Life Cycle Assessment - the key to Net Zero 2050?

Sustainable building today means much more than just energy efficiency or renewable energy. The decisive lever for climate action lies not only in a building's operation but, more importantly, in its creation: the emissions generated during raw material extraction, the manufacturing of building materials, and the construction process. These so-called "embodied emissions" and the associated "embodied energy" have become the biggest climate factor in Switzerland's building sector. This is exactly where the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comes in.

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What is a Life Cycle Assessment

The Life Cycle Assessment - internationally known as LCA - evaluates all environmental impacts of a building across its entire lifecycle: from raw material extraction, production, transport, and construction to use, demolition, and disposal.

The focus lies on emissions from the production and replacement of materials - in other words, those emissions that occur before and after the building’s use phase. These are tracked as greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), primary energy (renewable and non-renewable), and environmental impact points (UBP). In Switzerland, the methodology is based on KBOB data (Coordination Conference of Public Building and Real Estate Bodies), which provides standardized assessment and calculation guidelines.

For achieving major sustainability labels such as Minergie, SNBS, or SGNI (DGNB), an LCA is now a central tool to systematically capture and manage environmental impacts.

Europe is leading the way: The new EU Building Directive (EPBD) and CSRD require developers and companies to adopt a holistic view of emissions – including mandatory LCAs for large-scale projects. Countries like France and the Netherlands are already implementing strict CO₂e limits.

And this shift is already influencing Switzerland.

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Why act now - and not later

1. Responsibility Across the Entire Value Chain (Scope 3)

For developers and building owners, indirect emissions (Scope 3) are becoming increasingly important. These occur outside of their direct operations – in supply chains, materials, or construction processes – and account for the majority of environmental impacts.

Only a reliable LCA brings transparency and reveals where actions truly have an effect.

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2. Regulatory Pressure in Europe – and Its Effect on Switzerland

While LCA is not yet legally required in Switzerland, the pressure is growing: the EU Building Directive (EPBD) and CSRD are making life cycle analyses the new standard – especially for large-scale projects.

Even though Switzerland is not an EU member, developers and investors feel the pressure: capital flows and supply chains increasingly demand transparent lifecycle emissions.

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3. Competitive Advantage - Early Assessment Leads to Better Planning

More and more architectural competitions now require CO₂e performance data already in the competition phase, not just at execution. Those who can provide credible figures early gain a clear edge.

But: The figures must be trustworthy. What’s calculated during a competition must remain consistent through execution and certification. Those who establish reliable processes earn not only higher scores from juries but also the trust of building owners.

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What an LCA delivers – tangible benefits

A robust LCA is more than an environmental label. It creates concrete added value that directly impacts market opportunities, costs, and strategic planning. Sustainable construction is not only about conserving resources – it also builds credibility and competitive advantage.

• Increased asset value: Sustainable buildings are in growing demand in the Swiss real estate market. Investors reward climate-friendly projects with higher prices and better financing conditions.
• Reduced emissions and construction costs: Less material means fewer embodied emissions – and also lower construction costs. Sustainability and cost-efficiency go hand in hand.
• Future material bank: Even though circularity is not yet fully integrated into the Swiss LCA methodology, planning with deconstruction and reuse potential pays off long-term. It creates a valuable material pool for future projects.
• Image and credibility: Developers, architects, and owners who take sustainability seriously enhance their reputation as climate leaders and gain the trust of clients and partners.

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LCA as an Integral Planning Process - not an afterthought

Too often, LCAs are seen as a box to tick for certifications or competitions – and are introduced too late in the project. That’s a mistake. An LCA can only reach its full potential when it is integrated from the very beginning – iteratively, data-driven, and balanced with cost, comfort, and floor space goals.

This allows planners and owners to make informed decisions, compare design variants, and find sustainable compromises. The LCA thus becomes a living steering tool – from early design to completion.

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Conclusion: LCA belongs at the Heart of every Building Project

The climate targets in the building sector are ambitious – and without a significant reduction in embodied emissions and embodied energy, they will be out of reach. The Life Cycle Assessment is not the goal itself, but the tool to get there.

To unlock its full potential, it must be applied early, continuously, and in coordination with other project goals – not as an afterthought, but as a core part of every planning phase.

Modern digital tools like vyzn make exactly this possible: they integrate the LCA directly into the 3D/BIM model, enable rapid variant comparisons, visualize environmental impacts, and combine climate action with economic viability and user comfort.

In this way, sustainability is designed in from the start – not added on at the end.