Carbon Emissions

Regulation — EPD Environmental Product Declaration

EDP

The nutrition label for sustainability

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an independently verified and registered document that provides transparent, standardized information about the life-cycle environmental impact of a product.

Often called a "nutrition label" for sustainability, it doesn't imply a product is environmentally superior; it simply presents factual data. An EPD is a Type III environmental declaration, developed in accordance with the ISO 14025 standard. It quantifies a product's environmental performance across various indicators, including:

Carbon Footprint
Ozone Depletion Potential
Acidification Potential
Water Consumption
Waste Generation
Use of Resources

Why is EPD Compliance Important?

Market Access & Preference

EPDs are increasingly required for green building certifications (like LEED and BREEAM), public tenders, and corporate procurement policies.

Credible Transparency

Third-party verification provides credible, data-driven proof of your environmental claims, building trust with customers and stakeholders.

Performance Benchmarking

The underlying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) helps identify environmental hotspots in your value chain, guiding innovation and efficiency improvements.

The 5-Step Path to EPD Compliance

Identify Product Category Rules (PCR)

The PCR provides the specific rules and requirements for conducting an LCA for a particular product type. It ensures EPDs within the same category are comparable. You must find the correct PCR for your product through an EPD Program Operator.

Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Following the PCR and ISO 14040/14044 standards, perform a comprehensive LCA. This involves collecting data on energy, water, raw materials, and emissions from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life.

Compile the EPD Report

The results of the LCA are documented in the EPD format as specified by the PCR. This report presents the environmental impact data in a clear and standardized way.

Third-Party Verification

The LCA report and draft EPD must be reviewed by an independent, approved third-party verifier. They check for accuracy, completeness, and conformance with the PCR and ISO standards. This step is crucial for credibility.

Register and Publish

Once verified, the EPD is registered with a Program Operator (e.g., UL, IBU, EPD International). It is then published in their public database, where it is typically valid for 3-5 years.