LCAx - Building Blocks for LCA

With this post I’m kicking off a series of LCAx posts where the goal is to make tools and calculations for LCA more accessible, more transparent and more open.

Let's start at the beginning.

Most LCA tools still behave like islands: their data formats do not talk to each other, results are hard to reuse, and every new workflow needs yet another custom integration or Excel bridge. If you want to connect LCA to 3D models in a traceable way, you almost always end up reinventing the wheel.

LCAx exists to fix that at the foundation level. The mission is to provide an open source library that others can use to build their own LCA tools and workflows, instead of starting from scratch each time.

What began as “just” a machine and human readable format for exchanging LCA data has grown into four core building blocks: a clear data structure, robust conversion functionality, validation tools, and calculation capabilities. Together, these pillars make it possible to move results, EPDs and assemblies between tools in a way that is accessible, transparent and open.

In these posts, we will unpack how these components fit together and how you can use LCAx in your own toolchain, whether you are wiring up a 3D based workflow, building an LCA integration, or reviewing results from multiple sources.