LCA & Environmental Consultancy for UK Manufacturers
The short version
Below280 traces its origins to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) work developed within the Distributed Energy department of Narec (National Renewable Energy Centre Limited). From that department, a new organisation formally spun out, eventually becoming Decerna, with ORE Catapult holding a minority shareholding for a decade. In 2026, Below280 launched to carry the LCA work forward.
Where did we come from?
In 2003, the UK founded the National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland. Then in 2008, Narec established the Distributed Energy department, focusing on LCA and onshore renewable and low-carbon energy consultancy and deployment.
As Narec transitioned into ORE Catapult, the Distributed Energy department spun out as a separate company known as Narec Distributed Energy, which was eventually renamed Decerna.
Decerna evolved into Decerna Group, providing a wide range of services to the sustainability sector. Over time, the group expanded to include services well beyond LCA and Net Zero consultancy, including (through the new subsidiary Zero Carbon Investments) becoming a BESS and solar developer.
By 2026, the range of services from Decerna Group had become so diverse that it made sense to spin off the LCA services into a separate company, namely Below280.
What do we do?
We provide a range of services related to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Across our many forms, we have been undertaking LCA for almost twenty years. We provide a wide range of LCA-related services, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and carbon capture due diligence. We not only provide consultancy, but also training, education and workshops.
What makes us unique?
Unlike tick-box, quick LCAs, our team of scientists and engineers takes the time to truly understand every product or service we investigate. The result is in-depth scientific LCA studies, matched by the same rigour in our training. Beyond consultancy, we publish scientific articles and book chapters, bridging the gap between commercial practice and academia. If you want an in-depth LCA provided by experts who understand your product, we are the right people.
What do we use?
We are strong believers in open source, which allows for transparency on a level that other options do not provide, which is especially important for due diligence. We use openLCA, and are the UK partner for GreenDelta, the developers of openLCA. In addition, we are gradually developing our own open software solutions to work with openLCA.
Who do we work with?
Our clients are varied, from start ups who wish to ensure they develop something as sustainable as possible, through to major investors and developers of carbon capture systems. We work on commercial projects and in depth funded research programs covering a wide range of consultancy and educational elements of understanding environmental impacts.
How do you work with us?
Whatever your interest, be it commercial, research, consultancy, training, or just want to say hello, please contact us on info@below280.com