Recent Developments in Life Cycle Assessment Implementation in the EU: Advancing Sustainability Through Level(s) and the New European Bauhaus

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a critical methodology in the European Union for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings and construction materials, aligning with the objectives of the EU Green Deal. Recent policy advancements, particularly the Level(s) framework and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, have significantly contributed to the broader integration of LCA in design and construction practices. Level(s), developed by the European Commission, provides a structured framework for assessing environmental performance across a building’s lifecycle, emphasizing whole-life carbon assessment, resource efficiency, and circularity. Recent updates to Level(s) have expanded its application, incorporating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and promoting digital integration through Building Information Modeling (BIM). Parallel to this, the NEB initiative fosters a holistic vision that integrates LCA principles into sustainable urban design, emphasizing bio-based materials and circular construction practices. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly in data quality, digital integration, and stakeholder engagement. This study analyzes these frameworks to identify implementation gaps and potential synergies, highlighting the role of LCA in advancing EU sustainability objectives. The findings provide practical insights for aligning LCA practices with policy frameworks, supported by recent projects under the InBlanc initiative (Grant Agreement 101147225).