Executive Summary
Global Rank
#318,018
Monthly Visits
91,900
Avg Duration
2m 18s
Pages/Visit
3.74
Strategic Overview
First-mover advantage and global recognition in open-source LCA software., Strong community support and partner network., Backed by a sustainability consulting leader with proven expertise..
Reliance on consulting services and sponsorships for funding., Fragmented competitor landscape with proprietary and open-source tools., Potential risks from open-source model if not actively maintained..
Our Verdict
Upside & Downside Analysis
The Bull Case
3 PointsGlobal Credibility and Adoption
- Widely used in academia, industry, and government for sustainability assessments.
- Strong user base and partner certifications demonstrate sustained interest and market penetration.
- Continuous software improvements and event sponsorships (e.g., openLCA.conf 2026) highlight active development.
Reputable, Transparent Governance
- Publicly identified leadership (GreenDelta GmbH) and clear open-source licensing.
- Transparent operations, visible staff, and physical Berlin location support legitimacy.
- No controversy or critical complaints found in public audits.
Market-Relevant Product Roadmap
- Free core platform lowers barriers to entry and drives uptake.
- Professional paid add-ons (support/training/databases) create monetization paths.
- Integration with respected LCA databases and compliance with standards (ISO 14040/44).
The Bear Case
3 PointsRevenue Model Uncertainty
- No visible data on direct revenue, investment, or external funding reported for the project.
- Open-source license means little revenue from software itself; consulting dependency may limit scalability.
Competitive Pressures
- Commercial LCA tools with larger sales teams and proprietary datasets may outspend openLCA.
- User retention depends on ongoing software relevance, contributor engagement, and data compatibility.
Long-Term Maintenance Risk
- If GreenDelta’s consulting business changes focus, active openLCA updates or support could slow.
- Open-source projects need ongoing community and funding to remain robust.
Domain Integrity
The openLCA.org domain is well-established (active since 2006), locked against unauthorized changes, and protected via up-to-date SSL. Registrar and DNS are managed by a reputable European hosting provider (OVH). Google Safe Browsing reports no threats.
| Registrar | OVH sas |
|---|---|
| Domain Age | Jun 21, 2006 (19 years old) |
| Security Status |
Registry Locked
SSL: E8
|
Reputation
0 Reviews
Sentiment Analysis
openLCA.org has a clean reputation across major forums, technical and user communities, and third-party review aggregators. No credible complaints, fraud reports, or brand confusion issues detected.
Common Themes
Traffic Distribution
| Top Countries | Traffic Share | Trend |
|---|---|---|
|
France
|
10.20% |
|
|
India
|
10.00% |
|
|
United States
|
9.60% |
|
|
Brazil
|
6.20% |
|
|
Switzerland
|
5.70% |
|
Competition
| Competitor Type | Threat Analysis |
|---|---|
| Commercial LCA software (e.g., SimaPro, GaBi) | Compete on features, support, proprietary database access and market share in industry sectors |
| Open-source LCA tools (e.g., Brightway, free LCA calculators) | Can erode openLCA's appeal if more actively developed or bundled with key datasets |
| Academic/research tools & online calculators | Appeal to niche educational segments and non-profits with different priorities |
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Over a decade of market presence and industry trust.
- Backed by an established, specialist parent company (GreenDelta GmbH).
- Active, global user and partner community.
Weaknesses
- No recurring direct revenue streams from core open-source product.
- Single-company dependency for governance and investment.
- Fragmented communication between site, community, and training platforms.
Opportunities
- Scaling hosted and support services for enterprise clients.
- Expanding database/network partnerships.
- Increasing integration with regulatory/standards compliance initiatives.
Threats
- Emergence of new open-source alternatives or disruptive features from commercial rivals.
- Loss of key staff or founder focus if GreenDelta pivots.
- Missed funding or slowed innovation pace relative to competitors.
Tech Stack
Web Hosting & CDN
Sites are hosted by OVH (France/UK); DNS managed with OVH DNS; CDN via Google Static, jsDelivr ensures stable, scalable content delivery.
Security & SSL
Active HTTPS with ECDSA certificates; SSL by Default; DMARC reject email policies; Google Safe Browsing and MetaMask whitelist approval.
Core Web Stack
WordPress (core site, blog, support), custom JavaScript (jQuery, Backbone, RequireJS), Ubuntu servers, Matomo web analytics, PHP, Apache.
Course & Community Tools
Learning management via Open edX, Moodle; community Q&A with Question2Answer; online payments via PayPal; user engagement tools from Google, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Key Risks
| Identified Risk | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainability of open-source maintenance and active development. | Medium | Relies on GreenDelta’s consulting revenue and active community to sustain development; visible network of certified trainers and partners helps share maintenance burden. |
| Dependency on a single owner (GreenDelta GmbH) for project direction. | High | Experienced leadership is documented; public-facing project history and open code base would ease transitions, but succession or buyout is not documented. |
| Competition from larger or more heavily funded LCA software providers. | Medium | Strong differentiation on open-source, cost, and transparency; still, ongoing roadmap investment is needed. |
| Legal or regulatory exposure related to environmental claims/data. | Low | Does not self-publish controversial datasets, operates transparently, and offers documentation to clarify scope of responsibility. |
Contacts
Appendix & Sources
Key Citations
-
openLCA.org – About page and developer info
Establishes GreenDelta as creator/developer and provides company background.
-
openLCA Q&A – Leadership team
Lists core developers and leaders responsible for openLCA.
-
openLCA.org on LinkedIn
Verifies organization, location, and estimated staff size.
-
SimilarWeb Traffic Analytics
Provides traffic volume, country distribution, and user engagement metrics.
-
openlca.org WHOIS & SSL details
Shows domain age, registrar lock, DNS/SSL.
-
Perplexity Reports – Brand, funding, reviews
Aggregates web search findings around brand, complaints, and funding.
-
BuiltWith Technology Profile: openlca.org
Maps technology stack and operational services.
Data Sources Used
Disclaimer
This report compiles open-source intelligence and public records as of the date shown and is intended for preliminary due diligence. Information may change or require further legal/financial verification.