Building LCA

From survey findings to Nordic priorities for regulatory building LCA

Publiceret 09-11-2026

Participants from across the Nordics and Estonia came together at the Nordic Climate Forum for Construction 2026 to explore how stronger Nordic cooperation could help address current and emerging challenges in building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The workshop identified opportunities for stronger cooperation on harmonisation, data, digitalisation, reuse and links to European processes.

The workshop built on a survey conducted in advance of the forum, which explored current challenges and future needs related to building LCA. This included the role of generic and product-specific data, transparency of LCA results, digital integration, the quality of environmental product declarations (EPDs), the development of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and the changing role of environmental product information under the Construction Products Regulation. The results were used to shape the workshop topics and provide a common starting point for the discussions.

During the workshop, participants worked in groups to develop responses to the identified challenges, consider what successful Nordic cooperation could look like in the near future, and identify where Nordic experience could contribute to European processes. These workshop outputs are now being analysed further within the Climate Work Package of Nordic Sustainable Construction. The preliminary findings presented here offer an initial look at the areas where participants saw opportunities for stronger Nordic cooperation and where further work may be needed.

Preliminary findings point to shared Nordic priorities

Across the groups, participants repeatedly highlighted the need for greater alignment of calculation and reporting approaches, clearer information on the data and assumptions behind LCA results, and stronger validation of calculation tools and outputs. One proposal was to establish a common core LCA scope: a shared minimum scope for cross-country comparison, with room for additional national requirements. As a starting point, the group suggested identifying the aspects of building LCA that the Nordic countries already handle in similar ways and building greater methodological alignment from there. Rather than necessarily calling for identical national systems, the discussions therefore suggest value in establishing a more consistent Nordic foundation for LCA.

Data and digitalisation need to develop together

A second strong message was that data quality, transparency and digitalisation cannot be addressed separately. Participants discussed how environmental data could be better integrated across LCA tools, building information modelling (BIM), procurement and delivery systems and digital building records. Proposals included common classifications and machine-readable data formats, API integrations across the data value chain and greater automation of procurement and delivery information into as-built LCA. Groups also explored how DPPs could connect with Industry Foundation Classes (IFC).

The discussions treated generic and product-specific data as complementary rather than competing options. Participants saw generic data as continuing to play an important role, particularly during early design and where product-specific information is unavailable. Proposals included a common Nordic database for generic data, greater harmonisation of generic values used in early-phase procurement and a data bank of building LCAs.

For product-specific information, participants discussed how access to reliable data could be expanded while maintaining its credibility. Verification and publication processes, data infrastructure, and incentives for manufacturers were among the practical issues raised in the workshop. The preceding survey identified related barriers to scaling up product-specific information, including costs, difficulties accessing upstream primary data, limited verification capacity and weak market incentives.

Making room for reuse and innovation

Another recurring theme concerned innovative, reused and remanufactured construction products. Participants discussed faster and less complex ways of demonstrating their environmental performance, including suitable standards and calculation assumptions and questions concerning testing, warranties and responsibility. Proposals included special funding for testing innovative products, greater support for smaller manufacturers and standardised methods for remanufactured products and products with carbon uptake.

Connecting Nordic cooperation with European processes

The discussions also distinguished between what could be addressed through Nordic cooperation and what depends on European processes.

Many of the issues discussed are closely linked to implementation of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), the development of DPPs and related standardisation processes. Participants therefore saw a role for the Nordic countries not only in aligning their own approaches, but also in bringing their practical experience with building LCA, environmental data and digitalisation into these processes. Proposals included Nordic experts participating in EU expert groups and the EU High Level Forum, stronger coordination between Nordic authorities and sharing Nordic experience from implementing regulatory building LCA with countries now developing their own approaches.

The workshop's qualitative assessment of the proposals highlighted a distinction between potential value and practical feasibility. Participants generally rated Nordic added value and potential impact highly, while ratings of feasibility were more mixed. Conditions and uncertainties raised included political commitment, regulatory uncertainty, funding, responsibility for maintaining shared datasets and systems, differences in national levels of digitalisation, and the time required for European standardisation processes.

From preliminary findings to further work

Taken together, the workshop suggests that these are not isolated challenges. Methodological alignment, trustworthy and traceable data, digital interoperability and suitable approaches to new and reused products are closely interconnected. Progress in one area is likely to depend on progress in others.

The findings remain preliminary and reflect the contributions of workshop participants rather than the views of the Nordic construction sector as a whole. The survey and workshop material will now be analysed further within the Climate Work Package of Nordic Sustainable Construction, providing a basis for identifying where continued Nordic cooperation can add the greatest value.

Follow the work of the Climate Work Package here