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.
What is an EPD?
An EPD is a Type III environmental declaration based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It provides quantified environmental indicators covering the entire life cycle of a product: raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, installation, use phase, and end-of-life.
The environmental indicators typically included cover, among others, global warming potential, primary energy consumption, abiotic resource depletion, acidification, and waste generation. These data enable specifiers, design offices, and project owners to objectively integrate environmental performance into their decision-making.
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..
Faciliter l’amélioration continue et le benchmarking global
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: international framework
ISO 14025 defines the principles of Type III environmental declarations. It requires the use of Product Category Rules (PCR), an LCA methodology compliant with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, as well as independent verification.
EN 15804: European reference for construction.
In the construction sector, EN 15804 defines the life cycle modules (A1 to D) and harmonises the environmental indicators to be reported. It is now a cornerstone of building carbon assessments and the RE2020 environmental regulation.
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.