The Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) have established themselves as a key tool for contributing to the environmental transparency, comparability y credibility in increasingly demanding markets. In the construction sector - where materials and products determine a substantial part of the environmental impact of buildings - EPDs play a strategic role for manufacturers, specifiers, developers and public administrations alike.
What is an EPD (Environmental Label Type III)?
A EPD is a environmental label type IIIin accordance with the standard ISO 14025which communicates quantified, objective and verified information on the environmental performance of a product throughout its life cycle. LIFE CYCLE. Unlike other ecolabels:
- It does not set thresholds or value judgements. ("better" or "worse").
- It presents results based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)..
- It is verified by an independent third partyThis ensures its reliability.
EPDs are prepared under Product Category Rules (PCR) The LCA should be conducted and how the results should be presented in order to ensure the comparability between equivalent products.
Stages or phases for the elaboration of an EPD
The elaboration of an EPD is a technical and structured process that usually follows these steps:
- Definition of the scope and selection of the PCR
The PCR applicable to the product is identified and system boundaries (e.g. cradle to gate, cradle to grave or other) are defined. - Data collection and Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)
Primary data is collected from the production process (energy consumption, raw materials, waste, emissions) and secondary data from recognised databases where appropriate. - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Environmental impacts are assessed according to standardised categories (climate change, resource depletion, acidification, eutrophication, among others). - Drafting the SPU
The LCA results are structured according to the PCR and the format of the corresponding EPD programme. - External verification
An independent verifier reviews the study and validates the EPD. - Registration and publication
The EPD is registered in an official programme and made available to the market, usually with a validity of five years.
Benefits of having an EPD for a manufacturer
From a manufacturer's perspective, having an EPD goes far beyond regulatory compliance:
- Credibility and transparency
Independent verification reinforces the confidence of customers and prescribers. - Competitive advantage
In mature markets, having EPDs can be a decisive factor against competitors without verified environmental information. - Access to new markets and projects
Especially in public works and projects with high sustainability standards. - Better knowledge of one's own production process
The LCA reveals critical points in material, energy, waste and effluent flows, among others, throughout the product life cycle. - Preparing for future regulatory requirements
Anticipating reduces risks and adaptation costs.
The role of EPDs in the construction sector
The construction sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. In this context, EPDs have become a key element in the essential tool for informed decision-making.
EPDs allow for:
- Compare construction products with homogeneous criteria.
- Calculate the environmental impact of entire buildingsas EPD data feeds into building LCA tools.
- Contributing to sustainable building certifications (such as LEED, BREEAM or GREEN).
- Reply to Green public tenderswhere verifiable environmental information is increasingly required.
For architects, engineers and developers, EPDs provide the technical basis for designing buildings with a smaller environmental footprint.
LCA as a driver of product eco-design
One of the greatest added values of an EPD lies in the Life Cycle Analysis that underpins it. The LCA is not only a reporting tool, but also a strategic instrument for improvement.
Thanks to LCA, manufacturers can:
- Identifying the most impactful stages of the life cycle (raw materials, energy consumption, transport, end of life, etc.).
- Evaluate alternative scenarios design, materials or production processes.
- Reducing environmental impacts without compromising technical performance.
- Innovating more efficient, durable and circular products.
This approach makes the EPD a direct leverage for eco-designaligning environmental sustainability, productive efficiency and business competitiveness.
Conclusion
Environmental Product Declarations have become an important tool for the key to the new paradigm of sustainable construction. They provide transparency, technical rigour and comparability, while helping manufacturers to improve their processes and products. In an increasingly demanding regulatory and market context, EPDs do not only respond to a demand for information: anticipate the future of the sectorwhere environmental performance will be as relevant as technical or economic performance.
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