LCA · EPD · CFP —
what’s the difference?
Three acronyms that appear increasingly in commercial relationships, public tenders and CSRD reporting. Here is what each means, how they differ and how to choose the right service for your specific situation.
If you received a request from a large client, a retailer or contracting authority for an “LCA study”, an “EPD” or a “CFP declaration”, and you’re not sure exactly what they’re asking for — this guide is for you.
EPD programme operator comparator
EPD International, IBU and EPD Norge compared across 10 criteria — market coverage, PCR library, verification structure and the mutual-recognition network. Plus four questions that settle the choice.
The three services —
in brief
LCA — Life Cycle Assessment
What it is: The method for assessing the environmental impact of a product across 19 indicators, over its entire lifecycle. Standard: ISO 14040/14044. Result: Internal technical report.
EPD — Environmental Product Declaration
What it is: Standardised document based on LCA, with third-party verification and publication in international registries. Standard: EN 15804 + ISO 14025. Result: Public document, valid 5 years.
CFP — Carbon Footprint of Product
What it is: Declaration focused exclusively on product GHG emissions. Standard: ISO 14067:2018. Result: kg CO₂e per functional unit, labelling.
Full comparison table
| Criterion | 🔬 LCA | 📋 EPD | 🏭 CFP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main standard | ISO 14040/14044 | EN 15804:2012+A2 + ISO 14025 | ISO 14067:2018 |
| Impact indicators | 19 categories (GHG, water, land, resources etc.) | 19 categories (per EN 15804) | GHG only (CO₂ equivalent) |
| Third-party verification | Optional (recommended) | ✓ Mandatory (ISO 14025) | Optional (recommended) |
| Registry publication | Not required | ✓ Mandatory (IBU, EPD Norge, INIES) | Not required |
| LEED v4 credits | Partial — contributes to MR Credit | ✓ Direct — MR Credit EPD compliant | Partial |
| BREEAM credits | Partial | ✓ Mat 03 Responsible Sourcing | Partial |
| EU CBAM compliance | Usable | Usable | ✓ Recommended for CBAM |
| CSRD ESRS E1 reporting | ✓ Methodological basis | ✓ Product emission intensity | ✓ Product GHG intensity |
| B2C product labelling | Not directly | Not directly | ✓ Product carbon label |
| EU public procurement (GPP) | Partial | ✓ Selection criterion | Partial |
| Delivery time | 4–6 weeks | 6–10 weeks | 3–5 weeks |
| Main use cases | Internal optimisation, basis for EPD, R&D | Public tenders, LEED/BREEAM, corporate requests | CBAM, retailers, labelling, SBTi, carbon markets |
Which service is right for you?
Choose CFP (ISO 14067) if:
- A major retailer (Kaufland, Lidl, Carrefour, IKEA) has asked for the carbon footprint of your products
- You export products to the EU and need CBAM compliance
- You want to put a carbon label on your product packaging
- You need fast results (3–5 weeks) at lower cost
- You report under CSRD and need GHG intensity per product (ESRS E1.6)
Choose full LCA (ISO 14040/44) if:
- You want to understand and optimise all environmental impacts (not just climate)
- You need the methodological basis to subsequently publish an EPD
- Your B2B clients require sustainability data for their Scope 3
- You want to identify lifecycle hotspots to reduce costs
Choose EPD (EN 15804 + ISO 14025) if:
- You produce construction materials and want to participate in LEED or BREEAM projects
- You participate in European public tenders requiring verified environmental declarations
- Your corporate clients (Lafarge, Saint-Gobain, IKEA) require EPDs from suppliers
- You want a public and verified document, valid for 5 years, with maximum credibility
The most common path: Companies start with a CFP (fast and more accessible in price), which responds to the immediate client request. They then expand to a full LCA for holistic understanding of impact, and finally publish an EPD for maximum credibility and access to new markets. CarbonDRI guides you at every stage.
Frequently asked questions about LCA and EPD
How long does an LCA study take?
Between 4 and 6 weeks, depending on product complexity and how quickly primary data can be collected. Timelines almost always slip because of data collection from suppliers, not because of the calculation itself. A full EPD, which adds third-party verification and registry publication, takes 6–10 weeks.
What is the difference between an LCA and an EPD?
An EPD is a standardised document, mandatorily verified by a third party and publishable in international registries, built on the basis of an LCA study. The LCA is the method and the technical report; the EPD is the validated, public form of that report, compliant with EN 15804 and ISO 14025 and valid for 5 years. You cannot have an EPD without an LCA, but you can have an LCA without an EPD.
Is an LCA study mandatory under CSRD?
Not as a document in itself, but ESRS E1.6 requires product-level emission intensity data, which cannot be produced credibly without an LCA basis. In practice the obligation reaches you through the value chain: companies reporting under CSRD request this data from their suppliers.
Is an internal LCA accepted for CSRD reporting or EPD publication?
For value-chain reporting, a study prepared under ISO 14040/14044 and verifiable by a third-party auditor is accepted. An unvalidated internal LCA is not — neither for an EPD, nor for LEED or BREEAM credits, nor as evidence in a public tender. The difference is not calculation quality but the existence of independent verification.
Do I need all 19 indicators or just carbon?
It depends on the destination. If the request comes from a retailer, from CBAM or for a carbon label, a CFP under ISO 14067 covers GHG emissions only and is sufficient, faster and more affordable. If the target is an EPD, a public tender or internal product optimisation, you need the full set of 19 indicators under EN 15804.
Not sure which service
you need? Ask us.
Free initial consultancy. We’ll tell you within 48h exactly which service suits you and what the estimated cost is.