In recent years, there has been a gradual increase in the demand for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from manufacturers, especially those in the construction sector. This surge is largely driven by building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM, which require materials and products to have EPD certification. Other uses for EPDs include green public procurement (GPP), business-to-business communication, and business-to-consumer communication.
An EPD is defined as an independently verified and registered document aimed at providing relevant and verified information about the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle, allowing for comparison of products and services based on their environmental behavior.
The principles, requirements, and guidelines for assessing the environmental properties of products are defined in ISO standards 14040:2006 and 14044:2006. EPDs are based on the principles of ISO standards 14020:2000 and 14025:2006, which set out the procedures for Type III environmental declarations, making EPDs internationally accepted.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) of construction products is conducted according to EN 15804:2012+A2:2019/AC:2021. The LCA method provides a comprehensive assessment of a product’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle.
Key life cycle stages assessed include modules A1-A3, C1-C4, and D, as per EN 15804+A2:2019. Exceptions are made for products that meet specific conditions regarding their integration, transformation, and carbon content at the end of their life cycle.
EPD content includes basic information, product details, life cycle phase information, LCA calculation rules, LCA results, interpretation of results, and transparency information. Independently verified EPDs can be registered and published in international databases such as the International EPD System, IBU, EPD-Norway, EPD Hub, EPD Italy, CENIA, EPD Ireland, epddanmark, and EPDSquare.
EPDs are valid for five years, during which they can be revised if significant changes occur in the manufacturing process. This promotes greater product transparency, enabling comparison of products with similar functions and offering customers options with lower environmental impacts. It also encourages manufacturers to reduce the environmental impact of their production and supply chains.
Silvia Vilcekova Co-founder and LCA team lead Silvia has contributed to the field of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for over two decades, establishing herself as a renowned expert.
She also holds the position of Director at the Institute of Sustainable and Circular Construction at the Technical University of Kosice. Additionally, she serves as the chairman of the Technical Committee TK112 for Sustainable Construction.