What is an EPD, and why is it important?
An EPD is an environmental product declaration that documents a product’s climate and environmental impact based on recognised European and international standards. It gives businesses a clear basis for assessing materials, production, use and disposal throughout the product’s life cycle.
When documentation becomes part of a product’s value
EPD stands for Environmental Product Declaration, known in Danish as a ‘miljøvaredeklaration’. An EPD is used to calculate and document the climate and environmental characteristics of a specific product.
The documentation brings together information about the product’s impact, from raw materials and processing to production, use, recycling or disposal. This makes an EPD relevant to businesses that need to understand and document their products’ overall environmental impact.
As climate requirements become stricter and the focus on documentation grows, EPDs are becoming an important tool for manufacturers, suppliers and customers who need to make more informed choices.
An EPD shows a product’s climate and environmental impact
An EPD provides a structured overview of where a product affects the climate and the environment. This can make it easier to identify where the impact can be reduced and where there is the greatest potential for improvement.
For a business, an EPD can therefore serve as a practical basis for decision-making. It can indicate whether to choose different raw materials, reduce material consumption, improve production efficiency or work towards more local production and distribution.
Since January 2023, building regulations for new buildings have included limits on how much construction projects may affect the climate and the environment. This has implications for construction, but it can also indirectly affect the manufacturing industry, as documentation of products’ environmental impact becomes more important throughout the value chain.
How an EPD can be used in practice
An EPD can be used to provide an overview, compare solutions and prioritise measures that reduce climate and environmental impact. It is particularly relevant when customers, consultants or projects require documentation of a product’s environmental characteristics.
- Raw materials: Choose materials with a lower climate and environmental impact.
- Material consumption: Reduce unnecessary use of raw materials.
- Production: Improve process efficiency to reduce energy consumption and impact.
- Distribution: Produce and supply locally where this can reduce the impact of transport.
- Documentation: Use the EPD as a basis for demonstrating the product’s environmental impact.
- Product development: Identify areas where the product can be optimised over time.
Cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave
An EPD can be prepared from different perspectives, depending on how much of the product’s life cycle is included. A cradle-to-gate perspective covers production up to the point where the product leaves the manufacturer.
A cradle-to-grave perspective includes production, use and disposal. This provides a more complete picture of the product’s overall impact throughout its life cycle.
The documentation for a product with an EPD will often take the form of a life cycle assessment, also known as an LCA, Life-Cycle Assessment. The LCA is used to calculate and structure the environmental data on which the declaration is based.
Climate and environmental impact
Do you need better documentation of your product’s climate and environmental impact?
Hans Buch provides technical advice and solutions that make documentation part of the basis for decision-making.