Strong demand for harmonised LCA methodologies
Participants were clear: harmonisation across Nordic countries is both needed and wanted.
- 97% of respondents said further harmonisation work is important
- Harmonisation strengthens the Nordic voice toward future EU standards.
- The sector sees value for investors, competition, and cross-country learning.
At the same time, several challenges were noted:
- Current regulations and definitions differ, making full harmonisation difficult.
- EPBD requirements may contribute to alignment, but still leave room for national variation.
- Participants highlighted specific issues such as floor-area dependency, timing of LCA, and even proposed solutions such as a converter tool for comparing results between countries.
These insights will support the work of the task 1.1 of the Climate Work Package about shaping Nordic guidelines on definitions, terminology and explanation of differences between national methodologies.
Data gaps remain one of the biggest obstacles
Across the Nordics, participants emphasised that data availability, quality and cost are major barriers to making LCA more digital, more efficient, and more reliable. Key challenges mentioned:
- Missing or incomplete design data, especially in early stages.
- Non‑machine‑readable data and inconsistent formats.
- Lack of harmonised approaches to filling data gaps.
- Missing information for several modules (A4, A5, C, D) and non-European materials.
- Increasing need for handling biogenic carbon and other environmental indicators.
Participants also shared ideas for solutions – including the use of AI to intelligently fill missing data.
These inputs directly support the work in task 1.2 in the Climate Work Package to develop a shared Nordic framework for default values and guidance on database development.
BIM is essential – but the detail of information is still a challenge
A clear message from the workshop was: BIM can streamline LCA - but current models often lack the detail needed for reliable calculations. Participants noted that:
- BIM models are usually not sufficient in the design phase.
- Even final-stage models are missing important materials and layers.
- Classification systems differ across the Nordics.
- Not all data should be added to BIM - smart, selective integration is key.
Some insights were received on what’s typically missing from BIM models, for example information on technical systems, reinforcement, and non-geometric elements. Insights were also received about which BIM-LCA tools the sector already uses.
These inputs contribute to the work of task 1.3 in the Climate Work Package which aims to develop guidelines for efficient BIM–LCA workflows, including templates, translator keys, and recommendations for digital validation.