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What is an EPD (environmental product declaration)?

Posted by: Aishwaryaa Shashi Date: 29 Jul 2024

What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardised, third-party verified statement that provides transparent and credible information about any type of product’s environmental performance throughout its life cycle.

The backbone of EPDs: Key standards and methodologies

EPDs are based on several key standards:

  • EPD Standards (Construction products): EN 15804+A1 / EN 15804+A2
  • Lifecycle assessment (LCA) standards: ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
  • External verification standards: ISO 14025 (Type III Environmental Claim) and ISO 21930 (specific to buildings)
  • Self-declared internal verification standards: ISO 14021 (Type II Environmental)

How are EPDs produced?

Creating an EPD involves several detailed steps to ensure compliance with international standards and accurate reporting of environmental impacts. The steps are summarised as follows:

  1. Select EPD Program Operator and Product Category Rules (PCR): Identify your product and select a program operator, which is an independent organisation managing the creation of EPDs and PCR according to ISO standards. Then, identify the relevant PCR for your product.
  2. Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Perform a LCA to evaluate the environmental impacts of the product throughout its lifecycle. This can be done internally or by an external expert.
  3. Draft the EPD Document: Prepare the EPD document generally according to ISO 14020, detailing the results of the LCA and other relevant information about the product.
  4. Third-Party Verification: Have the EPD reviewed and verified by an individual verifier or an accredited certification body to ensure accuracy and compliance with the PCR.
  5. Publish the EPD: Once verified, publish the EPD through recognised EPD Portal registration to make the environmental performance data available to the public.

What are the different types of EPD?

According to the International EPD System, there are several distinct types of EPDs designed which are as follows:

  1. Product/project specific EPD: Detailed life cycle environmental performance for an individual product by a single company.
  2. EPDs for forthcoming products: Environmental impact report for a new product using data from a similar existing product, which can be a sibling or non-sibling product.
  3. Multiple products EPD: Consolidated environmental impact report for a range of similar products from same company.
  4. Sector or industry average EPD: Benchmark environmental performance based on industry-wide data.

What are the benefits of generating EPDs?

  • Transparency and credibility
  • Adherence to international standards
  • Independence and objectivity
  • Optimising supply chain
  • Compliance with voluntary or mandatory regulations
  • Sustainable product design
  • Credits for sustainability protocols (LEED, BREEAM, etc)
  • Facilitating green procurement
  • Brand enhancement

The importance of third-party verification

Verified EPDs are important for meeting key European and UK initiatives:

How can TÜV SÜD help YOU WITH EPD VERIFICATION?

1. Partnering with TÜV SÜD for EPD Verification:

  • Ensures EPDs meet the highest standards as TÜV SÜD is accredited by the International EPD System.
  • Expert verification team ensures compliance with international standards and Product Category Rules (PCR).

2. EPD Process Certification by TÜV SÜD:

  • Certifies the organisation’s EPD development processes, ensuring compliance with General Programme Instructions (GPI) and relevant Product Category Rules (PCRs), thereby equating to third-party certified EPDs.

3. Comprehensive Approach to Environmental Assessments:

  • Utilises detailed life cycle assessments (LCA) and stringent verification processes to support Type III environmental declarations.
  • Contributes to responsible supply chains, facilitates building certifications, and informs environmental assessments for infrastructure projects.

Discover more about environmental labelling by watching a recording of our recent webinar on Navigating Voluntary Environmental Labelling.

TÜV SÜD provides tailored environmental and sustainability solutions, centred around Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which can optimise your manufacturing processes, mitigate risks, minimise resource consumption, promote reuse, and enhance your brand reputation.

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