Environmental Product Declarations for Global Growth
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are now a cornerstone for companies seeking credibility and global reach. Fuelled by surging sustainability requirements, EPDs are not just voluntary—they’re being built into procurement rules, product regulations, and ESG rating frameworks across major economies.
What Are Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)?
An EPD is a standardized, third-party-verified document disclosing the quantified environmental impacts of a product across its life cycle (“cradle to grave”). EPDs must align with ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations), EN 15804 for construction products (Europe’s core rule), and sometimes ISO 21930 for building and engineering materials.
Why EPDs Matter
Transparency & Credibility: Unlike marketing labels, EPDs draw from independently verified Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), ensuring reliability and comparability across suppliers.
Global Market Access: Over 30 countries—across the EU, Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway), UK, and Australia—require EPDs in public procurement and green building certifications. They are also increasingly favored as a benchmark for sustainable practices.
Competitive Edge: Sectors like construction, steel, and polymers are seeing EPDs become a precondition for major tenders. They are also integral to leading schemes like LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB.
ESG & Carbon Reporting: EPDs provide data for Scope 3 emissions and supply chain ESG disclosures. They tie directly into investor and regulatory requirements.
The Core of an EPD: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Every EPD is built on an LCA, undertaken according to ISO 14040/44, then summarized within the EPD using current PCRs (Product Category Rules). Standard impacts measured include:
Key Benefits of Environmental Product Declarations
Brand Reputation: EPDs demonstrate integrity and leadership to customers and investors, showing environmental claims are data-backed and credible.
Supply Chain Transparency: EPDs help manufacturers identify and address environmental hotspots and collaborate on decarbonization.
Green Procurement Win-Rate: Many EU and Nordic public projects now require or reward EPDs, with Norway mandating a 30% environmental weight in public tenders using EPD data.
Finance and Net-Zero: Lenders increasingly demand robust ESG data. EPDs support green loans and sustainability-linked bonds by documenting climate impact and decarbonization pathways.
The Regulatory Momentum Behind EPDs
EU: From January 2025, the recast Construction Products Regulation (CPR) makes EPDs (with EN 15804 compliance) “the most common method” for environmental reporting on construction materials. Missing EPDs risk blocked market access.
Nordics: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark require or incentivize EPD-based carbon declarations and use EPDs for national carbon caps on buildings.
United States: States like California, Washington, Colorado, and Minnesota now require EPDs for materials in state-funded public projects under Buy Clean laws.
Middle East/Asia: UAE, India, and Singapore increasingly require EPDs for green building frameworks (Estidama, LEED, BCA Green Mark), with government authorities maintaining local EPD registries.
How Clenergize Supports Verified EPDs
Comprehensive LCA: We conduct LCAs per ISO 14040/44 and EN 15804, ensuring results are robust, reproducible, and globally compliant.
EPD Documentation: Preparation and review of all required data, PCR selection, and data mapping. Submission is then made to verification programs like EPD International, ECO Platform, and Smart EPD.
Third-Party Support: Coordination with accredited verifiers for smooth verification and publication.
Integration with ESG Reporting: Our ESG+™ platform ensures seamless integration of product-level EPD insights into company-level ESG and reporting disclosures.
Training: Workshops and ongoing support equip teams to manage EPD renewals, updates, and compliance as regulations evolve.
E (Environmental): Verified, quantifiable GHG and impact data
S (Social): Demonstrates transparent stewardship
G (Governance): Offers audited evidence of compliance
The Business Case and Industry Outlook
Market Differentiation: EPDs open access to premium markets, help win bids, and future-proof supply chains.
Efficiency and Relationships: Identify carbon, water, or energy inefficiencies and build trust with buyers and regulators.
Sustainable Finance: EPDs support eligibility for green finance and improve risk assessment by lenders and investors.
Future-proofing: With updated CPR, public procurement, and carbon caps, EPDs will be integral to market access for the next decade and beyond.
Conclusion EPDs transform sustainability from a marketing promise into measurable, verifiable proof—making them a new passport for manufacturers in global trade. Clenergize partners with organizations to deliver full-cycle LCA, EPD documentation, verification, and ESG integration, ensuring our clients earn trust, win contracts, and stay ahead of international regulation.
