Getting started
Verified environmental information throughout a product's life cycle
An Environmental Product Declaration provides transparent and third party verified information about the environmental performance of a product or service. An EPD is a Type III environmental declaration developed according to ISO 14025. Unlike environmental labels and claims, an EPD presents quantified environmental data based on a life cycle assessment and verified by an approved third party verifier.
From life cycle assessment to published EPD
An EPD is based on a life cycle assessment conducted according to ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and the relevant Product Category Rules. The assessment covers environmental impacts across relevant stages of the product's life cycle, including:
Raw material extraction
Production
Use
End of life
Following third party verification, the EPD is registered and published through a recognised programme operator, such as the International EPD System. EPDs registered with the International EPD System are publicly available and free to download from the EPD Library.
Demand for EPDs is increasing as organisations seek credible environmental information and prepare for new market and regulatory requirements.
Enhanced Value with an EPD
Three ways an EPD can strengthen the credibility and market position of your products and services.
EPD Types
An EPD can represent a single product, several products, or products from an entire sector. The most common type covers one specific product or service from a single manufacturer or service provider.
This type normally applies to a product that has been in production or available on the market for at least one year. It may include data from several manufacturing sites, provided that the products are not marketed as different products or otherwise distinguishable to downstream customers.
The International EPD System also accepts several other types of EPDs. A single EPD may fall under more than one category:
| Single product EPD Most common type | A specific product or service offered by one manufacturer or service provider |
|---|---|
| Multiple product EPD | Several products from the same company included in one EPD. |
| Sector EPD | Products or services within a defined industry sector. |
| EPD published by a trader | An EPD published by a trader rather than the product manufacturer. |
| Product yet on the market | A product that has not yet been introduced to the market. |
| Product recently on the market | A product that has only recently been introduced to the market. |
Specific or additional requirements may apply depending on the EPD type. Further information is available in the General Programme Instructions (GPI),
Recognised across Europe
As a founding member of ECO Platform, the International EPD System enables eligible EPDs to be recognised across Europe and shared through the ECO Portal, increasing accessibility and market reach.