What is an EPD?

Put simply, an EPD is a standardized form of presentation for a life cycle assessment. The EPD format has become particularly widespread in the construction products sector, but can now also be applied to other product groups. Every EPD is based on a complete life cycle assessment. Compared to the life cycle assessment according to ISO 14044, there are additional standards and specifications that must be observed. An EPD is intended for publication and must therefore ALWAYS be checked by an approved verifier.

What are the differences between an EPD and an LCA?

An EPD is based on an LCA, but additional standards apply when creating the EPD. For example, EPDs for construction products in Europe must comply with the requirements of DIN EN 15804 “Sustainability of buildings – Environmental product declarations – Basic rules for the product category construction products.” The product life cycle is divided into specified sections; the environmental impact is then calculated for each individual life cycle phase. Unlike a “normal” LCA, there is no freedom here in how the individual life cycle phases are divided. Furthermore, strict requirements apply to data quality, the modeling of energy sources, and the consideration of the end of life of the system under review.

How is an EPD created?

If you would like to have an EPD created for one of your products, we will first clarify the scope and boundary conditions with you as usual. Your product may fall into a specific product category for which additional rules apply. Once all questions have been clarified, we will create the underlying LCA for you and compile the corresponding report. In the meantime, you commission a suitable verifier (e.g., found HERE). Once the verification has been completed, we format the results report in accordance with the EPD document specifications. The finished EPD document contains the most important information about the product, the assumptions selected for the calculation, and the results of the impact assessment. Publication with a suitable program sponsor is then your responsibility.

How long does it take to create an EPD? What are the costs involved?

Of course, there is no blanket answer to this question. Since the creation of an EPD involves additional requirements and aspects, the costs are usually higher than for a normal LCA of the same product. CompriseTec invoices the costs for creating the LCA, the documentation in the form of a detailed report, and the creation of the EPD document. In addition, there are external costs for commissioning the verifier and for publication by the program sponsor. Furthermore, there are annual costs incurred by the program sponsor for maintaining the publication. As a rule, EPDs must be updated after 5 years. Depending on the complexity of the system, the creation of the EPD, including feedback from the verifier, can take 3-9 months.

In our free initial consultation, we will clarify with you the scope of the workshop, the composition of the group of participants, and your objectives. You will receive a suitable offer within a few working days.