Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Demonstrate your product’s environmental impact
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What’s an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized document that provides insight into a product’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle. An EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and is independently verified before publication.
An EPD contains quantified data on various environmental impacts, including the contribution to climate change. An EPD is not a sustainability label. Instead, it provides scientifically based information in a standardized format that manufacturers, buyers and clients can use to assess the environmental performance of products.
For construction products, an EPD is generally prepared in accordance with EN 15804. For electrical and electronic products, EN 50693 is the relevant standard. The applicable Product Category Rules (PCRs) and national assessment methods are also important. Requirements for EPD publication are set out in ISO 14025.
Why have an EPD prepared?
An EPD helps you meet market requirements, substantiate your products’ environmental performance and strengthen your market position.
With an Environmental Product Declaration, you can:
- Meet Dutch requirements
Use validated environmental data for tenders and the Environmental Performance of Buildings (MPG) assessment. - Include your product in the Dutch national environmental database (Nationale Milieu Database, NMD)
EPDs that meet the Dutch assessment method and are included in the NMD can be used for MPG calculations. - Substantiate the Dutch environmental cost indicator (Milieukostenindicator, MKI)
Provide environmental data that customers and clients can use to calculate the environmental costs of your product. - Support sustainable construction
Provide product data for assessment systems such as BREEAM-NL, BREEAM International, LEED and DGNB, depending on the applicable requirements. - Operate internationally
Make your environmental performance transparent to customers and clients in other countries. - Improve your product
Identify the materials and production processes that have the greatest environmental impact.
EPD Services from Kiwa NIBE
Kiwa NIBE combines expertise in Life Cycle Assessments and product environmental performance with Kiwa’s international knowledge and experience. We support you throughout the EPD development process, tailoring our services to your product, the applicable standards and the markets in which you operate.
Our EPD services include:
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Quantifying your product’s environmental impact, from raw material extraction through production or across its entire life cycle.
- Data collection and modeling: Collecting, assessing and processing the required product and process data.
- EPD preparation: Translating the LCA results into an Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with the relevant standards and Product Category Rules.
- EPD verification: Guiding you through the verification process and ensuring that the declaration is assessed by an independent third party.
- EPD publication and registration: Supporting submission and publication through an appropriate program operator and database.
- Consulting and training: Providing expert guidance on LCA and EPD requirements and their application within your organization.
Prepare your own EPDs using our software
For organizations that want to prepare larger numbers of EPDs themselves or manage environmental data digitally, Kiwa also offers R<THINK by Kiwa. This software supports the preparation and management of EPDs and the digital sharing of results through APIs. Available features depend on the selected service.
EPD services in the Netherlands, Belgium and Europe
Requirements for preparing, verifying and publishing an EPD vary by country and program. Kiwa NIBE offers specific expertise for the Dutch and Belgian markets and supports companies in other European countries through Kiwa’s international network of EPD specialists, who work closely together.
- The Netherlands: EPDs and the Dutch national environmental database (Nationale Milieu Database, NMD)
For manufacturers of construction products, inclusion in the National Environmental Database (NMD) is often an important objective. Kiwa NIBE has recognized experts and reviewers for the NMD. We support manufacturers in preparing EPDs that comply with the Dutch assessment method or in reviewing LCAs prepared by others as an independent third party.
Once included in the NMD, the environmental data can be used for MPG calculations, tenders and substantiating the environmental cost indicator MKI of products. The data can also contribute to the environmental assessment of buildings, for example under BREEAM-NL and GPR Gebouw. - Belgium: EPDs under the B-EPD program
Would you like to market your products in Belgium? Kiwa NIBE supports you as an LCA and EPD consultant in preparing Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations tailored to the Belgian market and its applicable requirements. For independent verification under the Belgian B-EPD program, Kiwa Vinçotte has approved verifiers. In addition, Kiwa Ecobility Experts, an ECO Platform-recognized program operator, offers a route for EPD verification and publication for the broader European market. This means you can rely on support throughout the process, from LCA and EPD preparation to verification and publication, tailored to the markets in which you operate. - Europe: International EPD programs and publication
Would you like to market your products in Europe? Kiwa NIBE supports you as an LCA and EPD consultant in preparing Life Cycle Assessments and EPDs in accordance with the relevant European standards and requirements. For independent verification and publication of your EPDs, you can work with Kiwa Ecobility Experts, an ECO Platform-recognized program operator. Kiwa guides you through the process, from LCA and EPD preparation to verification and publication for the European market.
Depending on your product and target market, the International EPD System, ÖKOBAUDAT and other recognized programs and databases may be relevant. Kiwa NIBE helps you determine the right approach and supports you through our EPD services, R<THINK by Kiwa software and Kiwa’s international network of specialists.
How does the EPD development process work?
The process of obtaining an Environmental Product Declaration generally consists of five steps.
Consulting and defining the scope
We discuss your product, the available data, the intended use and the applicable standards and program requirements.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
We support you in collecting the required data and calculating your product’s environmental impact.
EPD reporting
We compile the results into an Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with the applicable standards and Product Category Rules.
Independent verification
An independent verifier assesses the data and declaration for accuracy and compliance with the requirements.
EPD publication
Following successful verification, the EPD is published through the appropriate program operator and, where applicable, registered in the relevant database.
Have your EPD prepared by Kiwa NIBE
Would you like to have an Environmental Product Declaration prepared, include your product in the Dutch national environmental database or demonstrate your environmental performance for the Belgian or international market? Contact Kiwa NIBE. Our experts will advise you on the appropriate standards, the required Life Cycle Assessment and the available verification and publication options.
Frequently asked questions about EPDs
Which products can have an EPD?
An EPD can be prepared for a wide range of products, including construction materials, electrical and electronic products and industrial products. The possibilities depend on the product category and the available Product Category Rules (PCRs) or national assessment methods.
How long is an EPD valid?
An EPD is generally valid for five years. After that, the declaration must be reviewed and updated if necessary. Changes to the product, production process or applicable rules may also require an earlier revision.
How is an EPD verified?
An independent third party checks whether the EPD complies with the applicable standards, Product Category Rules and program requirements. This includes assessing the data, calculations and reporting. The exact requirements vary by EPD program operator and market.
How much does it cost to prepare an EPD?
The cost of an EPD depends on the product, the availability of data, the complexity of the Life Cycle Assessment and the verification and publication requirements. Kiwa NIBE can provide a tailored proposal based on your situation.
Where can I have an EPD published?
This depends on your product and the market in which you operate. For construction products in the Netherlands, the national environmental database NMD is an important database. For other markets, Kiwa Ecobility Experts, the International EPD System and ÖKOBAUDAT may be relevant. Your requirements determine where an EPD should be published.
Can Kiwa manage the entire process, from LCA to EPD?
Yes. Kiwa supports companies with Life Cycle Assessments, data collection, EPD reporting and guidance on verification and publication. Independent verification is performed in accordance with the requirements of the relevant program, while maintaining the required independence.