early saves rework when the verifier kicks the tires.
How Manufacturers Can Shrink A1-A3
Swap high-carbon inputs for recycled content. Tighten process control to squeeze out scrap. Source electricity from renewables through a direct contract, not just certificates. Each tweak cuts kilograms of CO₂e per unit and nudges your EPD ahead of the pack.
Module A and Your Competitive Edge
Specifiers compare EPDs line by line. A lean Module A score can tip bids, earn LEED points, and fend off lower-priced rivals without slashing margins. The sooner you measure, the sooner you can iterate like an engineer tuning lap times.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Rolling
Questions about capturing upstream data or validating supplier claims? Connect with John on LinkedIn and explore how smarter Module A insights can accelerate your next EPD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly falls under Module A?
All impacts from raw-material extraction (A1), transport to your plant (A2), and the manufacturing process itself (A3)—everything up to the factory gate.
Why does Module A often dominate my footprint?
High-carbon inputs like steel or cement can account for 50-75 % of total GWP before shipping even begins (NMD, 2025).
Which data sources matter most for A1-A3?
Combine primary data (utility bills, production logs, supplier EPDs) with credible secondary datasets for raw-material backgrounds and regional grids.
Fastest levers to cut Module A impacts?
- Switch to recycled or lower-carbon inputs.
- Tighten process scrap rates.
- Source direct renewable electricity, not just certificates.