One Click LCA wraps up its EU-funded zero-carbon future platform project

One Click LCA has received €3.5 million in funding from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility, administered by Business Finland, to deliver the Zero carbon future platform. The project has a total approved budget of €7.01 million.

The zero-carbon future platform is designed to extend the scope of life-cycle assessment (LCA) beyond carbon accounting, addressing three critical themes for the construction and manufacturing sectors: biodiversity, circularity, and artificial intelligence.

Expanding life-cycle assessment beyond carbon

Life-cycle assessment is already a requirement in many European markets, used to quantify environmental impacts across buildings, infrastructure, and products. Yet existing frameworks often focus narrowly on greenhouse gas emissions. This project will develop methodologies and tools that incorporate biodiversity metrics and circular economy principles. By quantifying impacts on ecosystems and material cycles alongside embodied carbon, the platform aims to provide a more complete picture of sustainability performance across the built environment.

Applying artificial intelligence in manufacturing

The research will also evaluate how artificial intelligence can support sustainability in manufacturing. Potential applications include automating data collection for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), verifying compliance data, and identifying decarbonization pathways across complex supply chains. Manufacturing stakeholders are under increasing regulatory and commercial pressure to provide accurate life-cycle data — AI could reduce manual input, improve data quality, and accelerate compliance.

Building the foundations of a global industry platform

The funding supports the development of a scalable, international industry ecosystem. This involves integrating construction, infrastructure, and product manufacturers into a shared platform with standardized sustainability data. By 2028, the project is expected to generate or safeguard €76 million in revenue and contribute to 338 full-time equivalent jobs, according to the approved funding plan.

Scientific outputs and governance

As part of its research mandate, the project will produce at least two peer-reviewed scientific publications. One Click LCA will also strengthen its governance structure to support international growth. These measures are designed to ensure both scientific credibility and organizational readiness for scaling.

About the funding

The Zero carbon future platform is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility through Finland’s sustainable growth program. Business Finland approved the project under decision 8229/31/2022 on March 29, 2023. Funding covers up to 50 percent of eligible costs.

The project complies with the EU’s Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle and all relevant environmental and digital criteria.