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Create Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in Compliance with Standards

Versandhülse aus Karton mit Etikett als Symbol für Produktkennzeichnung und EPDs

Transparent, verified environmental data for your products – the foundation for building certifications, procurement, and sustainable business practices.

An increasing number of companies face the requirement to transparently and comprehensively disclose the environmental impacts of their products: whether to customers, wholesalers, investors, or in tenders. The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is the internationally recognized tool for this purpose. Based on a life cycle assessment according to ISO 14040/44 and industry-specific standards such as EN 15804 for construction materials, it documents the potential environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle – standardized, independently verified, and published according to ISO 14025..

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What is an Environmental Product Declaration?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document that objectively and scientifically represents the environmental characteristics of a product or product group. Unlike the Blue Angel or the EU Ecolabel, an EPD is not a quality seal but a neutral information document.

The basis of the EPD is a life cycle assessment (LCA), which captures all relevant environmental impacts throughout the entire product life cycle: from raw material extraction to disposal.

The results are documented according to a standardized format and are verified by an independent body for completeness, plausibility, and compliance with standards before being published.

Why Environmental Declarations Are Becoming Increasingly Relevant

Many companies are faced with the question of whether they need an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – and when. The answer includes two aspects: growing legal obligations at the EU level and specific market and competitive advantages that result from having an EPD.

Legal Requirements Concerning Environmental Information

EU – Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR): The ESPR will gradually introduce the Digital Product Passport (DPP) starting in 2026 as a cross-cutting instrument for nearly all product groups. Environmental Product Declarations provide the verified environmental data that will fill the mandatory fields of the DPP.

EU – Construction Products Regulation (CPR 2024): From January 2026 to 2032, environmental information for construction products will gradually become mandatory, with a phased approach based on product category. EPDs according to EN 15804 are the recognized format for the construction-specific DPP and will be included in the new Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC).

Switzerland – Unfair Competition Act (UWG): Since January 2025, a reversal of the burden of proof applies: those making climate-related product claims must be able to objectively and verifiably substantiate them. An EPD is not mandatory but serves as the most robust proof to meet this requirement.

What Are the Benefits of Environmental Product Declarations?

Market Access: An EPD is increasingly becoming a mandatory proof – whether for building certifications like DGNB, LEED, and BREEAM, in public procurement procedures with sustainability criteria (BNB, QNG), or for wholesalers demanding environmental evidence as a performance requirement.

Transparency and Credibility: Independently verified environmental data builds trust – with planners and clients who prefer or require products with an EPD, with investors who use EPD data as proof for sustainable financing and ESG reporting, and with business partners who increasingly demand verified environmental evidence.

Product Optimization: An EPD highlights the life cycle phases where the greatest environmental impacts occur, enabling targeted optimizations, from raw material selection to production energy.

What Types of Environmental Product Declarations Are There?

Cradle-to-GateManufacturing phase (minimal scope)

Only allowed for construction products in exceptional cases
Primarily used for supply chain comparisons in electronic products

Cradle-to-Gate with Options

Manufacturing phase plus selected additional phases
Standard type for construction products (EN 15804), including Modules C and D
Meets the requirements of most tenders

Cradle-to-Grave

Full life cycle
Basis for building certifications (DGNB, LEED, BREEAM)
Standard for electronic products due to high environmental impact during the use phase

Content of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

An EPD functions like a profile – compact and standardized. Based on a life cycle assessment, it makes the environmental impacts of a product transparent. It contains:

Technical Product Description: Identification of the product, raw materials, and manufacturing process – e.g., bulk density and mass reference for construction material EPDs or performance data and components for electronic products.
Technical Performance Proofs: Evidence of the product’s functional quality – e.g., sound insulation, fire behavior, or thermal conductivity for construction products; energy efficiency class or lifespan for electronic products.
Life Cycle Declaration: Representation of environmental impacts by life cycle phase – structured according to EN 15804 in Modules A–D, or EN 50693 into Upstream, Core, and Downstream phases.
Environmental Indicators: Quantified results of the life cycle assessment – including GWP (Global Warming Potential), ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential), AP (Acidification Potential), EP (Eutrophication Potential), POCP (Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential), ADP (Abiotic Depletion Potential), WDP (Water Use Potential).
Data Quality Information: Sources, age, and geographical representativeness of the data used – typically manufacturer-specific primary data for their own production, supplemented by generic background data for the supply chain.
Validity Period: 5 years from publication.

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Credible Environmental Declarations Based on Standards

Methodological Foundation: ISO 14040/44

ISO 14040 and 14044 form the foundation of every EPD
Regulate the methodology for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Capture mass and energy flows
Calculate environmental impacts across the entire product life cycle

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Publication and Verification: ISO 14025

ISO 14025 defines the framework for publication
Neutral presentation of results, independent verification by third parties
Requirements for program operators
Validity period of five years

Industry Rules: EPDs According to EN 15804 & Co.

Sector standards specify requirements for individual industries
Examples: EN 15804 for construction products or EN 50693 for electronics
Product group-specific rules (PCR) ensure comparability within a category
Examples: windows & doors, insulation materials, or lighting

Creating Your EPD Made Easy: The Process with intep

We support you from the initial consultation to the final EPD: You bring product knowledge, we bring expertise in life cycle assessments (LCA Consulting) and a network of accredited reviewers. In collaboration with recognized program holders, we ensure that your Environmental Product Declaration complies with relevant standards and industry rules, and is published on time.

Initial Consultation & Goal Definition: We discuss the intended use – whether compliance, building certification, tenders, or marketing – clarify the desired EPD type (product or product group), and select the appropriate program holder and, if necessary, the relevant PCR.
Data Collection Support: We create a data collection form, advise on data quality, and assist in closing data gaps – including coordination with your suppliers.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): We calculate the environmental impacts according to relevant standards and PCRs, using recognized background databases and certified LCA software.
EPD Creation: We document the results in a standard-compliant format, including a background report (methodology, data basis, calculations, interpretation).
Independent Verification:We prepare all documents, handle communication with the accredited reviewer, and make necessary adjustments.
Publication (Optional): Upon request, we assist with entering the data on the EPD platform and registering with the program holder.

We Support You in Creating Your Environmental Product Declaration

From data collection to life cycle assessment and verified publication: We assist in creating standard-compliant EPDs, regardless of the industry, with years of experience. Contact us – together, we’ll find the right solution for your product.

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