Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an ISO Type III environmental declaration that provides transparent, third-party verified data on a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle. Based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and compliant with ISO 14025 and EN 15804, an EPD quantifies key factors such as carbon footprint, energy consumption, and emissions.
Unlike self-declared eco-labels, an EPD is scientifically validated and independently verified, ensuring credibility and comparability. It is widely used in industries like construction, manufacturing, and textiles to support green building certifications (LEED, BREEAM, WELL) and meet sustainability regulations.
Our Expertise at ERKE
At ERKE, we have been a leading provider of LCA and EPD consulting services since 2007, helping businesses across various industries measure and reduce their environmental impact. With a highly experienced team and a deep understanding of sustainability standards, we deliver accurate, ISO-compliant, and third-party verified assessments tailored to your needs.
Our expertise spans a wide range of industries, including construction materials, manufacturing, furniture, and textiles, allowing us to provide sector-specific insights and customized solutions. We specialize in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), carbon footprint analysis, and green certification support, ensuring our clients meet regulatory requirements and market expectations.
How Does the EPD Preparation Process Work?
The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) preparation process follows a structured approach based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards to ensure scientific accuracy, transparency, and third-party verification. Here’s how it works:
The process begins by defining the objective of the EPD and determining the system boundaries (e.g., Cradle-to-Gate or Cradle-to-Grave). The appropriate Product Category Rules (PCR) are identified to ensure consistency with industry standards.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted in compliance with ISO 14040/44 standards, analyzing the product’s raw material extraction, production, transportation, use, and disposal. Environmental impacts such as carbon footprint, water usage, energy consumption, and emissions are calculated.
The results from the LCA study are compiled into an EPD report, presenting the environmental impact data in a clear and standardized format. The report includes essential sections such as product description, LCA methodology, impact assessment results, and data interpretation.
To ensure credibility and compliance, the EPD undergoes independent third-party verification by an accredited organization. This step validates the accuracy, transparency, and consistency of the data.
Once verified, the EPD is officially registered and published in recognized EPD databases such as The International EPD System, Global GreenTag, SCS Global, BRE, IBU, UL, or other relevant platforms. This allows manufacturers to showcase their product’s environmental performance to stakeholders, customers, and certification bodies.
What Are EPD Program Operators?
EPD Program Operators are organizations that develop, manage, and verify Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in accordance with ISO 14025 standards. They ensure that EPDs are transparent, standardized, and internationally recognized, providing a reliable framework for environmental impact reporting across different industries.
Roles & Responsibilities of EPD Program Operators
🔹 Developing Product Category Rules (PCRs): Ensuring that EPDs follow consistent methodologies within the same product category.
🔹 Overseeing Third-Party Verification: Facilitating independent validation of LCA data and ensuring compliance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804.
🔹 Registering & Publishing EPDs: Managing public databases where verified EPDs are accessible to stakeholders, regulators, and buyers.
🔹 Maintaining Industry Standards: Ensuring continuous updates and alignment with evolving sustainability regulations and market requirements.
Leading EPD Program Operators Worldwide
✔ The International EPD System (operated by EPD International AB)
✔ Global GreenTag – Australia
✔ IBU (Institut Bauen und Umwelt) – Germany
✔ UL Environment – USA
✔ BRE Global – UK
Advantages of EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a powerful tool for companies looking to enhance sustainability, increase market competitiveness, and comply with global environmental standards. As a science-based, third-party verified document, an EPD provides transparent insights into a product’s environmental impact, supporting sustainable business practices and green building certifications.
- Enhances Environmental Transparency
EPDs offer fact-based, standardized data on a product’s carbon footprint, energy consumption, and overall life cycle impact, ensuring credibility and reliability for stakeholders.
- Supports Green Building Certifications
EPDs are essential for earning points in LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and other green building certifications, making them highly valuable for manufacturers in the construction sector.
- Strengthens Market Competitiveness
As demand for sustainable products grows, having an EPD helps businesses stand out by showcasing environmental responsibility and attracting eco-conscious customers and investors.
- Ensures Compliance with Environmental Regulations
EPDs help companies align with ISO 14025, EN 15804, and other international sustainability standards, supporting regulatory compliance and public procurement requirements.
- Facilitates Carbon Footprint Reduction
By analyzing a product’s life cycle, EPDs help identify areas for improvement, enabling manufacturers to reduce emissions, optimize resource efficiency, and lower environmental impact.
- Improves Corporate Sustainability Strategy
EPDs play a crucial role in corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, strengthening a company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are global standards for creating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). ISO 14025 provides guidelines and a structure for developing EPDs, aiming to maintain uniformity and enable comparison among products worldwide.
EPDs mainly concentrate on environmental factors, offering measurable information regarding a product’s life cycle effects. While a few EPDs might touch upon social and economic indicators to some extent, their main focus remains on environmental performance.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are essential for obtaining green building certifications as they contribute additional points, offer transparency, and provide standardized data on the environmental impact throughout a product’s life cycle. They assist architects and builders in choosing sustainable materials for eco-friendly construction projects.
EPDs ought to be routinely refreshed, preferably every three to five years, to guarantee that the information accurately represents the latest and most precise details concerning a product’s environmental impact across its lifespan.
Every industry and product should be considered for EPD requirements, although the rules and standards can differ. Some sectors may not have fully embraced EPDs yet, so it’s crucial to refer to local and industry-specific regulations.
Manufacturers utilize Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to improve the sustainability of their products. This involves pinpointing and tackling environmental issues, streamlining processes, and openly communicating the product’s life cycle impacts. Through this, they encourage environmentally friendly practices and enable consumers to make informed choices.
EPDs provide a thorough evaluation of a product’s environmental footprint, covering its entire life cycle from resource extraction, manufacturing, and usage to disposal. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of the product’s sustainability performance.
EPDs are essential for evaluating the environmental impact of similar products. They offer standardized information on life cycle effects, helping both consumers and businesses make well-informed, sustainable decisions.
Developing and executing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) presents obstacles like the availability and precision of data, standardization hurdles, differing methodologies, and the necessity for industry-wide cooperation to guarantee significant environmental impact evaluations across various products and sectors.
EPDs contribute to corporate sustainability reporting by furnishing clear information regarding a product’s ecological footprint. This empowers companies to measure and convey their dedication to sustainability, adhering to reporting criteria while facilitating well-informed choices for stakeholders.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are crucial in influencing government regulations and policies by offering consistent and trustworthy information regarding the sustainability of products. Policymakers depend on EPDs to guide their decisions and encourage environmentally conscious practices across various sectors.
Yes, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) usually cover the end-of-life stage, taking into account elements like recycling, disposal methods, and environmental effects. This guarantees a thorough evaluation of a product’s sustainability throughout its life cycle.
Small enterprises with restricted resources can gain from Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) by increasing transparency, building market trustworthiness, and advancing sustainability. Employing EPDs can draw in eco-minded customers and bolster the long-term resilience of the business.
EPDs and carbon footprint assessments share a common purpose in quantifying environmental impacts, but they vary in their scope. EPDs offer a comprehensive perspective by evaluating the entire life cycle of a product, whereas carbon footprint assessments concentrate solely on measuring greenhouse gas emissions.
EPDs serve as useful instruments for monitoring and conveying enhancements in a product’s ecological efficiency across different periods. They offer a clear and standardized structure for highlighting sustainability progress throughout the life cycle of a product.
Consumers have the power to promote the use of EPDs by favoring products that provide clear environmental information, requesting details on sustainability, backing eco-certifications, and urging companies to improve transparency and eco-friendly measures through informed buying choices and active support.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia incorporates Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) into its sustainability efforts through promoting partnerships with industries, enacting regulations to encourage the use of EPDs, and highlighting their importance in meeting environmental performance standards.
In Kuwait, the adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) has significantly impacted sustainable practices and purchasing choices, especially within the construction industry. The focus on using environmentally friendly materials has spurred positive changes and raised awareness.
In Qatar, the construction sector places significant importance on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), demonstrating a dedication to sustainable construction methods and environmental factors in infrastructure endeavors.
In Bahrain, efforts such as workshops, seminars, and partnerships within the industry are actively increasing awareness and comprehension of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) among both manufacturers and consumers. These initiatives aim to encourage sustainable approaches in both product development and consumption.
In the construction industry of Egypt, the adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is prompting a transition towards sustainable materials and practices. EPDs offer transparent information regarding the environmental effects of products, facilitating informed decisions for the use of eco-friendly and energy-efficient construction techniques.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in Oman are vital instruments that help industries conform to environmental objectives. They offer clear information about product life cycles, aiding in the improvement of sustainability efforts and adherence to rigorous environmental criteria across various sectors.
UK consumers and businesses consider Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) essential for making well-informed, sustainable choices. These documents provide valuable data on a product’s environmental footprint, helping individuals and companies comprehend its impact and thereby guiding purchasing decisions and encouraging environmentally responsible practices.
Switzerland, well-known for its dedication to sustainability, encourages the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) through strict regulations and partnerships. The nation actively involves industries and integrates EPD utilization with its broader environmental objectives, thereby ensuring a comprehensive approach to developing sustainable products.
In Georgia, obstacles to adopting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) include a lack of awareness and resources. However, there are opportunities to overcome these challenges by promoting partnerships, increasing awareness, and providing incentives for industries to incorporate EPDs. This can lead to improved sustainability practices across various sectors.
In Russia, there is a growing trend of using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in various sectors to measure and reduce environmental impacts. This encourages openness, directs sustainable actions, and tackles environmental issues in industries spanning manufacturing to construction.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) within the Italian construction sector contribute to advancing sustainability efforts by offering clear information regarding the life cycle impact of materials. Successful examples showcase how they aid in better decision-making, promote resource efficiency, and elevate environmental performance.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are not obligatory for all products on a global scale. The necessity for EPDs depends on factors such as the geographical region, industry, and the type of product.
Certain sectors or certifications, such as specific green building standards like LEED, BREEAM, WELL, EDGE, Mostadam, may require EPDs, while others might not have such a mandate. Many companies voluntarily embrace EPDs, motivated by a dedication to transparency and sustainability. Manufacturers in environmentally conscious sectors frequently opt to create EPDs as a component of their corporate responsibility and to align with the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products.
The standard duration for the validity of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is five years. It’s important to emphasize that routine revisions are crucial to uphold the ongoing precision and applicability of the information. This periodic review is in sync with progress in life cycle assessment methods, modifications in manufacturing procedures, and the development of environmental standards. This ensures the enduring reliability and relevance of the EPD throughout its lifespan.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) prove to be flexible instruments suitable for a broad range of products spanning different industries.
Although initially more prevalent in areas such as construction, EPDs have become increasingly influential in consumer goods and electronics. The standardized approach of EPDs enables thorough life cycle assessments, rendering them universally adaptable for evaluating and conveying the environmental footprint of a variety of products, regardless of the industry they belong to.
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) document generally includes a thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that reveals the environmental effects of a product.
Essential elements encompass information about raw material extraction, manufacturing procedures, transportation, product utilization, and disposal at the end of its life cycle. Furthermore, EPDs incorporate environmental metrics like energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and water usage. This furnishes stakeholders with clear information, enabling them to make informed choices about a product’s sustainability and environmental impact.
The precision of information within an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is usually confirmed by independent third-party organizations. These entities evaluate the EPD’s alignment with established standards, ensuring that the data collection, life cycle assessment methodology, and reporting adhere to stringent guidelines. Through this verification process, the EPD gains increased credibility and reliability, instilling confidence in stakeholders regarding the environmental information disclosed by the product manufacturer.
Examples of such third-party entities include IBU, EPD International, UL Environment, Global GreenTag, and SCS Global Services.
Consumers have various avenues to obtain Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) details, including product labels, manufacturer websites, or EPD databases.
When analyzing the data, pay attention to essential environmental metrics like carbon emissions and resource consumption. It’s beneficial to compare these metrics with those of comparable products and to consider the evaluated life cycle stages. By grasping the EPD’s scope and system boundaries, consumers can accurately assess the information, aiding them in making informed, environmentally conscious decisions aligned with their values and environmental concerns.
