🧱 Why Construction Needs Specialized LCA Tools
The construction sector faces unique sustainability challenges. From heavy material impacts to regional regulations, generic LCA tools often fall short. Specialized platforms are built for this complexity — handling everything from PCR rules to BIM data alignment. Key reasons the construction industry benefits from dedicated LCA software:- Product Category Rules (PCRs) vary by material and application
- EN 15804 and ISO 21930 compliance are essential for EPDs
- BIM and CAD integration saves hours of manual work
- Circularity and end-of-life modeling are critical for buildings
- Verified EPD modules are increasingly required for certification
Top Tools for Construction and Building Products
1. One Click LCA
🏆 Industry standard for construction✅ EN 15804 and ISO 21930 compliant
✅ Direct BIM/Revit integrations
✅ Widely used by architects, contractors, and manufacturers
✅ Includes pre-filled material databases Overview: One Click LCA is designed specifically for the construction industry. It automates EPD generation and aligns easily with building standards and certifications.
Downside: Limited transparency and flexibility—users often refer to it as a “black box.”
2. SimaPro
⚙️ Strong for consultancies and advanced users✅ Highly customizable for material-level analysis
✅ Comprehensive database coverage
✅ Trusted in research and academic contexts Overview: SimaPro is robust and methodologically detailed—perfect for experts handling complex assessments for materials like cement, steel, or glass.
Downside: It’s less intuitive and not optimized for fast collaboration.
3. Sustainly
🚀 New-generation LCA software for modern construction teams✅ Scalable and transparent AI workflows
✅ Modular setup — ideal for prefab, interior, or modular building products
✅ Supplier data requests built-in for efficient collaboration
✅ Pre-configured EPD templates for faster reporting Overview: Sustainly helps companies measure and manage sustainability data at scale. Its transparent AI copilot automates key LCA steps, centralizes sustainability data, and simplifies collaboration between design, procurement, and compliance teams.
Perfect for: Manufacturers and construction firms seeking a flexible, easy-to-use tool to calculate environmental impact of products while meeting EN 15804 and CSRD requirements.
4. GaBi (LCA for Experts)
🏢 Enterprise-grade sustainability modeling✅ Rich material databases and verified PCR modules
✅ Workflow automation for complex supply chains
✅ Used by large corporations and sustainability consultants Overview: GaBi (now Sphera’s “LCA for Experts”) is powerful and data-rich, making it suitable for organizations with dedicated LCA specialists.
Downside: Heavier interface and less adaptable for non-experts.
Key Features to Look For
When evaluating LCA software for construction, prioritize tools that streamline compliance while maintaining data transparency:- ✅ Support for EN 15804 and ISO 14025
- 📦 Pre-loaded construction databases (Ökobau.dat, INIES, etc.)
- 🧱 Multi-layer building assembly modeling
- 🏗️ BIM, IFC, or Revit integration
- 📄 Direct EPD export or verification-ready outputs
Bonus: Construction-Specific Add-ons
Modern sustainability analysis software also includes specialized modules for realistic building assessments:- Waste and end-of-life scenario modeling (% recovery or recycling)
- Transport impact based on project geography
- Circularity metrics such as reuse and disassembly potential
- Indoor air quality indicators for building certifications
Final Takeaway
Generic tools can’t handle the complexity of construction data and compliance demands.For building materials and construction products, specialized LCA software delivers faster insights, reliable data, and verified EPD workflows. Sustainly stands out by combining transparent AI, centralized sustainability data, and collaborative LCA workflows—helping teams move from manual spreadsheets to streamlined, scalable sustainability management.
Want to see how it works? Explore Sustainly’s building product module and start your next EPD pre-study with clarity and speed.