# Does my LCA or carbon footprint study need a critical review, and who can do it?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/does-an-lca-need-a-critical-review

A critical review is mandatory under ISO 14044 only when the study supports a comparative assertion disclosed to the public, such as "our product has a lower footprint than theirs". That review must be done by a panel of interested parties. For internal studies or non-comparative claims it is optional, but buyers often expect one.

## When a review is required

- Required: an LCA used for a comparative assertion that is shared publicly. ISO 14044 calls for a panel review.
- Optional: an internal study, a footprint sent to one buyer, or a public footprint that makes no comparison.
- Contract or programme rules: a buyer, an EPD programme or a label may require a review or verification even when ISO does not.

## Who can carry it out

- Internal or external expert review: one reviewer independent of the study, for non-comparative studies. They must know ISO 14040 and 14044 and the technology studied.
- Panel review: a chair, who is an external independent expert, plus at least two other reviewers, who may include interested parties. This is required for public comparative assertions.
- ISO/TS 14071 sets out the review process and the competence reviewers need.

## Critical review is not the same as verification

A critical review checks that the method follows the ISO standard and that the interpretation is supported. Verification of a carbon footprint of a product, for example against ISO 14067 by a verification body under ISO 14064-3 rules, checks the data and the claimed figure. EPDs need verification under ISO 14025. A buyer asking for a verified footprint usually means verification.

## How to make the review quicker

1. Appoint the reviewer at the start, so goal and scope are agreed before data collection.
2. Keep a data trail for every input, with source documents for energy and materials.
3. Document allocation choices, cut-offs and assumptions in one place.
4. Answer reviewer comments in writing and keep the log as part of the report.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible is not a critical reviewer or a verification body. It can give your reviewer a traceable record of factory energy and fuel inputs, each linked to its source invoice or bill.

- [LCA vs product carbon footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/lca-vs-product-carbon-footprint)
- [Is ISO 14067 certification mandatory?](https://senseible.earth/answers/is-iso-14067-certification-mandatory)
- [Is Senseible a certifier?](https://senseible.earth/answers/is-senseible-a-certifier)

Sources: [ISO 14044:2006, LCA requirements and guidelines (clause 6, critical review)](https://www.iso.org), [ISO/TS 14071:2014, critical review processes and reviewer competencies](https://www.iso.org)

Last reviewed 2026-10-15.