Module C: The End-of-Life Wild Card
Most teams sweat over raw-material data, then slap a generic “landfill” line on the last page of the LCA. Trouble is, end-of-life assumptions now sway procurement scores, circular-economy claims, and even demolition permits. Ignore Module C and you hand rivals free points.
What exactly lives inside Module C?
Module C covers the exit ramp: C1 (demolition), C2 (haul-off), C3 (sorting or shredding), and C4 (final disposal). Think of it as the post-credit scene of a superhero movie—short but packed with plot twists that reframe everything that came before.
Why buyers suddenly care
A 2024 meta-study of 8,000 European EPDs found that waste processing (C3) and disposal (C4) together add up to 4 % of average product GWP, but the share climbs past 15 % for polymer foams and composites (ScienceDirect, 2024). With tender portals now ranking bids by every decimal, that 4-15 % margin can bump you from bronze to gold.
The data gap nobody talks about
Carbon Leadership Forum researchers flagged “inconsistent or missing Module C scenarios in 64 % of North-American whole-building LCAs” (CLF, 2024). Half-baked demolition distances or recycling rates invite auditors to slap on conservative penalties—never in your favor.
Scenario planning beats guesswork
- C1: Crew type, on-site fuel, and any pre-demolition asbestos removal.
- C2: Real-world miles to the nearest licensed facility, not Google-Maps dreams.
- C3: Yield losses during rebar recovery or chipping wood waste for bio-fuel.
- C4: Landfill gas capture rates or incinerator energy offsets. Nail those four levers early and the Module D recycling credit suddenly looks credible, not magical.
PCRs set the rules of the game
EN 15804+A2 made end-of-life reporting mandatory in 2022 and tightened calculation formulas again in its 2024 corrigendum, closing a loop-hole that once allowed negative emissions for sloppy biogenic carbon bookkeeping (CEN, 2024). Read the fine print before you promise carbon-negative anything.
Shortcut: harvest data at the source
Skip the endless spreadsheet chase by pulling equipment logs, weigh-bridge tickets, and transport invoices directly from your demolition or haulage partners. Their billing software holds the exact ton-miles and fuel grades you need. We see teams save up to two weeks just by asking for the CSV instead of a PDF (internal benchmark, 2025).
Treat Module C as revenue insurance
Construction specifiers are chasing circular-economy proof, and cities from Amsterdam to Chicago now award bid credits for high-recycled-content take-back plans. Tight Module C data turns a disposal cost center into a marketing headline. Dont leave that money on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sub-modules must I declare for Module C in an EN 15804-compliant EPD?
All four: C1 (demolition), C2 (transport to waste facility), C3 (waste processing), and C4 (final disposal). Skipping any of them breaks compliance.
How detailed do transport distances in C2 need to be?
Use weighted averages based on actual or expected facilities. Generic national averages are allowed only if site-specific data are impossible and must be justified in the EPD.
Can recycling benefits be shown in Module C?
No. Benefits of material recovery are reported in Module D. Module C only captures the burdens up to the point the material becomes a secondary resource.
Does Module C ever push my product over a building code carbon limit?
Yes. In materials with low cradle impacts (e.g. wood, certain plastics) the end-of-life burdens can tip you past cap values, so model conservative but realistic scenarios.
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
