The key characteristics of environmental declarations in the international EPD®system can be described as being:

Objective

The international EPD®system is based on a requirement to use internationally accepted and valid methods for life cycle assessment (LCA). This requirement makes it possible to identify and focus on the most significant environmental aspects in a holistic perspective which leads towards continuous improvement.

Credible

 Another requirement of the international EPD®system regards the aspect of critical review, approval and follow-up by an independent verifier.

Neutral

There are no claims of environmental preferability, valuations and predetermined environmental performance levels that must be met within the international EPD®system.

Comparable

The international EPD®system makes comparisons possible through the establishing of so-called Product Category Rules (PCRs) for selected product groups and services. PCRs describe the harmonised LCA-rules for data collection, methodology, calculations and presentation of the results.

Open to all products and services

The international EPD®system practises the principle of non-selectivity which makes the system applicable to all products and services.

Open to all interested parties

Most aspects of the international EPD®system are handled and marketed mainly through easy-accessible information on the Internet.

Environmental impact-oriented

The international EPD®system provides the possibility to include assessments of potential environmental impacts.

Instructive

The international EPD®system has the ambition to help to interpret the information given in EPDs by making it possible to provide explanations of terms, definitions and concepts, as well as general information on relevant environment issues.