EPD

An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a standardised, third-party verified document that states a product's environmental impact over its life cycle, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and resource consumption. The figures are based on a life-cycle assessment carried out under common rules for the product group. An EPD does not say whether a product is "green", only what its figures are.

An EPD is one of several types of declaration you will meet in public procurement. Unlike an eco-label, it gives no approval, but figures you can compare and use in carbon accounting.

How does an EPD work?

EPDs are drawn up under ISO 14025, which covers Type III environmental declarations. For construction products, EN 15804+A2 also applies. The calculation itself is a life-cycle assessment (LCA) under ISO 14040 and 14044, following product category rules (PCR) that make sure similar products are calculated the same way.

The figure you will see most often in tenders is GWP (Global Warming Potential): greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO₂e per declared unit. The life cycle is split into modules. A1–A3 cover production, A4 transport to site and A5 construction. Modules B, C and D cover use, end of life and recovery.

An independent verifier checks the EPD before it is published by a programme operator. Examples include EPD-Norge in Norway, the International EPD System in Sweden and IBU in Germany. Most are members of the European umbrella body ECO Platform. An EPD is normally valid for five years.

Contracting authorities can use EPDs in three ways when applying climate and environmental considerations:

• As a minimum requirement in the requirements specification: For example "max X kg CO₂e per m³ of concrete", documented with an EPD.
• As an award criterion: The lowest GWP among comparable products scores best.
• As a data source for building carbon accounts: Building-level calculations under EN 15978, and national rules such as Norway's TEK17 § 17-1, draw their figures from EPDs.

Requirements for EPDs must be proportionate, and authorities must accept equivalent documentation. Also note the difference from a labelling scheme: eco-labels such as the Nordic Swan and the EU Ecolabel are Type I labels under ISO 14024 and give a pass or fail against fixed criteria. An EPD is Type III and gives quantitative figures for comparison.

An example: a concrete producer supplies a new municipal school where the tender requires low-carbon concrete. The producer submits a project-specific EPD showing that GWP for A1–A3 is below the limit set by the contracting authority. The figures go straight into the contractor's carbon account for the building.

Why does an EPD matter for suppliers?

Without an EPD, you cannot document the climate figures for your product. Your customer often has to use generic values instead, and these are usually higher than the figures for your actual product. A good EPD can therefore earn you, and the contractor you supply, a better score.

An EPD is also reusable: once you have it, you can use it in every tender during its validity period. Tools like Cobrief help you see which tenders require EPDs or weight greenhouse gas emissions, so you know what to have ready.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EPD the same as an eco-label?

No. An eco-label shows that a product meets certain requirements. An EPD only gives the figures, without saying whether they are good or bad.

How long is an EPD valid?

Normally five years. If the environmental indicators get significantly worse during that period, the EPD must be updated.

Can we use an industry-average EPD?

Often, yes. Many authorities accept industry or sector EPDs. A product-specific EPD still gives more accurate figures, and often lower ones.

In short: an EPD is a product's carbon account on paper. It gives the contracting authority figures to compare and gives you documentation to compete with.