EPD – Environmental Product Declaration: definition, standards, and development
In response to growing environmental performance requirements, industrial companies must now demonstrate the actual impact of their products with measurable data. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) has become the reference tool for structuring this transparency.
Qu’est-ce qu’une EPD ?
Une EPD est une déclaration environnementale de type III fondée sur une Analyse du Cycle de Vie (ACV). Elle fournit des indicateurs environnementaux quantifiés couvrant l’ensemble du cycle de vie d’un produit.
Les indicateurs environnementaux généralement inclus couvrent notamment le potentiel de réchauffement climatique, la consommation d’énergie primaire, l’épuisement des ressources abiotiques, l’acidification ou encore la production de déchets.
Ces données permettent aux prescripteurs, bureaux d’études et maîtres d’ouvrage d’intégrer objectivement la performance environnementale dans leurs décisions.
What is an EPD used for?
Comparing products at an international level
EPDs are developed in accordance with ISO standards and Product Category Rules (PCR), which enable reliable comparison of equivalent products, even across different countries or sectors. This international comparability is a unique feature of EPDs.
Supporting global eco design
Standardised EPD data enable manufacturers to identify the most impactful stages of the product life cycle and to reduce emissions, energy consumption, and waste. This fosters sustainable innovation at a global level, beyond a specific market or sector.
Supporting credible environmental communication
Third-party independent verification ensures the reliability of the information. Companies can therefore use the EPD for CSR reporting, responsible marketing communications, or to demonstrate their environmental commitment to international clients and partners.
Meeting the requirements of tenders and international certifications
EPDs serve as official proof for responsible tenders, certifications, or international labels (LEED, BREEAM, etc.). They can also feed into international databases..
Facilitate continuous improvement and global benchmarking
EPDs provide comparable and standardised data that enable companies to measure their environmental performance, identify optimisation opportunities, and track progress against other equivalent products worldwide.
Standards and regulatory framework for EPDs
ISO 14025
Définit les principes des déclarations environnementales de type III. Elle encadre l’utilisation de règles de catégorie de produit (PCR), d’une méthodologie ACV conforme aux normes ISO 14040 et ISO 14044, ainsi que la vérification indépendante.
EN 15804
Dans le secteur du bâtiment, la norme EN 15804 structure les modules du cycle de vie de A1 à D et harmonise les indicateurs environnementaux à déclarer. Elle constitue une référence pour l’évaluation environnementale des produits de construction.
Note: Depending on the programme operator, specific rules and additional requirements may apply to EPDs.
What are the different types of EPDs?
Individual EPDs
Specific to a manufacturer and a given production site, it reflects the actual environmental performance of a product. It serves as a competitive differentiator when a company demonstrates performance superior to sector averages.
Collective or sector EPD
Developed for a professional association, it is based on average data. This approach allows costs to be shared while meeting minimum regulatory requirements.
The development of an EPD
The development of an EPD follows a structured, sequential process. Each step determines the scientific robustness of the final document
Definition of the scope
Data collection and modelling
Standardised drafting
Independent verification
The average duration of the process generally ranges from three to six months, depending on the complexity of the product and the availability of industrial data
How is a EPD verified?
The verification of an EPD complies with the requirements of the international ISO 14025 standard (Type III environmental declarations), the Product Category Rules (PCR) specific to the product family, and, depending on the sector, additional industry-specific standards.
The objective of this verification is to ensure that:
Verification is a mandatory condition for the EPD to be published in an official registry or a recognised database (such as the International EPD System). Without this step, the document is not considered a compliant EPD.
Why use an EPD expert?
Verification is a mandatory requirement for an EPD to be published in an official registry or a recognised database (such as the International EPD System). Without this step, the document is not considered a compliant EPD..
WeLOOP supports you
We provide a rigorous, independent, and compliance-oriented methodological approach.