What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?

How are EPDs created? 

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are created through a standardised, rigorous process that ensures comparability, transparency, and credibility. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how they are developed. 

1. Define the Product Category Rules (PCR)

Every EPD must follow a Product Category Rule. This set of requirements ensures consistency across similar product types. The purpose of this is to align methodology, scope, and impact categories for a specific product group. PCRs are usually published by EPD programme operators like BRE, UL Environment, and EPD International. 

2. Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

An LCA evaluates the environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle, typically using standards like ISO 14040/14044. It includes a number of stages – cradle-to-grave (full life cycle), cradle-to-gate (up to factory gate), or modular stages (production, construction, use, end-of-life). Primary data and secondary data are gathered to assess the environmental impacts of products. Some of the impacts measured with an LCA include ozone depletion, eutrophication, resource use, water use, global warming potential, and acidification.

3. Compile the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) document

The EPD report gathers and presents the LCA data in a digestible, standardised format. It includes the following:

• Product description
• Manufacturing process overview
• Functional unit and declared unit
• Life cycle inventory and impact results
• Data sources and assumptions  
• References to PCR and standards used

4. Third-party verification

Before publication, the EPD must undergo independent verification by  an accredited verifier to ensure: 

• Compliance with the relevant PCR
• Accuracy and reliability of data
• Transparency and reproductivity

This step builds credibility and trust among stakeholders.

5. Register and publish via a Programme Operator

Once verified, the EPD is published and made publicly accessible via a Programme Operator such as the EPD International, UL Environment, or BRE Global. These organisations also manage PCR development and maintain databases of published EPDs. 

6. Maintain and update

EPDs are valid for a specific period of time (usually 5 years) and must be updated when the product or manufacturing process changes significantly or the PCR is revised or superseded. 

Environmental Product Declaration examples

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are used across multiple industries to improve transparency and reduce environmental impact. Below are some Environmental Product Declaration examples that show how different sectors apply EPDs to support sustainability goals and compliance.

1. Construction and building materials

EPDs are widely used in the construction industry to evaluate the environmental impact of materials like steel, insulation, timber, and concrete. They are essential for green building certifications such as BREEAM and LEED, and are increasingly required in life cycle carbon and public procurement assessments. 

2. Consumer products and packaging

In consumer markets, EPDs give brands a credible way to communicate product sustainability. They help avoid greenwashing by providing verified environmental data, generally used on product labels, in marketing, or during product development to drive green design. 

3. Manufacturing and supply chains

Manufacturers leverage EPDs to meet the demands of buyers seeking environmentally responsible components. This is particularly vital in sectors like electronics, automotive, and industrial equipment, where suppliers must provide transparency on lifecycle impacts. 

4. Infrastructure and public projects

Governments and infrastructure developers often mandate EPDs in procurement to compare environmental performance fairly. EPDs support environmental impact assessments for public works like bridges, roads, and transit systems. 

5. Corporate sustainability and ESG reporting

EPDSs support corporate reporting and target-setting by offering standardised, product-level data for Scope 3 emissions. They feed into broader strategies, helping companies meet frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). 

6. Circular economy and design innovation

EPDs are increasingly used in circular design to identify lower-impact materials and optimise lifecycle performance. Engineers and designers use them to compare alternatives and reduce resource use from the outset. 

Benefits of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental certification 

The benefits of product declarations and environmental certification span across environmental, commercial, regulatory, and reputational dimensions. Together, they provide a powerful foundation for credible sustainability action and communication.

Credible environmental transparency

Product declarations like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) offer independently verified, standardised data about a product’s environmental impacts across its life cycle. This builds trust with investors, customers, and regulators by replacing vague claims with evidence-based information. 

Informed procurement and design decisions

EPDs help buyers, specifiers, and designers compare products based on environmental performance. This supports eco-design strategies, low-impact product selection, and circular innovation.

Compliance with certifications and regulations

Environmental certifications and declarations support compliance with regional and global frameworks like CSRD, BREEAM, LEED, or the EU Taxonomy. Moreover, in public tenders, they are often mandatory. 

Market differentiation 

Being able to demonstrate verified sustainability performance positions a business or product ahead of its competitors. It’s particularly valuable for B2B supply chains, where sustainability credentials influence procurement decisions. 

Support for Scope 3 and ESG reporting

Environmental product declarations provide quantifiable data that feed into ESG disclosures and corporate emissions inventories, especially Scope 3. For instance, a sustainability offer may leverage EPD data to measure the embodied carbon of purchased materials. 

Drive continuous improvement

By measuring environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle, EPDs reveal inefficiencies and hotspots. This allows organisations to reduce energy use, emissions, and material waste over time. 

Final thoughts

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming a baseline expectation in sectors driven by regulation, reputation, and resource responsibility. With reporting requirements tightening under frameworks like the CSRD and customer demand for transparent products growing, EPDs will be central to how businesses communicate impact and compete in a climate-conscious economy. Looking ahead, AI-enabled lifecycle assessments, digital product passports, and more accessible verification schemes will likely accelerate the adoption of EPDs across sectors. Ultimately, EPDs are becoming a strategic asset for driving innovation, building trust, and staying ahead of the curve.