Thorelund and Centrum Pile publish EPDs for concrete piles for the first time with One Click LCA

"Cement's environmental impact is a growing concern, and Thorelund wants to work toward more environmental responsibility. With municipalities and other clients now requiring environmental product declarations (EPDs) to even submit project bids, companies will be required to calculate and be transparent about their climate impact."

– Andreas Thorelund, CEO of Thorelund

Concrete expertise with a focus on sustainability

Founded in 2014, Thorelund is a consulting firm specializing in concrete production and optimization. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Assisting customers in launching concrete manufacturing processes
• Providing tailored training to meet business needs
• Optimizing production efficiency
• Helping with achieving certification to meet industry standards
• Offering solutions for concrete molds and equipment

As sustainability gains prominence in the concrete industry, Thorelund is committed to demonstrating how EPDs and environmental transparency can be integrated into business practices with the support of One Click LCA.

The challenge: Measuring the environmental impact of a concrete pile

Thorelund has worked closely with Centrum Pile, Sweden’s largest manufacturer of concrete piles, for many years. About 18 months ago, Centrum Pile commissioned Thorelund to develop EPDs and assess the environmental impact of its concrete piles.

Creating an EPD for a concrete pile is a complex undertaking. In this case, Centrum Pile wanted a single EPD covering 42 different pile variants. Adding to the challenge was that the production of concrete took place in two locations. Since reducing environmental impact during production directly improves sustainability outcomes, Thorelund sought a reliable and efficient solution — turning to One Click LCA for guidance.

"We had the confidence to take on this assignment thanks to One Click LCA and its team, who assured us that we could successfully create EPDs for concrete piles. The software made it easy to input changes, and we received quick and good support throughout the process."

– Svante Karlsson, Consultant at Thorelund

The results: Creating three EPDs with One Click LCA

With One Click LCA’s expertise, Thorelund successfully published the first of three EPDs. These results have enabled data-driven discussions on improving mix designs, not only for the published EPD but also for the remaining two, where preliminary results already provide valuable insights. 

Centrum Pile and Thorelund can now obtain precise data for each pile variant. The annexes of these reports now include exact results, ensuring full transparency and more accurate environmental impact assessments. By integrating EPDs into their core operations, Thorelund and Centrum Pile are not only complying with new industry requirements but also driving meaningful change in sustainable concrete manufacturing.

"We are very satisfied with the outcome and successfully achieved the EPD setup we were aiming for. Throughout the process, we had extensive discussions and iterations to refine and perfect the format. The collaboration with Thorelund Consulting was excellent — as always. Having worked together on previous projects, we know we can rely on their expertise and commitment to finding the best solutions."

– Björn Cullbrand, Technical Manager at Centrum Pile

Continuous improvement has now become an integral part of both Centrum Pile’s and Thorelund’s ways of working. Beyond developing the EPDs, the process has allowed them to refine and optimize concrete mix designs — an added benefit of conducting product LCAs and EPDs, which also helps extract valuable product insights and further validates the strength of their sustainability efforts.

Looking ahead: Decarbonizing concrete piles and promoting industry expertise

"This project has been Thorelund Consulting’s biggest challenge, but we are incredibly satisfied with the results. We would not have been able to achieve this without One Click LCA."

– Andreas Thorelund, CEO of Thorelund

Securing this assignment at such a pivotal time has allowed Thorelund to showcase its EPD expertise, which is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage. By setting a high standard, the consulting firm hopes to inspire others in the industry to follow suit. Its market analysis indicates that many competitors have yet to update their environmental data, providing Thorelund with an opportunity to lead by example.

With the support of One Click LCA, Thorelund has expanded its expertise in EPD creation and gained a deeper understanding of its climate impact through measurable insights.