Mastering Sustainability: An In-Depth Guide to Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the EU Ecodesign Regulation

Understanding Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the EU Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products

On March 26, 2025, the KPMG ESG & Sustainability Consulting team hosted an insightful webinar focused on assessing and reducing the environmental footprint of everyday products. The session was divided into two key areas: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the new EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

LCA is a comprehensive method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle—from raw material extraction to disposal. During the webinar, experts Nina Mihajlović and Marijana Marjanović highlighted:

• The disparity between emissions at the organizational level versus the product level.
• Essential steps needed to conduct an LCA analysis according to recognized standards.
• The process of creating an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
• Practical aspects of calculating a product’s carbon footprint.

EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

The presentation also covered the new regulation, emphasizing its role in fostering sustainable product design within the EU market. Key points included:

• How the regulation incentivizes companies to minimize negative environmental impacts.
• The importance of the digital product passport as a critical tool within the sustainable product value chain, enabling transparency and traceability.

Relevance and Regulatory Impact

Given the tightening EU regulations, understanding and implementing LCA and ecodesign principles has become crucial for domestic companies aiming to comply and thrive in a sustainable economy.

Webinar Wrap-Up and Resources

This webinar concluded the first series of KPMG’s online ESG seminars, underscoring the growing interest in sustainable product strategies. For more detailed insights, KPMG’s ESG team remains a valuable contact point.

Sources:
KPMG ESG & Sustainability Consulting Webinar, March 2025
https://kpmg.com/governance

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