Table of contents

  1. What is an EPD?
  2. Goals of the Environmental Product Declaration
  3. The EPD Preparation Process
  4. Role of GCB in EPD Implementation
  5. Applications of EPDs in Different Sectors
  6. Benefits of Having an EPD

What is an EPD?

An EPD, or Environmental Product Declaration, is a document that provides transparent, comparable, and reliable information about a product’s environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. EPDs are prepared in line with international standards, such as ISO 14025, and are increasingly required for green building certifications and tenders.

What information does an EPD include?

EPDs include key details about:

  • Carbon footprint: Greenhouse gas emissions during production, transportation, usage, and disposal of the product.
  • Energy consumption: Use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
  • Resource usage: Materials used in production and their environmental impact.
  • Pollution potential: Emissions to air, water, and soil.
  • End-of-life considerations: Recycling potential and disposal impacts.

Goals of the Environmental Product Declaration

The four main goals of an EPD are:

  1. Transparency: Providing accurate and comparable information about the product’s environmental impact.
  2. Supporting sustainability: Promoting production and consumption of products with a reduced environmental footprint.
  3. Market compliance: Meeting requirements for tenders and investments, especially in construction.
  4. Facilitating purchasing decisions: Enabling customers and business partners to choose more eco-friendly products.

The EPD Preparation Process

The process of preparing an EPD begins with collecting data about the product’s lifecycle, including raw materials, production processes, transportation, usage, and disposal. Our team of experts conducts a detailed analysis to evaluate the product’s environmental impact across various categories, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy consumption, and waste generation. Based on this analysis, we create an EPD report that aligns with international standards.

Role of GCB in EPD Implementation

GCB provides comprehensive EPD preparation services, supporting businesses in transparently communicating the environmental attributes of their products. Having an EPD significantly boosts customer trust and enhances a company’s reputation as a leader in sustainable development.

Applications of EPDs in Different Sectors

EPDs are widely used across industries:

  • Construction: Supporting green building certifications.
  • Manufacturing: Optimizing processes and reducing emissions.
  • Energy and transportation: Assessing the environmental impact of fuels and technologies.
  • Circular economy: Promoting recycling and minimizing waste.

Benefits of Having an EPD

An EPD helps companies meet regulatory and market requirements and serves as a valuable marketing tool to build customer trust and competitive advantage. Through our services, companies can effectively communicate their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, which is increasingly important in today’s market. Additionally, an EPD facilitates access to new markets and participation in tenders with sustainability requirements, while supporting continuous improvement of products and processes by identifying areas for reducing environmental impact.

Changes in the European Union (e.g., the Circular Economy Action Plan, the CSRD directive) and national-level documents (e.g., the National Smart Specialization for the Circular Economy – GOZ) indicate the direction of upcoming transformations. EPD is a procedure that can support businesses in transitioning towards the Circular Economy (GOZ) and in sustainability reporting standards within the framework of the ESRS E5 standard.