Ecochain

Market position

Ecochain positions itself as an LCA automation vendor for non-expert business users, contrasting its approach with generic AI tools and locked datasets, legacy expert-oriented LCA software, and consultant-led one-off assessments. It reports 450+ manufacturers as customers across 25+ countries and more than 2 million LCAs conducted, and an investor has described it as having the potential to become a world-leading LCA and environmental footprinting platform.

The company emphasizes product-specific rather than generic footprint results, reusable LCA data foundations that scale from a handful of products to thousands, automated report generation and compliance checks aimed at non-experts, bundled expert support, and low per-EPD cost through a verify-once, pay-once model. Internal benchmarks cited by the company claim 97%+ accuracy, up to 99% faster throughput than consultants, and 500 product LCAs in three months versus one by a consultant.

Technology

Cloud LCA automation platform that models production processes as digital twins of products and facilities, ingests BOM and supplier data through CSV, XLSX or API, and automates calculation, compliance checking and report generation. It is stated to be compliant with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067 and EN 15804+A2, and includes LCIA methods (EN 15804+A2, EF 3.1, ReCiPe), dataset access (ecoinvent, PEF, World Steel), hotspot analysis, scenario and comparison modeling, and version-controlled workspaces.

Go-to-market

Direct sales via demos, free trials and published pricing, supported by a partner program of consultancies and implementation partners including Deloitte, South Pole, Mediator AS, Hedgehog, EcoReview, Nexio Projects and CNF Engineering. The company has also participated in the Unilever Supplier Climate Program.

Industrial and process manufacturers and their sustainability, product/design, and sales and marketing teams. Named sectors and customers span construction and infrastructure, asphalt, packaging, apparel and footwear, food and beverage, consumer electronics and lighting, including Dura Vermeer Infra, Lightronics, EMMA Safety Footwear, Allshoes, Solo midocean, Studio Anneloes, Willicroft, Buffy, F Brazil Reinforcements and Philips.

Geography

Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with customers in more than 25 countries; the expert team works in Dutch, English and German, and partners are located in the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland and internationally.

History

Founded in 2011 in the Netherlands, Ecochain built LCA software for manufacturers and, by the time of its 2023 funding round, operated internationally across packaging, construction, apparel, food and beverage and consumer electronics. It launched Mobius, an entry-level LCA tool, ahead of the June 2023 raise, and offered Ecochain Helix for portfolio-level footprinting; Helix has since been folded into a unified Ecochain LCA automation software product line. In June 2023 the company raised €3 million led by impact fund Phase2.earth with existing investor Volta Ventures and a loan from ABN AMRO.

Risks & controversies

The company's headline performance claims — including 97%+ accuracy, up to 99% faster than consultants and 500 LCAs in three months — are attributed to its own internal benchmark rather than independent verification. Its market depends on the pace and shape of EU sustainability regulation such as CSRD, CPR, CBAM and EPBD.