As demand for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) continues to grow, automation and AI-enabled tools are rapidly changing how LCAs are developed, scaled, and verified. Yet existing LCA standards provide limited guidance on how these emerging tools should be evaluated and communicated.
Developed by the ACLCA Automation Tools Working Group, this white paper provides a practical framework for understanding and evaluating automation in LCA. It introduces a taxonomy for LCA automation tools, examines approaches to tool verification, and provides guidance for transparently disclosing the use of automation and AI in LCA studies and public claims.
The report addresses topics including types of LCA automation tools; static, dynamic, and AI-driven decisions; six categories of verification; verification considerations for continuously updated SaaS platforms; AI-assisted LCA development and review; recommended disclosure practices; and the evolving role of human oversight.
Designed for LCA practitioners, commissioners, software developers, verifiers, program operators, and organizations evaluating or implementing LCA automation, the white paper offers guidance and best practices for scaling LCA while maintaining transparency, credibility, and scientific integrity.
Published by the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA), March 2026.
