Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
With an EPD, you demonstrate the environmental performance of your products according to international standards—boosting credibility and gaining a competitive advantage.
Communicating environmental impacts transparently
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a Type III environmental declaration that quantifies environmental information from the life cycle of a product or service. An EPD makes products and services comparable and is based on independently verified data from life cycle assessments (LCAs) or life cycle information modules in accordance with the ISO 14040 series. It may also include additional information where applicable. For example, official authorities in the construction sector and the European Plastics Industry Association publish standardized methodologies for EPDs.
EPDs are used in the Assessment System for Sustainable Building (Bewertungssystem Nachhaltiges Bauen or BNB) in Germany, as well as in the German Sustainable Building Council (Deutschen Gütesiegel für Nachhaltiges Bauen or DGNB) certification. They serve as a data foundation for calculating the life cycle assessment (e.g., embodied energy) and/or the energy consumption of a building. This allows different building design options to be compared for their environmental performance already in the planning phase. With over 1,300 EPDs, the construction industry is a pioneer in disclosing environmental data for its products.
Information provided in an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
An Environmental Product Declaration is prepared in accordance with the DIN EN 15804 standard, ensuring consistent assessment and comparability of EPDs. At the heart of an EPD is the life cycle assessment (LCA), which covers the entire life cycle of a product—from raw material extraction and production through the use phase to disposal. In addition, it includes a life cycle inventory (LCI), a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and other indicators, such as the type and amount of waste generated.
The Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) provides information on resource consumption (water, energy, emissions, etc.). The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) builds on the inventory and shows the environmental impacts, which include:
- Greenhouse effect (CO2-equivalents)
- Acidification of water and soil
- Depletion of fossil and mineral energy resources
- Impact on the stratospheric ozone layer
- Eutrophication: human-induced increase in nutrient levels in water bodies
- Formation of oxidants: substances capable of oxidizing other substances
- A1–A3: Cradle-to-Gate (from raw material extraction to the factory gate
- A1–A3+ e.g., C2–C4: Cradle-to-Gate with Options (from raw material extraction to the factory gate, including selected downstream processes)
- A1–C4: Cradle-to-Grave (from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal)
Classification of life cycle information into modules
Modules A1–A3 (production phase)
The production phase includes the provision of all materials, products, and energy, as well as waste processing up to the end of on-site treatment or disposal.
- A1: Raw materials
- A2: Transport of raw materials and auxiliary materials to the manufacturer
- A3: Manufacturing of products and all upstream processes from cradle to factory gate
Modules A4-A5 (construction phase)
The construction phase covers all impacts related to transportation to the construction site and on-site activities.
- A4: Transport to the construction site
- A5: Installation or incorporation into the building
Modules B1-B7 (use phase)
The use phase should capture all impacts associated with the use of the building over the product's entire lifecycle.
- B1: Use and/or application
- B2: Maintenance
- B3: Repair
- B4: Replacement
- B5: Renovation
- B6: Operational energy use
- B7: Operational water use
Modules C1-C4 (end-of-life-phase)
The end-of-life phase covers the deconstruction and demolition of the building and considers impacts from transportation to disposal sites and waste management.
- C1: Deconstruction and demolition
- C2: Transport to disposal and recycling facilities
- C3: Waste processing for reuse, recovery, and/or recycling
- C4: Disposal
Module D (supplementary information)
Module D covers the net benefits and burdens resulting from the reuse of products, recycling, or energy recovery from waste materials.
With an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), you receive a scientifically robust and standardized life cycle assessment for your products. Transparently show your customers and partners the environmental impacts of your products and strengthen your sustainability strategy. Contact us today for personalized advice!
