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Why sustainability is now a supply chain responsibility

Construction companies operate within some of the longest and most complex supply chains of any industry.
Materials pass through multiple manufacturers, processors, distributors, and logistics layers before reaching a project site — and each step carries its own environmental footprint. As carbon limits, tender requirements, and verification standards (like EN 15804) become stricter, supply chain teams are expected to demonstrate not only sourcing efficiency, but also environmental clarity. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides the structure and data needed to do exactly that.

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1. LCAs give visibility into material and supplier impact

Most of a building’s environmental footprint is created before construction begins — during raw material extraction, processing, and transport.
LCA helps supply chain teams map these stages and identify which materials or suppliers contribute the most impact. This makes it possible to:
  • Compare materials with both financial and environmental metrics
  • Identify high-carbon or resource-intensive products
  • Select suppliers who offer verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
  • Replace assumptions with transparent, audited data
LCA turns material procurement into an evidence-based sustainability strategy.

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2. LCAs improve tender and procurement documentation

Tenders increasingly require clear, verified sustainability information.
Public buyers, general contractors, and developers expect environmental data to be:
  • Standardized
  • Comparable
  • Verifiable
Using LCA-backed documentation allows supply chain teams to provide:
  • Supplier EPDs aligned with EN 15804
  • Credible carbon and material use data
  • Transparent material selection justifications
  • Compliance-ready inputs for BREEAM, DGNB, LEED, and other frameworks
This gives companies a competitive advantage in procurement scoring.

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3. LCAs create a stronger foundation for supplier collaboration

Environmental performance is becoming a key part of supplier relationships.
When LCA insights are shared, discussions shift from broad sustainability claims to measurable data, such as:
  • Carbon footprint per material category
  • Resource consumption during production
  • Transport and packaging impacts
  • End-of-life recovery potential
This transparency helps:
  • Align expectations across the value chain
  • Encourage suppliers to improve their own processes
  • Reduce reporting gaps on large, multi-stakeholder projects
  • Build long-term partnerships based on shared data, not assumptions

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4. LCAs reduce compliance risk and streamline audits

Construction companies face rising expectations under:
  • EN 15804 and EPD verification
  • EU Taxonomy
  • CSRD and corporate ESG disclosures
By using LCA data throughout the supply chain, teams can maintain a traceable, auditable record of environmental information — reducing the scramble for documents during audits or tender deadlines. This reduces the risk of:
  • Missing supplier certificates
  • Contradictory documentation
  • Rejected EPD submissions
  • Delays in project approvals
Supply chain decisions often involve trade-offs: lower costs, faster delivery, or lower carbon.
LCA quantifies these trade-offs, helping teams evaluate:
  • Transport modes and route efficiencies
  • Embodied carbon differences between materials
  • Packaging choices and waste generation
  • Reuse or recycling opportunities in procurement
With environmental performance part of the data set, teams can make choices that support both budget and sustainability goals.

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How Sustainly supports construction supply chains

Sustainly helps supply chain teams integrate LCA insights directly into procurement workflows — without adding complexity.
CapabilityBenefit
Automated LCA creationGenerate environmental data for materials quickly and consistently
EPD-ready workflowsSeamless preparation of EN 15804-compliant declarations
Procurement integrationView cost and sustainability data in the same place
Supplier dashboardsStreamlined data sharing across the supply network
Supply chain professionals can easily compare suppliers, prepare tenders, and document environmental performance with traceable, verified information.

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Key takeaway: Sustainable supply chains win more work

Environmental responsibility is now part of supply chain performance.
By using LCA insights, construction teams gain the transparency required for tenders, compliance, and long-term partnerships — while improving material selection and logistics decisions. LCA turns sustainability from a reporting obligation into a practical tool for smarter, data-backed procurement.
Bottom line: sustainability claims are easy — verified data is what wins trust and projects.