A1
Raw Material Supply
Extraction of raw materials from natural or recycled sources. Mining, agricultural harvest, energy production and primary material flows belong to this module.
Life Cycle Modules
From raw material to recycling. Every stage covered.
EN 15804+A2 (2019) divides the product life cycle into four main stages: product (A1—A3), construction process (A4—A5), use (B1—B7), end of life (C1—C4) and benefits beyond system boundaries (module D). clca models and reports each module independently.
A1—A3 · Product Stage
A2
Transport (Raw Material)
Transport of raw materials from supplier to manufacturing site. Emission factors are computed per transport mode (road, rail, sea, air) and load factor.
A3
Manufacturing
The stage where the product is physically produced. Energy consumption, manufacturing waste, direct emissions (process, heating, auxiliary systems) are aggregated here.
A4—A5 · Construction Process
A4
Transport to Site
Transport of the finished product from manufacturing site to construction site. Computed from total distance, transport mode and loading rates.
A5
Installation / Assembly
Impacts from on-site installation: auxiliary material consumption, waste generation and energy use during assembly.
B1—B7 · Use Stage
B1
In-Use Emissions
VOC and other emissions released to atmosphere during normal product use over its service life.
B2
Maintenance
Cleaning materials, spare parts and energy used for routine maintenance.
B3
Repair
Repair activities triggered by unexpected failure or damage and their environmental cost.
B4
Replacement
Impacts of replacing sub-components that need full replacement within the product's service life.
B5
Refurbishment
Structural renovation or comprehensive refurbishment activities.
B6
Operational Energy Use
Electricity, heating, cooling and lighting energy required to operate the product.
B7
Operational Water Use
Water consumed and waste-water generated during the product's service life.
C1—C4 · End of Life
C1
Demolition / Deconstruction
Energy and waste burden of removing the product from the structure at end of service life.
C2
Transport (Waste)
Transport of post-deconstruction waste to a recycling facility or disposal site.
C3
Waste Processing
Recycling, composting, preparation for re-use and similar waste-processing operations.
C4
Disposal
Final disposal activities such as landfill, incineration and atmospheric release.
D · Beyond System Boundaries
D
Benefits Beyond System Boundaries
Net benefits of using recycled materials in new products or recovering energy — i.e. avoided primary material and energy use outside the system boundary.
Blog
All articles →Technical articles on the life cycle
- 11 min read
Energy recovery or material recycling? Comparing the credits
The same tonne of plastic displaces electricity if burned and granulate if recycled — but the two credits are not the same size and cannot both be granted to one stream. The waste hierarchy, EN 15804 Table 13 and the formulae.
Read more → - 9 min read
Reference service life and replacement schedule: B4 cost in LCC
Service life is the parameter that moves an LCC result most after the discount rate. Where RSL comes from, the replacement formula N = ceil(T/SL) − 1, residual value, the B2/B3/B4 distinction and how long-lived products get unfairly penalised.
Read more → - 11 min read
Transport in LCA (A4): tkm, load factor and empty return
A4 is the transport of the product from factory gate to site, calculated as mass × distance × a per-tkm factor. Vehicle class, utilisation, empty return and the trap of volume-limited products; the EN 15804 scenario table and a worked example.
Read more → - 11 min read
Embodied carbon calculation at product and element scale: A1–A3
A product's embodied carbon is the sum of its A1–A3 emissions per declared unit. The formula, the A1/A2/A3 split, pulling values from EPDs, the biogenic carbon distinction and a worked example for 1 m² of wall.
Read more → - 10 min read
Recovery yield and substitution ratio: product per kg of waste
The two quiet multipliers of a recovery credit: yield, which describes process loss, and the substitution ratio, which describes quality. Catalogue yields by material, the moisture correction and downcycling.
Read more → - 9 min read
How to write an LCA report: ISO 14044 reporting requirements
An LCA report is the document that lets a reader arrive at the same result. The mandatory ISO 14044 content, the rules for third-party reports and comparative assertions, a section template and what is most often missing.
Read more →