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Become a partnerLCA Software: Create Life Cycle Assessments Without Specialist Knowledge
Full life cycle assessments are far more complex than a PCF or CCF. The LCA software in the VERSO Climate Hub makes them possible even without specialist knowledge — compliant with EN 15804+A2.
LCA pushes sustainability teams to new limits
If you already calculate a PCF, you’ll quickly notice that a full life cycle assessment is a different matter: the effort increases significantly. Instead of a single metric, 13 impact indicators have to be calculated. Add to that a complex standards framework and software that demands extensive LCA expertise. Sustainability managers report enormous challenges:
- “The PCF was still manageable, but methodologically, LCA is a whole different league.”
- “I don’t have the expertise for LCA myself, so I depend on consultants and colleagues.”
- “I have to stand behind results that I can’t fully verify myself.”
- “Customers request product-related data, often with a deadline. In the end, it lands on my desk.”
With the LCA software in the VERSO Climate Hub, you can create LCAs without being an LCA specialist yourself.
Activity-based input in the LCA software instead of manual processes
Life cycle assessment with LCA software — no expert knowledge required
Pure LCA tools are usually built for LCA specialists. Anyone working with them models every single process by hand — which takes time and requires knowing exactly what you’re doing. For sustainability teams that want to create LCAs across their product portfolio while also writing ESG reports and calculating PCFs, that simply isn’t practical. The LCA software in the Climate Hub keeps it simple: activities and materials are entered directly, ecoinvent supplies the background data — no elaborate processes, no LCA degree required:
- Activity-based creation: activities and materials are entered directly into the LCA tool, and ecoinvent supplies the background data.
- Impact parameter analysis: evaluable by product, process, or site.
![[14:02 Uhr]VERSO LCA Software: Analysis view for a steel screw's life cycle assessment, cradle-to-gate system boundary (A1–A3), including impact assessment (LCIA) per life cycle stage across indicators such as GWP, ODP, AP, and WDP.](https://verso.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Analysis-EN-scaled.webp "LCA-Software-Analysis")
Life cycle assessment in line with EN 15804+A2 and the EF methodology, based on ecoinvent
Calculate your LCA in a standard-compliant and robust way
LCA software that is simple and standard-compliant at the same time? With VERSO, that’s possible. You can rely on the LCA calculations in the Climate Hub following established standards. This makes your LCA results robust and ready to use with customers, in tenders, and in the EPD process:
- Standard-compliant calculation and methodology: in line with the established EN 15804+A2, based on the European Commission’s EF methodology.
- All 13 mandatory impact indicators integrated: GWP fossil/biogenic/LULUC, ODP, AP, EP freshwater/marine/terrestrial, POCP, ADPF, ADPE, WDP.
- Versionable LCAs: changes remain traceable, which matters for audits and for further development across the product life cycle.
One platform for CCF, PCF, and LCA
Bring all climate data together in one software
At many companies, the PCF followed the CCF, now the LCA is on the agenda, and the EPD is already waiting at the door. Which raises the question: do we now need a dedicated LCA tool as well? No — with the Climate Hub, you’re fully covered: you manage CCF, PCF, and LCA in the same system, along with your entire decarbonization strategy, including SBTi targets:
- Site-specific product creation: products are created separately for each production site.
- CSV import: existing bills of materials can be uploaded directly, with no manual data entry.
- CCF, PCF, and LCA in the same system: no isolated tool, no data export, no parallel license agreements.
LCA with the EN 15804 module structure and an automatic PDF report
Prepare EPDs and customer inquiries with the LCA software
The LCA increasingly serves as the basis for an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). To keep the additional effort to a minimum, it’s important that your LCA meets EPD requirements right away. The life cycle assessment tool maps the required EN 15804 module structure and supports the configuration of product category rules. The automatically generated PDF report documents the impact assessment in a way that can be used directly as a basis for the EPD background report or for customer inquiries:
- Product category rules (PCR): configurable to meet EPD requirements, built along the EN 15804+A2 module structure (A1–A3, C1–C4, D).
- Automatic PDF report: documents the impact assessment and can be used directly for customers, tenders, or as a basis for the EPD background report.
Tailored climate consulting alongside the LCA software
We won’t leave you alone with your LCA: in addition to the Climate Hub, you can rely on the know-how of our experienced climate consulting team. Whether you need support with CCF, LCA, and PCF calculations, want to benefit from in-depth climate risk and resilience analyses, would like guidance on the path to SBTi-validated climate targets, or want to develop a holistic decarbonization strategy — we support you exactly where you want to move forward. Hands-on and tailored to your company. Where it helps your progress, we also bring in external partners.
- Individual support along your climate strategy.
- Support with integration into internal processes.
- Expert review of your data basis and target systems.
- Industry-specific expertise and modular consulting packages.
- Cooperation with specialized partners.
- Help for self-help — or long-term partnership.
With the support of the VERSO consultants and the Climate Hub, we have drawn up our first climate footprint report. Now we can gradually reduce our GHG emissions and track the development of our decarbonization strategy using the VERSO software.
Thanks to VERSO’s expertise and support, we have adapted our processes to establish sustainability as an integral part of our corporate strategy.
VERSO advises us very competently at every point and every step. In this way, VERSO has made it easier for us to find our way around the complex topic of CSR.
VERSO’s convincing features range from all-round support throughout the entire project to the seamless, flexible integration of the ESG software and the ability to clearly assign responsibilities and content in the backend. In future, we will also be using the supply chain platform and climate software from VERSO.
References
Frequently asked questions about life cycle assessment
What does life cycle assessment mean?
A life cycle assessment (in German: Lebenszyklusanalyse or Ökobilanz) examines the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service across a defined life cycle.
What is the difference between LCA, PCF, and EPD?
The LCA is the comprehensive method for calculating a product’s environmental impact, the PCF is the climate portion within a life cycle assessment, and the EPD is the verified format intended for the public.
For precise definitions, guidance on when each instrument makes sense, and how they all fit together, take a look at our blog article.
Which life cycle stages are considered in an LCA?
Which stages are considered depends on the system boundary. An LCA can begin with raw material extraction and extend to disposal or recycling. Possible options include cradle-to-gate, gate-to-gate, or cradle-to-grave.
What is a functional unit in an LCA?
The functional unit describes what the life cycle assessment results refer to. That could be one kilogram of product, one square meter of insulation material over 50 years, or 1,000 transport kilometers, for example. It is necessary so that products can be compared in a meaningful way.
Which data is needed for a life cycle assessment?
Typical data includes material quantities, energy consumption, production processes, transport, packaging, reject quantities, and disposal routes. Depending on the system boundary, use-phase data, maintenance, or recycling processes may be added.
What is the difference between primary data and secondary data in an LCA?
Primary data comes directly from the company or from suppliers, for example from production facilities, bills of materials, or energy bills. Secondary data comes from databases or studies and is used when no in-house values are available.
How long does it take to create an LCA?
That depends on the product’s complexity and the data situation. With a solid bill of materials and clear system boundaries, an initial life cycle assessment can be created within a few weeks. If supplier, process, or use-phase data is missing, the effort increases considerably.
What does an LCA cost?
The costs depend on the product, the data situation, the chosen system boundary, and the intended use. An internal life cycle assessment is usually less expensive than an LCA that is to be externally verified and used for an EPD.
Does an LCA have to be externally verified?
An LCA does not always have to be externally verified. For internal analyses or product development, this is often not necessary. For an EPD or public environmental communication, however, an independent review may be required or advisable.
What are typical mistakes in an LCA?
Common mistakes include unclear system boundaries, an unsuitable functional unit, undocumented assumptions, and inconsistent data quality. Omitting relevant life cycle stages can also distort results.
How often should an LCA be updated?
An update makes sense when materials, suppliers, production sites, energy sources, or processes change significantly. New database versions or requirements from EPD programs can also make a revision necessary.
Can an LCA also be created for services?
Yes. A life cycle assessment is not limited to physical products. Services, processes, buildings, or transport systems can also be assessed, provided that the service, system boundaries, and data basis are clearly defined.
Does an LCA make sense for small and medium-sized enterprises?
Yes, especially when customers request environmental information, products are to be compared, or an EPD is planned. To get started, you don’t have to assess your entire product portfolio right away. A pilot product is often the more sensible beginning.
What should you look for when selecting LCA software?
LCA software should support recognized standards, connect to background databases, and document calculations transparently. The VERSO Climate Hub also offers versionable models, flexible evaluations, and the import of bills of materials and production data. It can be used without deep LCA expertise.
What is the difference between LCA software and PCF software?
PCF software primarily calculates a product’s greenhouse gas emissions. LCA software additionally maps further environmental impacts, for example acidification, eutrophication, resource consumption, or water consumption. The VERSO Climate Hub supports both calculations in one software, drawing on a shared data basis.
Schedule a demo for the lca software
Full transparency into your products’ environmental impact: see for yourself in a free demo how you can use VERSO’s LCA software to calculate your life cycle assessments!