Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming increasingly popular in today’s climate, but what do they really mean?
Climate change is still an ongoing, critical issue. Already, global temperatures in the first quarter of 2025 have been the second warmest on record. Studies have found that 2025 is extremely likely to be one of the three warmest years on record. It’s clear that climate change is still a huge issue.
In this blog, we’ll dive into a range of our short videos which explain what an EPD is, why they’re important, if they’re mandatory, alongside a range of other questions we are often asked at Enistic.
Learn How Companies Simplify EPDs
What Is An EPD?
An EPD is an independently verified report which shows a product’s full environmental impact. They are also becoming more popular in today’s climate.
Importantly, an EPD details the specific stages of a product’s lifecycle:
- Resources and Material Extraction
- Processing
- Manufacturing
- Distribution
- Use and End of Cycle
- Recycling, Landfill, Disposal etc.
EPDs analyse the carbon footprint of your products, your resource use (e.g water, energy, raw materials), the air, water and soil emissions, as well as waste generation. They are viewed as one of the most trusted proof points for product carbon footprints.
Why Are EPDs Important?
As global warming continues to increase, sustainability is on everyone’s agenda. EPDs are the gold standard of reports for product carbon footprints, and though not mandatory, clients will often demand an EPD on products to go forward with business. EPDs are particularly in demand within the construction industry.
Are EPDs Mandatory?
Overall, EPDs are not mandatory for businesses. However, though they are voluntary, public tenders ask for them a lot, particularly in the construction industry.
What Standards Govern EPDs?
There are three big standards which govern EPDs. Firstly, ISO14025 (focusing in product labelling), EN 15804 (focusing on construction, based within Europe), and ISO 21930 (a global scope focusing on construction).
How Long Is An EPD Valid For?
An EPD is valid for 5 years, and companies then only need to refresh them once due, rather than redo them completely. However, if things in your company change significantly, you can voluntarily do them again.
Can You Directly Compare Two EPDs?
As our video explains, you can directly compare two EPDs if they have the same PCR (Product Category Rules).
To Summarise…
In a nutshell, an Environmental Product Declaration is a verified document containing data for products in order to assess their environmental impact. They are great for trust, compliance and market differentiation.
In a world where business sustainability is becoming more and more crucial, an EPD is one of the best ways a business can reach their Net Zero and Science Based Targets. Head over to our YouTube channel for more information about EPDs.
If you would like more information on EPDs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.