Critical Review: Strengthening the credibility of your LCA

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps organisations understand the environmental impact of their products or services across the entire value chain. However, the credibility of an LCA study determines how much  trust stakeholders can have in the study outcomes. A critical review of an LCA by an independent expert or panel significantly increases the robustness, reliability and transparency of the study. This is especially important if you want to share your LCA results with stakeholders, use them as input for strategic decisions, to support environmental claims or use them for public communications.

A reviewed LCA builds trust with stakeholders, whether they are customers, regulators, or investors, and provides assurance that the study is aligned with international standards. Beyond improving credibility, a critical review brings objective validation to the LCA process. Independent reviewers assess whether the data, modelling choices, and interpretations are appropriate and well-supported. Through this they can identify areas for clarification or improvement. Doing this not only ensures compliance but can also uncover valuable insights and provide a reliable foundation for strategic decision-making and product development.

For LCA studies in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, or carbon footprint studies in accordance with ISO 14067, the critical review process is guided by ISO 14071. ISO 14071 is an international standard that outlines the requirements for review procedures and reviewer qualifications.

According to ISO 14071, the purpose of the critical review process is to verify that:

• the LCA has been carried out in line with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
• the methods used are scientifically and technically sound
• the data is appropriate and reasonable for the goal of the study
• the interpretation reflects the study’s goal and limitations
• the final report is clear, consistent, and transparent.

In practice, the reviewer checks whether the data used is of good quality, if the modelling choices are well-documented and justifiable, and whether the results are clear, consistent with the data and supported by a meaningful interpretation. The review also confirms that all reporting requirements in ISO 14044 are addressed. This includes describing the goal and scope, the data collection procedure, the modelling procedure followed, the calculation methods implemented and how the results are interpreted. To this end, the standard includes a complete list of all topics that should be covered in the LCA report.

There are a few options on how to perform the critical review study:

• Single reviewer: one expert evaluates the study after its completion
• Review panel: a chairperson coordinates with independent reviewers and stakeholders. This is mandatory when performing a comparative LCA.
• Concurrent review: review is integrated throughout the LCA process, reducing the risk of major revisions at the end of the process.
• The review can also include an in-depth assessment of the life cycle inventory (LCI) model and individual datasets. However, this is optional.

Reviewers do not need formal accreditation, but they must demonstrate appropriate expertise. This includes:

• Proficient knowledge of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
• Current LCA methodology expertise
• Experience with critical LCA reviews
• Sector-specific technical and environmental understanding

Most importantly, external reviewers must be independent, meaning they:

• Are not employed by the LCA commissioner or practitioner
• Were not involved in the study’s development
• Have no financial or political stake in the study’s outcome

Independence and competence can be demonstrated through a self-declaration.

In most cases, the review process starts after the LCA study is finished, unless concurrent review is chosen. The review process is as follows:

1. The reviewer evaluates the LCA report and provides an overview of the comments, feedback and recommendations. Identified issues may include missing justification of assumptions, data used or the chosen methodology. Depending on the scope of the review, the LCI model and an analysis of the datasets is also reviewed.
2. These comments are communicated with the LCA practitioner via a structured review template and discussed.
3. The practitioner updates the LCA report in response to the review comments. This can include improving  descriptions and including additional data where necessary, or recalculating results if inconsistencies with the ISO standards are noted. Communication to the reviewer takes place via the review template, allowing a response to each of the review comments.
4. A second review round addresses remaining issues.
5. The number of review rounds depends on the project’s complexity. Clear communication and prompt implementation of feedback helps to ensure a smooth process.
6. The implementation of feedback to the final LCA report is checked by the reviewer.
7. The review concludes with the signing of the critical review statement. This document outlines whether the LCA study complies with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, highlights strengths and limitations, and records how reviewer comments were addressed by the LCA practitioner.

At Ecomatters, we offer extensive experience in both performing and reviewing LCA studies. Our team has up to date expertise in sectors including construction and building materials, coatings and chemicals, but also manufacturing and plastics industries.

We also take on the role of chair in review panels, ensuring a coordinated, transparent, and high-quality review processes. As a review chair our role is twofold, reviewing the study, and managing the review process from the side of the review panel. Our aim is to provide constructive feedback focusing on the main items influencing the compliance of the study. This way we aim to contribute to a robust study that is compliant with the standards, while at the same time taking a practical approach to avoid an endless review process.

In addition to reviewing ISO 14040/44 studies, we have contributed to the review of Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs). You can read more about our reviewer role in PEFCRs here.

Reach out to us to discuss how we can support your goals with expert critical review services. Plan a call with one of our experts, or visit our contact page. We look forward to supporting you with delivering robust and transparent studies.