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What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?

An Environmental Product Declaration or EPD is a document that provides detailed information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle. This includes the impact of raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposal.

EPD stage of life cycle

Why is an EPD created?

An EPD is created to provide transparent, consistent, and verified information about the environmental impact of a product. It helps companies understand and communicate how their products affect the environment, which can provide guidance towards improvements in sustainability.

Why is an EPD Important?

EPDs provide clear, credible information about a product's environmental impact, which can help consumers make informed choices. As EPDs are based on international standards, they allow for easy comparison of the environmental performance of similar products from different manufacturers, promoting competition for more sustainable products. In many markets and industries, having an EPD is becoming a requirement to meet environmental regulations or gain certification.

Wrekin EPDs are produced in accordance with ISO 15804. This is important as this international standard provides a consistent and reliable framework for assessing the environmental impact of construction products and services. This means that all EPDs created under this standard follow the same rules and guidelines, ensuring consistency in how environmental impacts are measured and reported. This standardisation makes it easier to compare the environmental performance of different products fairly and accurately. An EPD published in accordance with ISO 15804 is verified by independent third parties to ensure accuracy and reliability and ensures that it considers the entire life cycle of a product—from raw material extraction through production, use, and end-of-life disposal, known as modules.

Understanding each stage helps identify areas for reducing environmental impact and improving sustainability in construction products.

What are the modules of an EPD?

Module Sub module Description
A: Product Stage A1 Raw Material Supply - Extraction and processing of raw materials used in the product.
A2 Transport - Transportation of raw materials to the manufacturing facility.
A3 Manufacturing - Production processes to make the final product, including energy use and waste generation.
B: Construction Process Stage B1 Use - Environmental impacts during the product's use phase.
B2 Maintenance - Impacts related to the upkeep of the product (e.g., cleaning, minor repairs).
B3 Repair - Impacts from repairing the product to maintain its function.
B4 Replacement - Environmental impacts from replacing the product or parts of it during its life.
B5 Refurbishment - Impacts of major upgrades or renovations to extend the product's life.
C: End-of-Life Stage C1 Deconstruction/Demolition - Impacts from removing the product from a building.
C2 Transport - Transportation of the product or its components to waste processing or disposal sites.
C3 Waste Processing - Preparing the product for recycling, recovery, or disposal.
C4 Disposal - Final disposal impacts, such as landfilling or incineration.
D: Benefits and Loads Beyond the System Boundary D Reuse, Recovery, and Recycling Potential - Potential environmental benefits from recycling, reusing, or recovering materials, reducing the need for new raw materials.