Digitalisation for Quality and Transparency in EPD Scaling
At EcoBalance Conference 2026, Marjan Mousavi, PCR & LCA Manager at EPD International, presented how digitalisation can support more efficient and scalable EPD production while maintaining quality and transparency from a programme operator’s perspective.
As demand for environmental information continues to grow, so does the need for efficient and scalable Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) workflows. At EcoBalance Conference 2026, Marjan Mousavi presented “Towards Digitalisation of EPDs – Challenges & Opportunities: A Programme Operator’s Perspective” as part of the session “Scaling Trust in LCA: Systematic and Automated Production of Verified Data through EPDs,” chaired by Hiro Iwashita from SuMPO EPD Japan.
In her presentation, Marjan explored how the services and functionalities of the International EPD System support more efficient and scalable EPD development, highlighting three key areas: fully pre-verified EPD tools, the EPD Compiler and digital data exchange.
Enabling digitalisation through pre-verified tools, the EPD Compiler and APIs
Marjan introduced the three types of pre-verified EPD tools within the International EPD System and explained their different verification arrangements. She highlighted how fully pre-verified EPD tools can streamline EPD development by replacing the individual EPD verification required in a standard workflow. This enables more efficient EPD production while maintaining quality and transparency through initial independent verification of the tool and ongoing controls.
The presentation also demonstrated how the EPD Compiler supports digitalisation through structured reporting, built-in validation, guidance and standardised outputs. These functionalities help improve consistency, reduce manual data handling and simplify the EPD development process.
Marjan further highlighted the opportunities offered by API connections, which enable data transfer from fully pre-verified tools and provide access to published digital EPD information. By connecting different systems and facilitating data exchange, these solutions can further improve the efficiency and scalability of EPD workflows.
Maintaining traceability as requirements evolve
A central challenge discussed in the presentation was how to keep digital systems aligned with evolving Product Category Rules (PCRs), standards, regulations and methodological requirements.
Marjan addressed the importance of tracking different versions of EPD tools and PCRs, and linking them to the EPDs developed using them. This supports oversight, traceability and effective management of changes over time.
The presentation emphasised that scaling EPD production through digitalisation requires both efficient workflows and continued quality assurance. Structured digital reporting, independent verification, controlled updates and transparent version management are all important elements in maintaining trust as EPD production scales.
“Maintaining the quality, transparency and credibility of verified environmental product information must serve as the foundation for the continued development of digital solutions within the International EPD System,” says Marjan Mousavi, PCR & LCA Manager at EPD International.
