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What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
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It’s evident that amongst the global effort to push for more sustainable products, that it is becoming more difficult to acquire the “seal of approval” on behalf of investors, customers, and stakeholders on your product – but an Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD for short, could help with in this scenario.
An Environmental Product Declaration can help users and potential stakeholders to better understand the product they are investing or purchasing – demonstrating how an Environmental Product Declaration could help to save time when trying to illustrate the environmental impact of your product to key actors.
👉 In this article, we’ll review what an Environmental Product Declaration is, why it is important, and how your company can acquire its own Environmental Product Declaration.
What is an Environmental Product Declaration?
An Environmental Product Declaration, often shortened as EPD, refers to the document which offers an in-depth analysis of a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle.
“ In light of their similarities, an Environmental Product Declaration was developed as a result a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – which is a process dedicated towards determining the environmental impact of a product from sourcing raw materials to when it is thrown away by the consumer. ”
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👉 An Environmental Product Declaration is most relevant for customers seeking to better understand the environmental impact of the product they purchased, and for key stakeholders interested in learning more about the product in the event they seek to invest in the product itself.
Usually, an Environmental Product Declaration delineates data regarding a products:
- Energy consumption, such as how much power an iPhone uses over the course of its lifespan;
- Resources used via supply chains or steps taken for ethical sourcing;
- Overall emissions created in production and use of the product;
- Waste produced once the consumer discards the product, such as the GHG emissions caused by the product sitting in landfills.
👉 In addition to this, Environmental Product Declarations often also includes the potential for a product’s emissions to be reduced on behalf of the user – such as by recycling the product or seeking to charge the battery to optimal levels.
Why is an Environmental Product Declaration important and what are the benefits?
An Environmental Product Declaration is important as it can help companies to mitigate transition risks, practice greater transparency, develop more trusting relationships with their customers and stakeholders, and comply more easily with upcoming environmental regulations.
The global push for more sustainable businesses has put undeniable pressure on companies around the world to put their best green-foot-forward on at all times – and while this is stressful, an Environmental Product Declaration could help make it easier for companies to cope with all of the unprecedented changes in the market.
“ Think of someone who travels often: odds are, they never fully unpack their suitcase and keep a running tab of what needs to be taken out or added to their packing list accordingly. This allows someone who travels often to always have a base set-up to prevent needing to pack from scratch every single time. The same goes for companies that acquire an Environmental Product Declaration, as it can provide a starting point for companies required to comply with other regulations or climate disclosures. ”
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Benefits of Being Recognized by the International EPD System
Some additional benefits companies may experience when choosing to seek an Environmental Product Declaration Include:
- Greater Sustainability and Reduced Environmental Impact – As an Environmental Product Declaration depicts a product's impact on the planet in detail, it can encourage companies to make additional changes to further reduce their environmental impact in the future. Think of when you get a good score on a test, and as a reward – you get a piece of chocolate cake. Doesn’t that motivate you to succeed a second time? The same goes for an EPD, as it can challenge companies to set even greater goals towards improved sustainability.
- Improved Transparency & Trust – Much of sustainability begins with transparency, and one of the best ways to build these more trusting relationships with your key stakeholders is through voluntary disclosures such as an Environmental Product Declaration. This allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to environmental reform while simultaneously attracting new customers and investors.
- More Efficient Sustainable Supply Chain Management – Oftentimes, an EPD will incentivize companies to further engage with their suppliers to reduce their emissions together and ultimately improve the life-cycle of a product. Therefore, seeking to acquire an Environmental Product Declaration can encourage greater collaboration and the development of new, more sustainable products.
- Improved Decision-Making – Taking note of what is currently depicted in your company’s EPD can help improve your decision-making process in the future, as your business will have acquired new knowledge on what is beneficial and what hinders your progress in achieving your environmental goals. This could include making smarter choices regarding energy consumption, water usage, or encouraging employees to take public transit.
- New & Genuine Ideas for Marketing & Product Branding – Making the effort to acquire an Environmental Product Declaration can provide new marketing tactics for your company, and will help to prevent accusations against greenwashing. Ultimately, this can allow your company to develop new partnerships and marketing campaigns to further promote and expand your business.
- Avoid Legal Issues & Easier to Comply with Environmental Regulations – Although an Environmental Product Declaration isn’t a requirement across the world, many regions have already made climate disclosures mandatory – meaning an EPD could serve as viable, supporting documentation for other environmental regulations. As a result, this means that an Environmental Product Declaration can indirectly help companies to avoid legal fines – as an EPD can help to demonstrate compliance.
👉 Overall, an Environmental Product Declaration can help to boost a company’s brand image, improve their supply chain management, and ultimately improve the efficiency and performance of their business.
Is an Environmental Product Declaration required?
Across the majority of the world, an Environmental Product Declaration is not required by law.
However, this doesn’t mean that singular countries will not strive to make an EPD compulsory in various regions or under specific circumstances – such as an area or region of the world making an extensive effort to reduce its environmental impact.
Examples of EPD Being Required
“ An example of this is how the EU has decided to put measures in place requiring businesses to publicly disclose information regarding the environmental impact of their products – such as with the Construction Items Regulation (CPR), which requires businesses to draft an Environmental Product Declaration in order to comply. ”
💡 In addition to this, the U.S. employs EPD with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – and although they these EPD international efforts operate on opposite sides of the pond, both protocols work to avoid the embodied carbon created by construction projects.
While an Environmental Product Declaration in most countries, regions such as the European Union have implemented the use of EPDs across the market in order to serve as a form of compliance.
Some examples of this include:
- European Green Deal
- EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)
- EU Carbon Border Tax tied to Imports
- Various Green Building Schemes such as LEED
- Various Efforts to Manage Supply Chain
- Various ISO standards such as ISO 14025
EPD Case Study with Finland & Sweden
A real life example of EPD helping a company is with the construction that takes place in Nordic countries as an effort to avoid excess emissions.
Countries such as Finland and Sweden have been particularity successful with this by using products with confirmed via EPD data to help reduce the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of their construction projects. This ultimately helps to keep track of embodied carbon, keep LCA in mind, and reduce the environmental impact created by the construction sector.
For example, Finland initially measured a bitumen waterproofing membranem, used for roofing shingles, at it's standard GWP of .4 kg CO2e /kg. However, after making use of a conversion factor to better understand the true impact of these construction materials – Finland came up with 0.48 kg CO2e /kg.
💡 Overestimating the environmental impact of the materials to be used has helped countries like Finland to choose different products that not only help to reduce the total GWP value of their construction projects, but help to ensure that an EPD can be effectively pursued.
EPD Case Study with Saint Gobain Glass
Another example referring to how EPD can help to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry, Saint Gobain Glass benefited from EPD as it allowed the to share the environmental impacts of their raw material extraction and LCA process to develop their products candidly.
In turn, this has helped them not only to improve their EPD reports or to reduce the environmental impact of their construction projects – but has helped to make them a preferred supplier by boosting their brand reputation.
👉 Ultimately, an Environmental Product Declaration has proved useful as a way for companies to demonstrate their competence and efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their products – paving a way for them to not only adhere with new environmental regulations, but acquire other sustainability standards as well.
What is the difference between a Health Product Declaration (HPD) and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
The difference between a Health Product Declaration (HPD) and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is that a Health Product Declaration refers to how a product may impact one’s health while an Environmental Product Declaration focuses on the impact a product has on the environment.
What is an HPD?
“ A Health Product Declaration (HPD) is primarily focused on evaluating a product for its potential health hazards and impact on someone’s physical shape, while an Environmental Product Declaration is predominantly concerned about the environmental impact a product creates. ”
Differences between HDP & EDP
Still, there are multiple differences between EPDs and HPDs, such as how:
- EPDs focus on the life-cycle and environmental impact of a product whereas HPDs center around a product’s ingredients and how they could impact human health;
- EPDs are often more complex and time consuming in comparison to HPDs;
- EPDs must enlist a program operator or third-party for acquisition, whereas a HPD can be self-published almost instantaneously by a company.
👉 Despite their differences, both an Environmental Product Declaration and a Health Product Declaration are beneficial certifications for companies to acquire in order to boost the longevity and safety of their products.
Comparison Between Health Product Declarations (HPD) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
| Criteria | Health Product Declaration (HPD) | Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To disclose the health impacts of building materials and products by identifying potentially hazardous substances. | To provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle. |
| Focus | Health and safety of materials used in products. | Environmental performance and sustainability of products. |
| Content | Includes information on the chemicals and substances used in a product, their health hazards, and compliance with health standards. | Includes lifecycle assessment data such as resource use, energy consumption, emissions, and environmental impacts. |
| Standardization | Based on the Health Product Declaration Open Standard. | Based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards for lifecycle assessment. |
| Target Audience | Architects, designers, builders, and consumers concerned with material health and safety. | Environmental scientists, sustainability professionals, and regulatory bodies. |
| Data Source | Manufacturer’s disclosure of ingredients and associated health information. | Lifecycle assessment (LCA) data collected from product manufacturers and standardized databases. |
| Certification | Can be self-declared by manufacturers or third-party verified. | Often requires third-party verification to ensure accuracy and reliability of data. |
| Examples of Use | Used in green building certification programs like LEED to ensure healthier indoor environments. | Used in environmental certifications like LEED, BREEAM, and other green building rating systems. |
How can you acquire an Environmental Product Declaration?
An Environmental Product Declaration can only be acquired by conducting a relevant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and afterwards, usually through the assistance of a third-party to develop the EPD in accordance with the results acquired from the LCA.
“ It is important to realize that the time and effort necessary to curate a sufficient Environmental Product Declaration will be contingent on the complexity of your product, your current supply chain, and how much data your company currently has available. ”
👉 Therefore, companies that are already committed to working with a carbon accounting company like Greenly might find it easier to develop an EPD. Although it can prove time consuming and tedious, once approved – an Environmental Product Declaration will remain valid for up to five years.
Steps to Develop an EDP
Developing an Environmental Product Declaration often requires the following:
- Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment – This step is imperative to the creation of any EPD, as it cannot be done without first conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on your product. Usually, this requires collecting data on how the materials for the product are sourced, how it is manufactured, and how the product is distributed and disposed of after use.
- Commit to Third-Party Review – Oftentimes, it’s best to resort to the use of a third party to verify your LCA and ensure no crucial information is missing before proceeding to develop your Environmental Product Declaration. This often requires a signature from your third-party to legitimize your Life-Cycle Analysis.
- Create an EPD – Afterwards, your team of choice can use your LCA to develop an Environmental Product Declaration.
- Register & Publish the EPD – Once your Environmental Product Declaration is complete, you can register your EPD so that it can be made available for public display for anyone interested – such as customers and potential investors.
What is a life cycle assessment?
A life cycle assessment refers to the process of determining a product or services environmental impact over the course of its life – such as from material extraction, delivery, to disposal. Taking this step can not only help your company comply with EPD, but reveal additional ways to decrease your company's current environmental footprint.
Additional Requirements for Environmental Product Declarations (EDP)
Some additional requirements for those looking to get their Environmental Product Declarations approved by the International EPD system include:
- Conducting a life cycle assessment to determine a product's environmental performance, life cycle stages, global warming potential, and overall environmental impacts
- Identify the product category rule to determine the environmental results most relevant for your EPD verification process
- Looking into which product category rules your product or service falls under, such as type iii environmental declarations, to help EPD program operators better process your type iii environmental declaration and its more relevant environmental impact categories
- Acquire mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) to ensure greater international organization in terms of sharing and acceptance of environmentally responsible product-related information across different regions or countries. This can help the global economy by encouraging various industries such as the construction sector and their construction materials, material extraction, and EPD verification process to be made easy via standardization and increased credibility.
Closing Thoughts on EDP
👉 Remember, having a verified EPD can also help your company to build an eco platform, more easily adhere to other auditing services such as SCS global services, and ultimately gain a competitive advantage – making the complex process of drafting an LCA report and an EPD report or EPD document worthwhile.
All in all, an Environmental Product Declaration is a great way to practice greater transparency and show the world your efforts to reduce your environmental impact. The process may seem overwhelming, but we promise – with the help of Greenly, we can make acquiring your Environmental Product Declaration and plenty of other certifications seem like a piece of cake.
What about Greenly?
If reading this article about the Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
Seeking to understand how an Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, could have an impact on your business can prove difficult to understand, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help! Click here to book a demo and get personalized expertise on how you can start to reduce your own emissions and decrease your environmental impact.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
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