What is an LCA?
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyses a material from the origin of its raw materials right through to its end of life.
It takes into account:
• Raw materials,
• Manufacturing,
• Transport,
• Installation,
• Service life,
• End of life and recovery options.
This approach gives a complete and comparable picture of a material’s real impact.
The key indicators of an LCA.
An LCA is not limited to a single figure.
It covers several types of indicators that allow for a comprehensive analysis.
Here are the most common indicators:
- GWP – Global Warming Potential (carbon impact)
The most widely used indicator.
It expresses greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO₂e.
- Biogenic carbon = carbon stored in the material
For materials made from renewable resources, the LCA takes into account the carbon flows linked to the natural biomass cycle. This is a central element in the analysis of bio-based solutions.
In practice, this means that a bio-based material:
o Absorbs CO2 as the plant grows
o Stores it durably for as long as the material remains in place
- Water consumption
Measures the volumes of water used over the entire life cycle.
- Primary energy (renewable and non-renewable)
Assesses the energy needed to produce, transport and install the material.
- End of life and recycling or reuse potential
Analyses the possible scenarios: reuse, recycling, recovery or disposal.
The value of an LCA is clear:
o Every stage is measured,
o Every piece of data is documented,
o Nothing is left to chance.
Carbon impact: an essential benchmark.
Among LCA indicators, carbon impact plays a central role.
It makes it possible to:
• Understand a material’s overall footprint,
• Compare different construction solutions,
• Meet regulatory requirements (such as RE2020, GRO, environmental performance standards, etc.),
• Feed into the carbon calculations carried out by engineering firms.
It doesn’t sum up the whole LCA, but it remains a major entry point for many players in the sector.
Why is LCA essential in construction?
The construction sector is one of the biggest emitters. To stay on track with the European decarbonisation roadmap, it needs to speed up its transition.
The European Union has set two major targets:
• -55% emissions by 2030
• Climate neutrality by 2050
These targets are becoming the common reference for all regulations.
- A central place in regulations
LCA is becoming the working basis in several countries:
• In France: FDES + INIES + RE2020
• In Belgium: B-EPD + TOTEM
- A common method
All stakeholders use the same basis for analysis: architects, engineering firms, manufacturers.
- A clear assessment
The results are based on precise, verifiable rules.
- A commitment to transparency
Publishing LCA data strengthens specifiers’ trust.
Why is LCA indispensable for manufacturers?
Having a complete LCA makes it possible to:
• Support specifiers in their choices,
• Ensure integration into carbon calculations,
• Strengthen the product’s credibility,
• Meet current and future regulatory requirements.
Today, it’s a key factor in being part of low-carbon projects.
Focus: does the IsoHemp hempcrete block have an LCA?
Yes. The IsoHemp hempcrete block has undergone a complete LCA that highlights its measurable environmental performance.
For the 36 cm block, the results show storage of 51.87 kg CO2 per m2, linked to the hemp biomass and carbonation processes.
- A bio-based material => biogenic carbon storage
Hemp absorbs CO2 throughout its growth.
Once processed into a block and installed, this carbon remains locked in the material: this is biogenic carbon storage.
A key piece of data built into the LCA.
- Optimised manufacturing
Efficient industrial processes help reduce the carbon impact of production.
- A long service life
The hempcrete block contributes to the building’s energy performance, regulates humidity and improves indoor comfort.
This long-term stability translates into high durability: a service life of up to 150 years, around five times longer than most conventional insulation materials.
- End-of-life recovery potential
Made from mineral and plant-based materials, the block can be recycled into aggregate and reintroduced into the block manufacturing process, supporting a circular approach.
In short.
Life Cycle Assessment is an essential tool for understanding a material’s environmental impact. It provides a clear, transparent framework shared across the entire industry.