Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs): A Comprehensive Guide

In today's market, vague environmental claims are no longer enough. Stakeholders, from customers and investors to regulators, demand transparent, verifiable proof of a product's environmental footprint. This is where Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) come in. If you're wondering what an EPD is, how to create one, or why it matters for your business, you're in the right place. This comprehensive EPD guide provides clarity on everything you need to know about these essential documents.

Understanding the EPD meaning and process is increasingly vital for manufacturers, architects, and procurement teams aiming to enhance credibility, meet market demands, and contribute to a more sustainable built environment. Let's dive in.

The growing need for environmental transparency and the EPD solution

The pressure for businesses to demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility is mounting. Driven by factors like stricter regulations, investor ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) expectations, and growing consumer awareness, the demand for credible environmental data has never been higher. Market analysis indicates a strong and growing demand for products with transparent environmental data, particularly in sectors like construction. Simply stating a product is 'green' or 'sustainable' is insufficient; the market requires proof.

This shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Businesses that proactively embrace transparency can build trust and gain a competitive edge. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have emerged as the globally recognized standard for providing this proof.

"We're seeing a clear market shift. Stakeholders are moving beyond marketing claims and demanding standardized, verified data. EPDs provide that critical layer of trust and transparency."

"We're seeing a clear market shift" notes Joost Walterbos, a Hedgehog Sustainability Expert. "Stakeholders are moving beyond marketing claims and demanding standardized, verified data. EPDs provide that critical layer of trust and transparency."

EPDs offer a structured, internationally accepted way (based on the ISO 14025 standard) to communicate a product's environmental performance throughout its lifecycle. They cut through the noise of unsubstantiated claims, providing the clarity needed for informed decision-making. 

What exactly is an EPD?: Defining environmental product declarations

So, what exactly is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)? Think of it like a nutrition label, but for a product's environmental impact. It's a standardized document that quantifies environmental information on a product's life cycle based on consistent rules.

Key things to know:

• Standardized & Verified: EPDs are developed according to international standards, primarily ISO 14025, which defines them as 'Type III environmental declarations'. Unlike self-declared claims (Type II) or some ecolabels (Type I), EPDs require data to be verified by an independent third party, ensuring objectivity and credibility.
• LCA-Based: The data within an EPD comes from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study conducted according to ISO 14040/44 standards. This assessment analyses potential environmental impacts across various stages, from raw material extraction to manufacturing, use, and disposal. Understanding why LCA is important provides context for the EPD's foundation. (You can also explore the differences between LCA, EPD, and PEF).
• Databases and rules: It's important to note that an EPD is only considered official once it's published in a recognized EPD database. The EPD verification process itself is tied to the specific rules set by the EPD program operator who manages that database. These program operators establish the detailed requirements and guidelines (often building on standards like ISO 14025 and EN 15804) that all EPDs within their system must follow. This ensures consistency and helps create a level playing field for comparison. Well-known program operators and their databases include international systems like EPD International (via Environdec) and regional or national ones such as the Dutch NMD (Nationale Milieudatabase, including MRPI data) or the German IBU (Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V.).
• PCR-Governed: To ensure consistency when comparing similar products, EPDs for a specific product group must follow predefined Product Category Rules (PCRs). These rules dictate the calculation methods, scope, and reporting format.
• Focus on Information, Not Judgment: An EPD presents factual environmental data across multiple impact categories (e.g., global warming potential, energy consumption, water use). It doesn't inherently label a product as 'good' or 'bad' but provides the transparent information needed for users to make their own assessments and comparisons (when based on the same PCR). Common impact categories reported include Climate Change (GWP) and Acidification Potential.

At Hedgehog, we specialize in developing robust, ISO 14025-compliant EPDs that provide the market with the clear, credible environmental data it demands. (Explore the basics further in our existing article: What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?).

The making of an EPD: Process, standards, and scope

Creating a credible Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) involves a rigorous, multi-step process grounded in international standards. While the underlying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be complex, understanding the key stages helps demystify the journey. For a foundational understanding, see our ultimate LCA guide for beginners.

Here’s a simplified overview of how an EPD is made, including the key steps involved in an LCA for your product:

1. Identify Product Category Rules (PCRs): This is the critical first step. You need to find the specific PCR document relevant to your product type, developed under an EPD program operator. The PCR defines the "rules of the game" for the LCA and EPD, ensuring consistency. If no PCR exists, one may need to be developed."Choosing the right PCR is the crucial first step for a meaningful EPD," explain our LCA Specialists at Hedgehog. "It ensures your EPD aligns with industry standards and allows for fair comparison where possible."
2. Conduct the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Based on the chosen PCR and the ISO 14040/44 standards, a detailed LCA study is performed. This involves collecting extensive data on inputs (materials, energy, water) and outputs (emissions, waste) across the product's life cycle stages defined in the PCR.
3. Compile the EPD: The results from the LCA, along with other required information (product description, company details, PCR used, scope), are compiled into the EPD document according to the format specified by the PCR and Program Operator.
4. Third-party verification: The LCA study and the draft EPD report undergo meticulous review by an independent, approved verifier. They check conformance with standards (ISO 14025, 14040/44), the PCR, data accuracy, and calculations. This EPD verification step is essential for credibility.
5. Registration and publication: Once verified, the final EPD is registered with the EPD Program Operator (like The International EPD® System, UL, IBU, etc.) and published in their public EPD database, making it accessible to stakeholders.

Key Standards:

• ISO 14025: Defines Type III environmental declarations (EPDs) and program requirements.
• ISO 14040/44: Governs the underlying LCA methodology.
• EN 15804: A core standard providing PCRs specifically for EPDs for construction products in Europe.
• ISO 21930: A complementary international standard for construction product EPDs.

Understanding Scope: EPDs must clearly state the life cycle stages covered. Also, most database require all EPDs to include the same scope to ensure comparability:

• Cradle-to-gate EPD: Covers impacts from raw material extraction ("cradle") to the factory gate (A1-A3 modules). Common for intermediate products.
• Cradle-to-grave EPD: Covers the full lifecycle, including use and end-of-life stages (A, B, C modules, potentially D for recycling benefits). Provides a more complete picture but involves more assumptions.

Navigating these standards and processes requires expertise.

Why EPDs matter for business: Market access, credibility, and insights

Investing in an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) goes far beyond environmental reporting; it's a strategic move that delivers tangible business value. In an increasingly eco-conscious market, EPDs provide a powerful way to build trust, differentiate your products, and unlock new opportunities.

Here are key EPD benefits:

• Meeting procurement demands: EPDs are increasingly required in both public (Green Public Procurement - GPP, Buy Clean policies) and private sector tenders and specifications. Having EPDs ensures continued market access.
• Enhanced credibility and trust: Third-party verification provides objective proof of your environmental claims, combating greenwashing concerns and building significant trust with customers, investors, and regulators. It's about backing up environmental claims with sustainability data.
• Competitive advantage & market differentiation: An EPD clearly showcases your product's environmental credentials, setting you apart from competitors who lack transparent data. This can make you a preferred supplier, particularly for clients or projects with sustainability goals. Hear directly from a client about their experience with the LCA & EPD process.
• Achieving green building credits: EPDs are crucial for earning points in leading green building rating systems like LEED and BREEAM, making your products more attractive for certified projects. 
• Driving internal insights: While the EPD is the public document, the underlying LCA for EPD process often reveals valuable insights for potential operational efficiency, resource savings, and product innovation, even if that's not the primary market focus of the EPD itself.

Hedgehog helps clients not only create compliant EPDs but also develop strategies to leverage them effectively for maximum market advantage and business value. 

Leveraging EPDs in the market: Winning tenders, enhancing marketing, and informing procurement

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) isn't just a technical document; it's a powerful tool for market communication and positioning. Once verified and published, your EPD can be actively leveraged to achieve specific business goals.

Here’s how EPDs translate into market success:

• Winning tenders and specifications: In construction and public procurement, EPDs are increasingly becoming prerequisites. Architects and procurement employees use them to select materials meeting project sustainability targets (e.g., low embodied carbon). Procurement policies like US 'Buy Clean' initiatives often mandate EPDs for specific materials (steel, concrete, glass) and may even set maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP) limits based on EPD data. Possessing a compliant EPD directly qualifies your product for these opportunities.
• Enhancing marketing and sales communications: EPDs provide credible, third-party verified data to back up your environmental marketing claims. You can highlight key performance indicators from your EPD (e.g., reduced GWP compared to industry average, use of recycled content) in brochures, on your website, and in sales presentations. This transparency builds trust and resonates with environmentally conscious B2B customers.
• Informing sustainable procurement: For buyers, EPDs offer a standardized way to compare the environmental footprint of functionally equivalent products (provided they use the same PCR). This allows procurement teams to make informed decisions based on verified lifecycle data, moving beyond price or single-attribute claims. Tools like the EC3 calculator utilize EPD database information to facilitate this comparison for construction materials.

Hedgehog has extensive experience helping clients utilize EPDs effectively in tenders, marketing campaigns, and stakeholder communications. 

Ensuring EPD trustworthiness: Verification, program operators, and databases

The value of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) hinges entirely on its credibility. A robust ecosystem exists to ensure the trustworthiness of the information presented, built on standardized procedures, independent oversight, and public accessibility.

Key components ensuring EPD trustworthiness include:

• Third-party cerification: This is the cornerstone. An independent, approved verifier meticulously reviews the underlying LCA data and the EPD report against the relevant ISO 14025 standard and Product Category Rules (PCR). This EPD verification confirms accuracy, completeness, and conformance, ensuring the data is reliable and objective."Independent verification is what gives an EPD its market authority," state experienced EPD verifiers. "It assures users that the data isn't just a claim, but has been rigorously checked against established rules."
• EPD program operators: These are independent organizations (e.g., The International EPD® System, UL Solutions, IBU, EPD Norge, SCS Global Services) that manage the EPD process according to ISO 14025. They develop general program instructions, oversee PCR development, approve verifiers, and register/publish final EPDs. Their oversight ensures consistency and adherence to standards. Choosing the right EPD program operator depends on factors like your target market and industry sector.
• Accreditation: Often, the verification bodies themselves are accredited to standards like ISO 17065 by national or international accreditation bodies. This provides an additional layer of assurance regarding the verifier's competence, impartiality, and quality management systems.
• Public EPD databases: Verified EPDs are registered and published in publicly accessible online databases managed by the Program Operators (e.g., the International EPD® System library, UL SPOT database). This transparency allows anyone to find and access EPD information, although users may need to consult multiple databases.

This multi-layered system ensures that when you use an EPD, you can have confidence in the environmental data it presents. 

Navigating the hurdles: Understanding EPD challenges and limitations

While Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) offer significant benefits, it's important to be aware of the potential challenges and limitations involved in their creation and interpretation. Understanding these hurdles helps set realistic expectations and ensures EPDs are used appropriately.

Common challenges include:

• Practical obstacles (cost, time, data): Developing an EPD, particularly the underlying LCA for EPD, requires significant effort. Gathering accurate data from internal operations and suppliers can be complex and time-consuming. The costs associated with LCA expertise, verification, and program fees can also be a barrier, especially for smaller businesses. However, viewing this as an investment in market access and credibility helps frame the EPD Costs vs. ROI.
• The comparability conundrum: While a key goal, directly comparing products using different EPDs can be problematic. Variations between Product Category Rules (PCRs) from different program operators, or even different versions of the same PCR, can lead to results that aren't truly comparable. Differences in underlying LCA assumptions, data sources, and scope also impact comparability. Always check that EPDs use the exact same PCR and version before attempting comparison.
• Risk of misrepresentation (greenwashing): Although EPDs aim to prevent greenwashing, their complexity can sometimes be misused. Selectively highlighting favourable data while ignoring negative impacts, or making comparisons based on non-comparable EPDs, can still occur. Users need to interpret EPDs critically.Tip: Avoid greenwashing by being transparent about the EPD's scope, the PCR used, and by not making direct comparative assertions unless explicitly allowed by the PCR and standards.
• Scope and interpretation limitations: Remember that a cradle-to-gate EPD only tells part of the story. Furthermore, EPD results (especially for cradle-to-grave) depend on the assumptions and scenarios used (e.g., product lifespan, end-of-life recycling rates). Users must understand these underlying factors, usually detailed within the EPD, to interpret the results correctly.

Hedgehog helps clients pragmatically navigate these complexities, ensuring EPDs are developed efficiently and interpreted correctly.

The future is now: Key trends shaping environmental product declarations

The landscape of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is not static; it's rapidly evolving, driven by digitalization, regulation, and integration with broader sustainability concepts. Staying aware of these trends is crucial for future-proofing your business.

Key EPD trends include:

• EU policies: The revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), and the upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) framework all point towards mandatory environmental performance disclosure, heavily relying on EPD data.
• Digitalization: The shift from static PDF EPDs to digital, machine-readable formats (e.g., based on the ILCD+EPD format) is accelerating. This allows EPD data to be seamlessly integrated into other tools:

• BIM integration: Embedding EPD data directly into Building Information Modeling objects enables real-time environmental impact assessment during design.
• LCA software: Automated import simplifies whole-building LCA.
• Procurement platforms: Facilitates filtering and comparison based on environmental criteria.
• Data networks: Initiatives like InData aim to create interoperable networks for easier access to EPD data from multiple sources.

• Regulatory momentum: EPDs are moving from voluntary tools to regulatory requirements.

• US Buy Clean: Federal and state-level Buy Clean policies increasingly mandate EPDs for construction materials in public projects, often setting GWP limits.

• Integration with circular economy: EPDs, especially those covering end-of-life (Modules C & D per EN 15804), provide vital data for circular economy strategies. They are becoming key components of Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which aim to track materials throughout their lifecycle to facilitate reuse and recycling.

These trends indicate that EPDs will become even more integrated into standard business processes and digital workflows. Hedgehog stays at the forefront of these developments, ensuring our clients are prepared for the future of environmental transparency.

Getting expert help: Partnering with Hedgehog for your EPD journey

Navigating the complexities of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) – from understanding ISO 14025 and Product Category Rules (PCRs) to conducting the underlying LCA, managing verification, and leveraging the results – can seem daunting. Partnering with experienced EPD consultants like Hedgehog can simplify the process and maximize the value of your investment. Read about one client's positive experience navigating the LCA & EPD process with expert help.

Here's how Hedgehog provides expert support:

• LCA for EPD expertise: Our specialists conduct robust LCAs compliant with ISO 14040/44 and the specific PCR requirements, ensuring a credible foundation for your EPD.
• PCR navigation & selection: We help you identify the most appropriate PCR for your product and target market, or guide the development process if needed.
• Efficient data management: We assist in developing strategies to collect the necessary data accurately and efficiently.
• Verification support: We prepare all necessary documentation and liaise with approved third-party verifiers to ensure a smooth and successful EPD verification process.
• Strategic guidance: We go beyond just creating the EPD. We help you understand the results and develop strategies to use your EPD effectively for marketing, sales, and meeting procurement EPD requirements.
• Integrated approach: Hedgehog uniquely combines EPD development (Insight) with broader sustainability services (Action, Compliance), ensuring your EPD aligns with your overall business goals, whether it's carbon reduction or meeting CSRD requirements.

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Conclusion: Enhance your product's value with EPD clarity

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are no longer a niche requirement but a fundamental tool for credible environmental communication in the global marketplace. Based on the robust ISO 14025 standard, verified EPDs provide the transparent, comparable environmental data that customers, procurement departments, and regulators demand.

From understanding the EPD meaning and the creation process involving LCA for EPD and PCRs, to leveraging EPD benefits for market access, tender wins, and enhanced brand trust, this guide has provided a comprehensive overview. While challenges like cost and comparability exist, the trend towards digitalization and regulatory mandates underscores the growing importance and value of EPDs.

Achieving EPD clarity demonstrates leadership and positions your products for success in an increasingly sustainability-focused world. Hedgehog is here as your knowledgeable partner, ready to simplify the complexity and help you navigate every step of your EPD journey.

Ready to enhance your product's transparency with an EPD? Contact Hedgehog's experts today to discuss your needs or learn more about our EPD services.

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