Using life cycle assessment to support credible, low-carbon technology choices at Johnson Matthey

Drawing from several third-party reviewed studies, the presentation demonstrated how LCA moves beyond reporting to actively guide material efficiency, technology selection and investment decisions. It covered catalysts, process technologies for chemical and fuel manufacture, and early-stage catalyst development, ensuring environmental performance is considered consistently and at the point where design choices have the greatest impact.

“Several of these areas have a high priority for life cycle assessment metrics to prove they can make a meaningful reduction to environmental impacts,” said Robert White at Johnson Matthey.

Why upstream LCA’s matter for the construction industry

Low-carbon construction increasingly depends on decarbonisation beyond the building site. Hydrogen, methanol, fuels, chemicals, and industrial process technologies all sit upstream of construction products and systems. If environmental claims at this stage are weak or inconsistent, downstream Scope 3 reporting becomes fragile. Johnson Matthey’s catalyst products and technologies are used to manufacture many of the upstream chemicals used as raw materials for construction materials.

Catalyst case study: Performance maintained with 30% lower product carbon footprint

One example focused on Johnson Matthey’s steam reforming catalysts. A third party reviewed ISO 14040/44 LCA of the KATALCO™ 25, 55, and 57 series catalyst products were completed. Steam reforming catalysts are used to produce hydrogen from natural gas which is one of the main raw materials used in the manufacture of chemicals and the upstream supply chain for construction products such as adhesives. Catalysts are necessary to allow the steam reforming reactions to occur more favourably, guaranteeing a better yield and efficiency.

These catalysts are typically made with active nickel metal supported on alumina. By concentrating active metal closer to the catalyst surface, equivalent performance can be delivered with less nickel being used. Consequently, Johnson Matthey’s KATALCO 57-6 catalyst series achieve up to around 30% lower carbon footprint than the previous 57-4 generation from cradle-to-gate.

Methanol technology case study: Comparing methanol production pathways

Johnson Matthey shared comparative LCA global warming potential 100 results across fossil, bio-based and e-fuel pathways from their own third party reviewed ISO 14040/44 LCA.

• Biomethanol has the lowest GWP100, with most impact associated with biomass feedstock production via gasification

• Electrified natural gas routes outperform conventional natural-gas pathways (JM SWITCH^TM technology)

• Negative cradle-to-gate GWP values occur due to the temporary sequestration of CO₂ using biomass emphasising the importance of transparent assumptions.

• CO₂ to methanol technologies (JM eMERALD^TM technology) can also have significantly lower carbon footprints than natural gas but is highly sensitive to assumptions on the electricity mix

These outcomes depend on clearly stated assumptions, including feedstock sourcing, electricity mixes, and system boundaries. Without this transparency, headline numbers can be misleading.

Lessons from Johnson Matthey's case studies

Governance and engagement remain critical

Data quality depends on early engagement from technical, plant, commercial and data governance teams. Alignment across stakeholders and datasets is often the determining factor and avoids time spent during data validation, promoting sustainability upskilling.

Importance of sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analysis helps avoid false certainty by showing how results shift with assumptions.

System boundaries and battery limits

Matching the battery limits to system boundaries is integral to ensure relevant processes are included

The presentation closed by emphasising the importance of aligning system boundaries with the decision at stake. LCAs limited to “inside battery limits” can exclude important hotspots such as by-products or raw material production.

System boundaries that omit decisive impacts are not conservative — they are misleading. Decision-ready LCAs and EPDs are explicit about what is included, what is excluded, and why.

Implications for AEC and construction manufacturing

ISO-aligned LCAs and verified EPDs turn carbon data into actionable evidence for procurement, specification, and regulatory compliance.

FAQ

What is an ISO-reviewed LCA and why does it matter?

An ISO-reviewed LCA follows recognised standards and third-party review. Johnson Matthey uses this approach. One Click LCA and SimaPro enable consistent, auditable LCA workflows.

What does “up to ~30% lower carbon footprint” mean here?

Johnson Matthey reports KATALCO 57-6 achieves up to ~30% lower footprint vs 57-4. In One Click LCA terms, this is a quantified, scope-defined reduction usable in Scope 3 decisions.

Why can LCAs show negative GWP values?

Negative cradle-to-gate GWP can result from temporary CO₂ sequestration in biomass pathways. One Click LCA users should check CO₂ uptake treatment and boundaries before comparison.

Why is sensitivity analysis essential in LCA?

Sensitivity analysis reveals how assumptions affect results. Johnson Matthey applies this rigorously. One Click LCA uses it to prevent over-confident claims and support robust decisions.

Which regulations increase scrutiny on LCAs?

UK SECR, EU CSRD, and ISSB IFRS S2 increase value-chain emissions scrutiny. Johnson Matthey’s reviewed LCAs support credible data. One Click LCA and SimaPro helps operationalise reporting.

Why do system boundaries matter so much?

Narrow boundaries can hide hotspots. One Click LCA and SimaPro practice aligns boundaries to decisions so results remain comparable and reliable.