Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

The Environmental Product Declaration is a transparent, objective and standardized document that provides information on the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle. EPD is based on methodology LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and enables the quantification of the environmental impacts associated with the production, use and disposal of the product. This document is certified by an independent third party, which increases its speed for consumers and investors.

Content of the EPD document

The EPD contains detailed information on various environmental baselines and impacts. These include:

1. Information on production inputs – Consumption of raw materials, energy and water necessary for production.
2. Outputs and emissions – Emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, waste materials and other harmful substances released during production.
3. Life cycle data – Dividing the life cycle into periods such as extraction of raw materials, production, transportation, use of the product and its disposal.
4. Impact categories – Category such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, consumption of primary resources and other factors affecting the environment.

The EPD must comply with the relevant standards set by legislation and ISO standards. This standardized approach must meet consumer requirements that EP results are comparable between products of the same type, allowing informed decisions to be made based on environmental criteria.

EPD creation process

The creation of the EPD takes place in the following steps:

1. Definition of goal and scope – The purpose of the EPD is established and the boundaries of the system to be evaluated are defined.
2. Data Collection and Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) – Data on all inputs (materials, energy) and outputs (emissions, waste) of the product will be answered.
3. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) – The environmental impacts of the product are evaluated.
4. Interpretation and validation of results – The results are interpreted so that the conclusions are understandable. Subsequently, the EPD is verified by an independent third party.

Standards and legislation regulating EPD

EPD is governed by international standards and European legislation, which ensure transparency and uniformity of documents:

• ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 standards – ISO 14025 sets the rules for the so-called environmental declaration type III, which are EPDs verified by an independent party. The ISO 21930 standard specifies rules for construction products, thus ensuring compatibility between EPD results in the construction industry.
• European standard EN 15804 – This standard is the basic standard for construction products within the European Union. It defines the rules and methods for carrying out EPDs for construction materials and ensures their uniformity throughout the EU.
• Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) – This directive supports the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. In this context, EPD is a recommended tool for quantifying environmental impacts and promoting sustainable products.
• Gre Claims Initiative The upcoming regulation sets the conditions for environmental burden - the EPD provides these claims in accordance with the data on the product's impact on the environment.

Importance of EPD in practice

EPD is an important tool that allows a company to demonstrate its environmental responsibility. The document provides valuable information for:

1. Customers and consumers – It helps them make decisions based on environmental criteria, which increases confidence in a product with a lower ecological impact.
2. Businesses and investors – Allows companies to obtain certificates such as LEED , BREEAM and other sustainable awards. EPD is a current requirement for markets with high sustainability standards.
3. Public administration bodies – They help in the introduction of measures and fiscal incentives to support ecological products and services.

EPD contributes to sustainability in various industries by promoting transparency and enabling the comparison of environmental impacts of products. In the construction industry, where ecological certificates such as LEED and BREEAM are a common standard, EPD is a key tool based on a responsible approach to the environment.

Conclusion

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an important document that promotes sustainability by providing transparent information about the ecological impact of products. Thanks to EPD, companies can contribute not only to their environmental responsibility, but also to meet the requirements of customers, investors and legislative standards, thereby increasing competitiveness in the market. Co2AI