Whole Life Cycle Carbon Assessments (WLCA)

Strategic Carbon Insight from Concept to End-of-Life

View All Buildings & Infrastructure Carbon Footprint & Reduction Services

Driving Sustainable Performance Across the Lifecycle

Arthian delivers Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) for buildings and infrastructure, enabling strategic decisions that reduce carbon from day one to end-of-life. Our assessments align with ISO 14040/44, RICS, PAS 2080, and local planning guidance to support compliance and Net Zero goals.

Who We Work With

We support developers, architects, local authorities, infrastructure owners, and contractors, delivering carbon-conscious outcomes across the built environment. Whether you’re targeting Net Zero, planning approval, or ESG reporting, we provide the clarity and technical depth to succeed.

Our WLCA Consultancy Services

Arthian delivers expert Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) to help reduce embodied and operational carbon across the full lifecycle of built assets. From benchmarking and carbon budgeting to strategic design and compliance reporting, our WLCA services support Net Zero goals and align with ISO, RICS, PAS 2080, and planning requirements.

Baseline & benchmarking studies

Carbon budgeting & target setting

Strategic design advice

Lifecycle scenario modelling

Carbon cost analysis

Compliance & reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Baseline & benchmarking studies

Establishing a clear carbon baseline is the foundation for understanding and improving whole life cycle performance. We help organisations quantify their current carbon impacts across all life cycle stages, from raw material extraction to end-of-life, and benchmark results against industry standards, peers, or best practice guidance. This enables you to identify hotspots, set meaningful targets, and prioritise opportunities for carbon reduction across design, procurement, construction, and operation.

Our services include:

Development of whole life carbon baselines for projects, assets, or portfolios
Benchmarking against sector-specific standards (e.g. LETI, RICS, EN 15978)
Identification of high-impact materials, processes, and life cycle stages
Comparative analysis to support design optimisation and procurement decisions
Actionable insights to inform carbon reduction strategies and reporting

Carbon budgeting & target setting

Setting a carbon budget helps translate ambition into action. We support clients in defining realistic yet ambitious carbon budgets that align with Net Zero trajectories, ESG goals, or science-based targets. By linking whole life carbon assessments to strategic objectives, we help you embed carbon limits into project planning, procurement, and design decisions, driving measurable reductions and long-term value.

Our services include:

Development of project- or portfolio-level carbon budgets
Alignment with Net Zero pathways, SBTi guidance, and ESG frameworks
Integration of carbon targets into design briefs, specifications, and KPIs
Scenario modelling to test design and material choices against carbon limits
Ongoing tracking and reporting to monitor progress and inform decision-making

Strategic design advice

Early design decisions have the greatest influence on whole life carbon outcomes. We work closely with design teams from concept stage to embed low-carbon strategies that reduce embodied and operational emissions. By optimising material choices, construction methods, and building systems, we help you deliver high-performance, low-impact assets that align with Net Zero goals and industry benchmarks.

Our support includes:

Integration of carbon considerations into concept and early-stage design
Advice on low-carbon materials, structural systems, and construction techniques
Optimisation of operational energy and systems performance
Collaboration with architects, engineers, and contractors to embed carbon targets
Design reviews and feedback loops to support iterative improvement

Lifecycle scenario modelling

To make informed, future-ready decisions, it’s essential to understand how different design and delivery choices impact carbon performance over time. We simulate multiple carbon-reduction strategies across the asset lifecycle, from material selection and construction methods to operational systems and end-of-life options. This enables you to optimise for carbon, cost, and circularity, and to select pathways that deliver the best long-term outcomes.

Our services include:

Scenario modelling of design, material, and system alternatives
Comparative analysis of lifecycle carbon, cost, and resource efficiency
Integration of circular economy principles into carbon decision-making
Support with trade-off analysis and value engineering
Visual outputs to support stakeholder engagement and design reviews

Carbon cost analysis

Balancing environmental performance with financial viability is key to delivering sustainable projects. We assess the trade-offs between carbon and cost across the asset lifecycle, helping you make informed decisions that optimise both CapEx and OpEx. By integrating carbon metrics into cost planning, we support value engineering that aligns with Net Zero goals without compromising on budget or functionality.

Our services include:

Comparative analysis of carbon and cost across design and material options
Integration of carbon pricing and shadow costs into financial modelling
Evaluation of lifecycle cost (LCC) alongside whole life carbon (WLC)
Support with low-carbon procurement strategies and value engineering
Insights to inform investment decisions, funding bids, and ESG reporting

Compliance & reporting

Robust reporting is essential for demonstrating compliance and securing planning approvals, certifications, and investor confidence. We prepare whole life carbon assessments that meet the requirements of planning authorities, sustainability frameworks, and industry standards. Our reporting aligns with BREEAM, PAS 2080, and local guidance, ensuring your project is audit-ready, transparent, and positioned to meet both regulatory and voluntary expectations.

Our services include:

Preparation of WLCA reports for planning submissions and design reviews
Alignment with BREEAM, PAS 2080, EN 15978, and local authority guidance
Support with certification pathways and sustainability statements
Clear, auditable documentation for internal and external stakeholders
Ongoing updates to reflect design changes and evolving requirements

Stakeholder engagement

Clear communication is essential for building understanding and buy-in across diverse stakeholder groups. We translate complex carbon data into accessible visuals and tailored materials that resonate with design teams, investors, regulators, and non-technical audiences. Whether you’re presenting to a planning committee, reporting to a board, or engaging supply chain partners, we help you tell a compelling carbon story that supports informed decision-making and drives action.

Our support includes:

Custom dashboards, infographics, and visual summaries of WLCA results
Tailored materials for internal teams, clients, funders, and regulators
Support with presentations, workshops, and stakeholder consultations
Guidance on messaging and framing to align with ESG and Net Zero goals
Integration of carbon insights into broader sustainability communications

Baseline & benchmarking studies

Development of whole life carbon baselines for projects, assets, or portfolios
Benchmarking against sector-specific standards (e.g. LETI, RICS, EN 15978)
Identification of high-impact materials, processes, and life cycle stages
Comparative analysis to support design optimisation and procurement decisions
Actionable insights to inform carbon reduction strategies and reporting

Carbon budgeting & target setting

Development of project- or portfolio-level carbon budgets
Alignment with Net Zero pathways, SBTi guidance, and ESG frameworks
Integration of carbon targets into design briefs, specifications, and KPIs
Scenario modelling to test design and material choices against carbon limits
Ongoing tracking and reporting to monitor progress and inform decision-making

Strategic design advice

Integration of carbon considerations into concept and early-stage design
Advice on low-carbon materials, structural systems, and construction techniques
Optimisation of operational energy and systems performance
Collaboration with architects, engineers, and contractors to embed carbon targets
Design reviews and feedback loops to support iterative improvement

Lifecycle scenario modelling

Scenario modelling of design, material, and system alternatives
Comparative analysis of lifecycle carbon, cost, and resource efficiency
Integration of circular economy principles into carbon decision-making
Support with trade-off analysis and value engineering
Visual outputs to support stakeholder engagement and design reviews

Carbon cost analysis

Comparative analysis of carbon and cost across design and material options
Integration of carbon pricing and shadow costs into financial modelling
Evaluation of lifecycle cost (LCC) alongside whole life carbon (WLC)
Support with low-carbon procurement strategies and value engineering
Insights to inform investment decisions, funding bids, and ESG reporting

Compliance & reporting

Preparation of WLCA reports for planning submissions and design reviews
Alignment with BREEAM, PAS 2080, EN 15978, and local authority guidance
Support with certification pathways and sustainability statements
Clear, auditable documentation for internal and external stakeholders
Ongoing updates to reflect design changes and evolving requirements

Stakeholder engagement

Custom dashboards, infographics, and visual summaries of WLCA results
Tailored materials for internal teams, clients, funders, and regulators
Support with presentations, workshops, and stakeholder consultations
Guidance on messaging and framing to align with ESG and Net Zero goals
Integration of carbon insights into broader sustainability communications

Why Choose Arthian's Carbon Consultants?

Engineering services delivered by specialists:

Integration

Fully integrated with geotechnical, hydrological, and ecological disciplines.

Our Experience

National experience with regional insight and regulatory familiarity.

Our Understanding

Deep understanding of planning, infrastructure, and environmental interfaces.

Results Driven

Commitment to technical rigour, clear communication, and long-term outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between embodied and operational carbon?

Embodied carbon comes from material extraction, manufacturing, and construction. Operational carbon covers emissions from energy and water use during the building’s life.

At what stage of a project should I commission a WLCA?

Ideally during concept design—early WLCA enables greater carbon reduction and cost efficiency.

Is WLCA required for planning applications?

Yes, in many regions—such as London under GLA policy—WLCA is required at pre-application and planning stages.

Can WLCA support my Net Zero strategy?

Absolutely. WLCA helps set carbon budgets, track progress, and demonstrate alignment with Net Zero goals.

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you – whether you have a question, a project in mind, want to explore job opportunities, or just want to say hello.

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Whole Life Cycle Carbon Assessments (WLCA)

Driving Sustainable Performance Across the Lifecycle

Who We Work With

Our WLCA Consultancy Services

Baseline & benchmarking studies

Carbon budgeting & target setting

Strategic design advice

Lifecycle scenario modelling

Carbon cost analysis

Compliance & reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Baseline & benchmarking studies

Carbon budgeting & target setting

Strategic design advice

Lifecycle scenario modelling

Carbon cost analysis

Compliance & reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Why Choose Arthian's Carbon Consultants?

Integration

Our Experience

Our Understanding

Results Driven

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between embodied and operational carbon?

At what stage of a project should I commission a WLCA?

Is WLCA required for planning applications?

Can WLCA support my Net Zero strategy?

Get in Touch