Some indicators required for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) under EN15804+A2 are not by default included in standard LCI databases such as Ecoinvent. Because of this, Ecochain Mobius and Helix cannot calculate them automatically for you. Some of these indicators are known as LCA parameters and must be entered manually when relevant. They mainly apply to the construction sector.
In this article, you will learn what these parameters represent, why they may appear as zero, and how to complete them correctly for EPD reporting.
This article covers the following questions:
What are the additional LCA parameters?
Why do some parameters show zero?
Which additional parameters are used in EN15804+A2 and EPDs?
How do renewable and non-renewable energy splits work?
When do you need to enter values manually?
Feel like you're missing information? This article connects to the following articles; check them out if you want to learn more:
1. What are additional LCA parameters?
The main set of environmental impact categories describe your product's impact on a specific area of the environment. By contrast, the additional LCA parameters are environmental indicators that describe your product's resource use, energy use, as well as material recovery. Some of these aspects are not covered by standard LCI databases by default. Because database data isn't available, Ecochain software cannot calculate them automatically for you.
These additional parameters:
Appear in your results.
May default to zero when no data is provided.
Must be entered manually when required for EPD reporting.
2. Why do some parameters show zero?
A zero value for some additional parameters is expected behavior, not an error. Ecochain Mobius and Helix only calculate results supported by database data. When a parameter is not available in the database the software cannot calculate it, so the result defaults to zero. You can manually enter the value if required for EPD compliance to ensure transparency and prevent unsupported assumptions.
3. Additional parameters used in EN15804+A2 and EPDs
Parameter | Unit | Description | Default Value | How to Calculate It | Typical Module Declared |
Primary renewable energy (materials) — PERM | MJ | Renewable primary energy used as raw materials | 0 | mass (kg) of each material of the product and packaging | Many options depending on production scenario, consult EPD International Annex 3 |
Primary renewable energy (energy) — PERE | MJ | Renewable primary energy excluding use as raw materials | 0 | all other renewable energy input | Same as above |
Primary renewable energy (total) — PERT | MJ | Total renewable primary energy use (PERM + PERE) | Automatic total based on dataset information | PERM+PERT | Any module where PERM and/or PERE are declared |
Primary non-renewable energy (materials) — PENRM | MJ | Non-renewable primary energy used as raw materials | 0 | mass (kg) of each material of the product and packaging | Many options depending on production scenario, consult EPD International Annex 3 |
Primary non-renewable energy (energy) — PENRE | MJ | Non-renewable primary energy excluding use as raw materials | 0 | All other non renewable energy input | Same as above |
Primary non-renewable energy (total) — PENRT | MJ | Total non-renewable primary energy use (PENRM + PENRE) | Automatic total from dataset information | PENRM+PENRE | Any module where PERM and/or PERE are declared |
Use of secondary material — SM | kg | Material recovered from previous use or waste replacing primary material | 0 | Directly inputted based on factory consumption data | In the module where the secondary material is used. A1-3, B1-4, or D. |
Use of renewable secondary fuels — RSF | MJ | Renewable fuels recovered from waste or previous use replacing primary fuels | 0 | Directly inputted based on factory consumption data | A1-A3 depending on when its used |
Use of non-renewable secondary fuels — NRSF | MJ | Non-renewable fuels recovered from waste or previous use replacing primary fuels | 0 | Directly inputted based on factory consumption data | A1-A3 depending on when its used |
Components for reuse — CRU | kg | Product components reused directly without reprocessing | 0 | % Reuse* amount material (kg), calculated individually for each material and then summed | Reused components to be declared in C1.
If the component needs processing before reuse, then it will be declared in C3. |
Materials for recycling — MFR | kg | Materials sent to recycling for reprocessing into new materials | 0 | % Recycled * amount material (kg), calculated individually for each material and then summed | If the material reaches the system boundary when collected at the construction site, it is declared in C1. Output of secondary material to be declared in C3. |
Materials for energy recovery — MER | kg | Materials used for energy recovery (e.g. incineration with energy generation) | 0 | % Incineration * amount material (kg), calculated individually for each material and then summed. Not including incineration without energy recovery. | C3 |
Exported Energy (total) — EE | MJ | total energy exported outside the system boundary | 0 | EEE + ETE | If incineration energy recovery efficiency >= 60%, report under C3.
If incineration energy recovery efficiency <60%, report under C4. Report energy recovered from landfill gas under C4. |
Exported electrical energy — EEE | MJ | Electricity exported outside the system boundary | 0 | % Incinerated * Amount Material * Lower Heating Value * Electric Energy Recovery Efficiency, calculated individually for each material and then summed
| same as EE |
Exported thermal energy — ETE | MJ | Thermal energy exported outside the system boundary | 0 | % Incinerated * Amount Material * Lower Heating Value * Theraml Energy Recovery Efficiency, calculated individually for each material and then summed
| same as EE
|
4. How do renewable and non-renewable energy splits work?
Energy use is divided into:
Energy used as fuel or energy carrier (PERE / PENRE).
Energy used as raw material or feedstock (PERM / PENRM).
The totals are calculated as:
PERT = PERM + PERE
PENRT = PENRM + PENRE
As such, PERM, PERE, PENRM & PENRE are considered as subparameters of PERT and PENRT respectively. Ecochain Mobius and Helix can calculate the total energy values based on LCI database data, but cannot determine how energy is split between material and energy use because this depends on your specific production process.
As a result:
PERM, PERE, PENRE and PENRM may appear as zero.
You must assign the total to the subparameters manually if required for EPD reporting.
Pro tip - If the split is unknown: use a conservative assumption by assigning all energy to energy use (PERE or PENRE) and none to material use (PERM or PENRM). This is option A under Annex 3 of the attachment below.
5. When do you need to enter values manually?
Manual input is typically required when:
Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
Reporting under EN15804+A2.
Requested by a verifier or certification body.
If you are not working in construction or EPD reporting, these parameters are usually not required.
Key takeaways
Some additional LCA parameters are not included in standard databases, so they are not calculated automatically.
Zero values are expected by default and do not indicate an issue.
For EN15804+A2 and EPD reporting, some parameters must be entered manually, especially energy splits.
Next steps
You now understand what additional LCA parameters are and how they behave in Ecochain Mobius and Helix.
To continue learning:
Read LCI databases explained to understand database coverage.
Contact Ecochain Support if you need help validating parameters for EPD verification.
consult EPD International Annex 3 for more information, linked below