Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
What is EPDs?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a transparent document that reveals the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. It’s based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and verified by an independent third party, ensuring accuracy and comparability. EPDs are crucial for businesses and consumers to make informed choices and promote sustainable practices.
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
Why EPD Matters?
- The built environment generates around 40% of annual global CO2 emissions!
- Architects are looking for low embodied carbon building materials.
- Projects reporting embodied carbon more than tripled between 2020 and 2021!
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.
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.
EPD Process
1
Data Collection
Choose a Program Operator(PO) (an independent organization) and the appropriate PCR for your product.
2
Life Cycle Assessment
Evaluate the environmental impacts of the product across its lifecycle, following ISO 14040 and 14044 standards.
3
Background Report
Prepare the EPD document according to ISO 14025, including LCA results and other relevant information.
4
3rd Party Verification
Have the EPD reviewed and verified by an independent verifier to ensure accuracy & compliance with PCR.
5
Publish the EPD
Register and publish the EPD through a recognized EPD platform to make the information publicly available.
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.