Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
What is EPDs?
- An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified report that shows the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle—from raw material extraction to end-of-life.
- It is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and includes two parts: a public summary and a private background report reviewed by a third-party verifier.
- EPDs do not disclose sensitive manufacturing or supply chain details—only the environmental data is published.
Not Just a Certificate
- EPDs aim to support the embodied carbon challenge by making the environmental impact of products and materials more visible so that steps can be taken to reduce the overall environmental impact.
- EPDs help manufacturers translate complex sustainability information about their product’s environmental footprint into simpler information that governments, companies, industry associations and end consumers can trust to make decisions.
- According to customer research by Saint-Gobain 76% of construction product clients want suppliers to be transparent about environmental impacts of their products.
Going Global with the benefits of Sustainability
1
Regulatory Compliance
Carbon limits for new buildings are becoming mandatory in countries like France, Sweden, Finland, and the UK. EPDs help suppliers meet these requirements and remain competitive.
2
Green Building Certifications
Over 70% of international standards like LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB award credits for using EPD-labelled products—even without specific carbon targets.
3
Visibility in Low-Carbon Markets
72% of construction clients seek sustainable products. EPDs list your product in key environmental databases, increasing visibility and selection for low-carbon projects.
4
Market Differentiation
EPDs show your commitment to sustainability and help highlight areas where your product performs better than competitors.
5
Cutting Carbon, Cutting Costs
Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) reveal material and process inefficiencies—helping reduce both environmental impact and production costs.
6
Future-Proofing Product Innovation
With evolving regulations, EPDs ensure you're ready to meet future sustainability demands and integrate eco-design into R&D.
Key Components of an EPD
- The underlying LCA report, which summarizes the LCA project for the verifier’s reference
- The public EPD document, containing LCA results and other relevant content
Product Category
Rule
Product Category Rules (PCR) are the necessary tools and categorie that define the rules and requirements for creating product category-specific life cycle assessments and summarise the results in an EPD
Life Cycle
Assessment
Environmental Product
Declaration
No Greenwashing Here: EPDs Back Your Sustainability Claims
- Having an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) can be a deciding factor in whether your product is chosen for large-scale construction projects. It ensures your product is listed in key environmental databases used across the construction sector.
- An EPD provides valuable data that helps you understand your product’s environmental impact across its entire life cycle. This insight allows you to identify opportunities to optimize your manufacturing processes and improve sustainability throughout your value chain.
- By measuring your environmental performance, you gain a clearer view of how your product compares to competitors—enabling you to highlight your strengths. It also positions your brand to meet increasing market demands for transparency and sustainable solutions.
Benefits
For Architects
For architects, EPDs enable more informed decision-making when selecting materials for building projects. By accessing lifecycle data on the environmental impact of materials, architects can ensure that their design choices contribute to sustainability goals while maintaining the desired performance and appearance of the structure.
For Contractors/Clients
This leads to
- Optimized material use
- Reduced waste
- More efficient logistics
all of which contribute to cost savings and a lower environmental footprint.
Why is EPD important for the construction industry?
Support Carbon Conscious Projects
Built Environment generates around 40% of annual global carbon emission. By making it possible to compare the environmental impacts of different materials and products, EPDs can persuade decision-makers to opt for more sustainable options, and therefore it can support carbon emission reduction within the construction industry.
Make Informed Material Choices
As EPDs are formal reports of a material’s environmental footprint, they can also be used by specifiers in order to help control building waste. Waste in the construction and demolition industry is currently a very significant issue, and via EPDs, the re-use and recycling of building materials can be encouraged.
Meet Green Building Standards
EPD that supports compliance with LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge (LBC), and other certification programs.
Why is EPD important for the construction industry?
- Support Carbon Conscious Projects: Built Environment generates around 40% of annual global carbon emission. By making it possible to compare the environmental impacts of different materials and products, EPDs can persuade decision-makers to opt for more sustainable options, and therefore it can support carbon emission reduction within the construction industry.
- Make Informed Material Choices: As EPDs are formal reports of a material’s environmental footprint, they can also be used by specifiers in order to help control building waste. Waste in the construction and demolition industry is currently a very significant issue, and via EPDs, the re-use and recycling of building materials can be encouraged.
- Meet Green Building Standards: EPD that supports compliance with LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge (LBC), and other certification programs.
Why is EPD important for the construction industry?
Support Carbon Conscious Projects
Built Environment generates around 40% of annual global carbon emission. By making it possible to compare the environmental impacts of different materials and products, EPDs can persuade decision-makers to opt for more sustainable options, and therefore it can support carbon emission reduction within the construction industry.
Make Informed Material Choices
As EPDs are formal reports of a material’s environmental footprint, they can also be used by specifiers in order to help control building waste. Waste in the construction and demolition industry is currently a very significant issue, and via EPDs, the re-use and recycling of building materials can be encouraged.
Meet Green Building Standards
EPD that supports compliance with LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge (LBC), and other certification programs.
Key Components of an EPD
An EPD consists of two main documents:
- The underlying LCA report, which summarizes the LCA project for the verifier’s reference
- The public EPD document, containing LCA results and other relevant content
EPDs provide valuable insights into a product’s environmental footprint, enabling informed decision-making in sustainable construction and other industries.
Product Category Rules (PCR) are the necessary tools and categorie that define the rules and requirements for creating product category-specific life cycle assessments and summarise the results in an EPD.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive and systematic approach that enables organisations to understand and improve the sustainability performance of their products or processes.
A Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified document which transparently communicates the environmental impact of the product or material. It is usually a summary of the LCA results.
Product Category Rules (PCR) are the necessary tools and categorie that define the rules and requirements for creating product category-specific life cycle assessments and summarise the results in an EPD.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a comprehensive and systematic approach that enables organisations to understand and improve the sustainability performance of their products or processes.
A Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified document which transparently communicates the environmental impact of the product or material. It is usually a summary of the LCA results.
Key Components of an EPD
An EPD consists of two main documents:
- The underlying LCA report, which summarizes the LCA project for the verifier’s reference
- The public EPD document, containing LCA results and other relevant content
EPDs provide valuable insights into a product’s environmental footprint, enabling informed decision-making in sustainable construction and other industries.