Environmental Product Declaration

The content of an EPD is dependent on the category of the product under study, and the methodology, called the product category rules (PCR), used. Typically, an EPD will contain a brief overview of the company, product and production methods, and environmental impact data for the product. Text and illustrations are intended to be easily understood and the environmental impact information can be found in one or two tables.{{Cite web |last=ArcelorMittal |date=29 April 2020 |title=Environmental Product Declaration Heavy Steel Plates |url=https://industry.arcelormittal.com/repository/fce/transfer/Plates_EPD.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=18 February 2025 |website=ArcelorMittal}} Input data, LCA calculations and any commercially-sensitive information are included in a background report, which is reviewed by the third-party verifier but not typically published.

Some manufacturers include additional information about innovative production processes. For example, a 38 page EPD for a pasta product contains sections on the brand and product, environmental performance calculations, information on sustainable wheat cultivation, milling, packaging production, pasta production, distribution, cooking, packaging end-of-life, and summary tables for environmental impact in different markets.Barilla. 26 Sep 2013. Durum wheat semolina pasta in paperboard box: Environmental Product Declaration. Revision 8 of 7 November 2019.

EPDs are available directly from manufacturers or hosted on EPD databases, which are typically owned by the programme operators through which EPDs are produced, verified and published. The usefulness of data stored within an EPD is proportional to how easily it can be accessed and analysed, however, database owners have been slow to modernise platforms and most require users to download individual PDFs in order to view and compare the data.{{Cite web |title=International EPD System |url=https://www.environdec.com/}}

Progress has been made to improve the design of EPDs for machine-readability and indexing purposes for the construction industry through the EN ISO 22057 standard, ILCD+EPD{{Cite web |title=About EPD - Eco Platform en |url=https://www.eco-platform.org/eco-epd-40.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.eco-platform.org}} and openEPD{{Cite web |title=openEPD: Home - An Open Format for the world's Digital EPDs |url=https://www.open-epd-forum.org/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=openEPD |language=en-US}} formats. EN ISO 22057 was created by ISO/TC 59/SC 17 Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works based on the BIM data templates concept and it is compatible with the EPDs developed according to EN 15804 and ISO 21930. openEPD has been designed in a way that EPD data can be accessed via an API, promoting the integration of product-specific data into industrial design and stock inventory software.{{Cite web |title=openEPD: Home - An Open Format for the world's Digital EPDs |url=https://www.open-epd-forum.org/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=openEPD |language=en-US}} Some limitations for machine-interpretability of digital EPDs have been identified{{cite journal |last1=Aragón |first1=A. |last2=Alberti |first2=M.G. |title=Limitations of machine-interpretability of digital EPDs used for a BIM-based sustainability assessment of construction assets |journal=Journal of Building Engineering |date=November 2024 |volume=96 |pages=110418 |doi=10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110418 |doi-access=free }} to use EPDs at asset level, in order to maximise its use and reduce environmental impacts.{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Jane |last2=Rønning |first2=Anne |title=Using standards to maximise the benefit of digitisation of construction product Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to reduce Building Life Cycle Impacts |journal=E3S Web of Conferences |date=2022 |volume=349 |pages=10003 |doi=10.1051/e3sconf/202234910003 |bibcode=2022E3SWC.34910003A }} The InData network{{Cite web |title=InData |url=https://www.indata.network/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=InData |language=en-IE}} and other groups are working on improving these formats.

File:EDP_steps_framework.png

The first step in creating an EPD is defining the product, using the appropriate Product Category Rules (PCR). A Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for the LCA must be verified and from reliable sources (for example, from a manufacturing facility). A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Analysis (LCIA) is performed by an LCA expert using software and a variety of assessment tools.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbcsd.org/Projects/Chemicals/Resources/Life-Cycle-Metrics-for-Chemical-Products|title=Life Cycle Metrics for Chemical Products|last=WBSCD|date=29 September 2014|access-date=14 April 2019}} The EPD is delivered as a document or report following a series of verification reviews; it is then ready for registration and publication.{{cite journal|last1=Stahel|first1=Walter R.|date=24 March 2016|title=Circular Economy|journal=Nature|volume=531|issue=2016|pages=435–8|doi=10.1038/531435a|pmid=27008952|bibcode=2016Natur.531..435S|id={{ProQuest|1776790666}}|doi-access=free}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-19 |title=How to get an EPD |url=https://www.buildingtransparency.org/resources/how-get-epd/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Building Transparency |language=en}}

PCRs are specific rules and requirements that set out how the LCA of a product should be carried out and the results disclosed. They provide guidance that, in theory, enables fair comparison among products of the same category.{{Cite journal |last1=Ingwersen |first1=Wesley W. |last2=Stevenson |first2=Martha J. |date=2012 |title=Can we compare the environmental performance of this product to that one? An update on the development of product category rules and future challenges toward alignment |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |volume=24 |pages=102–108 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.040 |bibcode=2012JCPro..24..102I }}

Criteria contained in a PCR includes: a description of the product category, the goal of the LCA, functional units, system boundaries, cut-off criteria, allocation rules, environmental impact categories, information on the product's use phase, required units, LCA calculation procedures, requirements for data quality assessment, and other relevant information.{{cite journal |last1=Almeida |first1=Marisa Isabel |last2=Dias |first2=Ana Cláudia |last3=Demertzi |first3=Martha |last4=Arroja |first4=Luís |title=Contribution to the development of product category rules for ceramic bricks |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |date=April 2015 |volume=92 |pages=206–215 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.073 |bibcode=2015JCPro..92..206A |hdl=10773/16706 |hdl-access=free }} The goal of PCRs is to help develop EPDs for products that are comparable to others within a product category, such as construction products. ISO 14025 establishes the procedure for developing PCRs and the required content of a PCR, as well as requirements for comparability.{{Citation|title=Environmental labels and declarations. Type III environmental declarations. Principles and procedures|url=https://www.iso.org/standard/38131.html|publisher=International Organization for Standardization|access-date=2019-04-26}}

Sub-PCRs, or complementary-PCRs, add additional rules and guidelines for specific product sub-categories and are intended to be used in conjunction with a core PCR. For example, a manufacturer producing an EPD for a concrete product may use EN 15804+A2,{{Cite web |last=CENELEC |title=CEN - CEN/TC 350 - EN 15804+A2 - Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Core rules for the product category of construction products |url=https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=CEN:110:0::::FSP_PROJECT,FSP_ORG_ID:70014,481830&cs=1B6FE860255B200E33E1E2E4B4A540088 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=standards.cencenelec.eu}} which provides core rules for construction products, plus EN 16757, which provides additional rules for concrete and concrete elements.{{Cite web |last=CENELEC |first= |title=CEN - CEN/TC 229 - EN 16757:2022 - Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Product Category Rules for concrete and concrete elements |url=https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=CEN:110:0::::FSP_PROJECT,FSP_ORG_ID:70993,6210&cs=1C82393B5919E6A2875EB4E2626209829 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=standards.cencenelec.eu}}

LCA studies can vary in terms of assumptions and methodological choices made during the LCA and consequently, the results for products that fulfil the same function may not be consistent with one another.{{cite journal |last1=Teehan |first1=Paul |last2=Kandlikar |first2=Milind |title=Sources of Variation in Life Cycle Assessments of Desktop Computers |journal=Journal of Industrial Ecology |date=April 2012 |volume=16 |issue=s1 |doi=10.1111/j.1530-9290.2011.00431.x |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Säynäjoki |first1=Antti |last2=Heinonen |first2=Jukka |last3=Junnila |first3=Seppo |last4=Horvath |first4=Arpad |date=2017-01-05 |title=Can life-cycle assessment produce reliable policy guidelines in the building sector? |journal=Environmental Research Letters |volume=12 |issue=1 |page=013001 |bibcode=2017ERL....12a3001S |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/aa54ee |doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |last=Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative |date=5 December 2023 |title=Driving consistency in the greenhouse gas accounting system: A pathway to harmonized standards for steel, cement, and concrete |url=https://www.industrialenergyaccelerator.org/general/driving-consistency-in-the-greenhouse-gas-accounting-system/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator |language=en-US}}

• Duplication of PCRs for similar product categories in different regions.{{cite journal |last1=Subramanian |first1=Vairavan |last2=Ingwersen |first2=Wesley |last3=Hensler |first3=Connie |last4=Collie |first4=Heather |title=Comparing product category rules from different programs: learned outcomes towards global alignment |journal=The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment |date=August 2012 |volume=17 |issue=7 |pages=892–903 |doi=10.1007/s11367-012-0419-6 |bibcode=2012IJLCA..17..892S }} PCRs developed in under the European Committee for Standardization framework may differ from PCRs developed under ISO framework, reducing the comparability of EPDs for like-products from different regions. This may also increase administrative burden for manufacturers operating in multiple regions, which may be required to produce EPDs using different PCRs to align with heterogenous reporting requirements.
• Interpretation of the rules and requirements in PCRs can lead to variances in methodological choices and data reporting within an LCA, even where the same PCR is used. If the choices made are justifiable, this may not be flagged during the verification process.
• Secondary databases can offer significantly different emission values for the same process, activity or input (e.g., the embodied emissions of 1 metric tonne of coking coal). PCRs permit the use of secondary data for emission flows out of the control of the manufacturer creating the EPD (e.g., emissions from the upstream supply chain), and LCA practitioners have the choice of several, commercially operated databases. This variance decreases comparability of data in EPDs.
• Lack of rigorous third-party review: Inconsistency in the interpretation of the PCRs means that various accounting practices can be reasonably justified within in EPDs for similar products,Sébastien Lasvaux, Yann Leroy, Capucine Briquet, Jacques Chevalier. International Survey on Critical Review and Verification Practices in LCA with a Focus in the Construction Sector. 6th International Conference on Life Cycle Management - LCM 2013, Aug 2013, Gothenburg, Sweden. hal-01790869 leading to different outcomes that are not comparable.
• Financial Constraints: Carrying out a detailed LCA and publishing an EPD can be cost-intensive.Fet, A. M., & Skaar, C. (2006). Eco-labelling, Product Category Rules and Certification Procedures Based on ISO 14025 Requirements (6 pp). The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 11(1), 49–54. doi:10.1065/lca2006.01.237Tasaki, T., Shobatake, K., Nakajima, K., & Dalhammar, C. (2017). International Survey of the Costs of Assessment for Environmental Product Declarations. Procedia CIRP, 61, 727– 731.doi:10.1016/j.procir.2016.11.158

{{Infobox technology standard

| title = EN 15804

| long_name = Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Core rules for the product category of construction products

| organization = CEN

| committee = CEN/TC 350 - Sustainability of construction works

| domain = Core product category rules (PCR) for Type III environmental declarations for any construction product and construction service.

| website = https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=205:110:0::::FSP_PROJECT:74037&cs=1DB6B38866B73011ED991761FF1B811AC

}}

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) standard, EN 15804:2012+A2:2019/AC:2021,{{Cite web |last=CEN |title=EN 15804:2012+A2:2019/AC:2021 |url=https://standards.cencenelec.eu/dyn/www/f?p=205:110:0::::FSP_PROJECT:74037&cs=1DB6B38866B73011ED991761FF1B811AC |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=standards.cencenelec.eu}} is a common PCR for construction materials. Other complementary standards, for example for environmental building assessment (EN 15978) are also published by the same Technical Committee.

In order to enhance harmonization, the main Programme Operators for EPD verification in the construction sector created ECO Platform, with members from various European countries. The Programme Operators approved to issue EPDs with the ECO Platform verified logo{{cite web|title=Programme Operators in ECO Platform|url=http://www.eco-platform.org/the-eco-epd-programs.html|publisher=ECO Platform}} are:

• Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación (AENOR) - GlobalEPD Program (Spain)
• Bau EPD GmbH (Austria)
• EPD International AB - International EPD System (Sweden)
• Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU) (Germany)

• Building Research Establishment Limited (BRE) (United Kingdom)
• EPD Danmark (Danmark)
• Instytut Techniki Budowlanej (Poland)

• Association HQE tio - FDES INIES (France)
• ICMQ S.p.a. - EPDItaly (Italy)
• DAPHabitat - DAPHabitat System (Portugal)

• [https://www.igbc.ie/epd-home/ EPD Ireland] ([https://www.igbc.ie/ The Irish Green Building Council])

The ECO Platform also includes the following trade associations:

• Construction Products Europe
• Ceramie Unie ASBL
• Eurima AiSBL

Some Programme Operators are under bilateral mutual recognition agreements, including{{cite web|title=Bilateral agreements and international recognitions |url=http://www.en.aenor.es/aenor/certificacion/mambiente/globalepd_reconocimientos.asp |publisher=AENOR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064656/http://www.en.aenor.es/aenor/certificacion/mambiente/globalepd_reconocimientos.asp |archive-date=4 March 2016}} IBU (Germany), EPD International (Sweden) and AENOR GlobalEPD (Spain).

The following programme operators are based in North America and Asia,{{cite journal |last1=Hunsager |first1=Einar Aalen |last2=Bach |first2=Martin |last3=Breuer |first3=Lutz |title=An institutional analysis of EPD programs and a global PCR registry |journal=The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment |date=April 2014 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=786–795 |doi=10.1007/s11367-014-0711-8 |bibcode=2014IJLCA..19..786H }} and typically develop PCRs based on ISO 21930:2017.{{Cite web |title=ISO 21930:2017 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/61694.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=International Organization for Standardization |language=en}}

{{Infobox technology standard

| title = ISO 21930

| long_name = Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services

| status = Published

| organization = ISO

| committee = ISO/TC 59/SC 17

| base_standards = ISO 14025, ISO 14040, ISO 14044

| domain = Environmental impact of construction works

| website = https://www.iso.org/standard/61694.html

}}

• SmartEPD (U.S. and Global){{cite web|title=Smart EPD|url=https://www.smartepd.com/}}
• FP Innovations - EPD Program on Wood Products (Canada){{cite web|title=FP Innovations EPD Programs|url=https://fpinnovations.ca/researchprogram/environment-sustainability/epd-program/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327190734/https://fpinnovations.ca/ResearchProgram/environment-sustainability/epd-program/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=27 March 2019}}

• NSF International (U.S.){{cite web|title=NSF International EPD Programs|url=https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/environmental-product-declarations-epds}}
• The Sustainability Consortium (U.S.){{cite web|title=The Sustainability Consortium|url=https://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/}}
• UL Environment (U.S.){{cite web|title=UL Environment EPD|url=https://industries.ul.com/environment/certificationvalidation-marks/environmental-product-declarations}}
• ASTM International (U.S.){{cite web|title=ASTM Internation EPD|url=https://www.astm.org/CERTIFICATION/filtrexx40.cgi?+-P+PROG+7+cert_detail.frm}}
• ICC Evaluation Services (U.S.){{cite web|title=ICC Evaluation Services EPD|url=https://icc-es.org/environmental-program/environmental-product-declarations/}}
• National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (U.S.){{cite web|title=NRMCA EPD Program|url=https://www.nrmca.org/sustainability/EPDProgram/}}
• SCS Global Services (U.S.){{cite web|title=SGS Global Services EPD|url=https://www.scsglobalservices.com/environmental-product-declarations}}

• Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (Japan){{cite web|title=JEMAI CPF Program|url=https://www.cfp-japan.jp/english/}}
• Korean Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (Korea){{cite web|title=Korean Environmental Industry & Technology Institute|url=http://www.keiti.re.kr/site/eng/main.do}}
• Environment and Development Foundation (Taiwan){{cite web|title=Environment and Development Foundation|url=http://www.edf.org.tw/}}

• Consumer protection
• Corporate social responsibility
• Eco-efficiency
• Ecolabel

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.buildingtransparency.org/ The EC3 Tool - Free, open-access tool with searchable global database of digitized EPD's]
• [http://www.theepdregistry.com/ The EPD Registry - A global database of EPD's]
• [http://www.pe-international.com/services-solutions/green-building/environmental-product-declarations/ What is Environmental Product Declaration whitepaper]
• [http://www.environdec.com/en/EPD-Search/ Search for EPDs verified and registered within the International EPD System]
• [https://www.aenor.com/certificacion/certificacion-de-producto/declaraciones-ambientales-de-producto GlobalEPD]
• [http://construction-environment.com/ IBU]
• [http://www.epditaly.it/ EPDItaly]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Environmental Product Declaration}}

Category:Environmental impact assessment