Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

EPDs are essential in today’s market, driven by growing demand for transparency in sustainability. Manufacturers use EPDs to provide credible, science-based information about their product’s environmental impact.

As a trusted Program Operator, ICC-ES oversees the entire EPD process, helping manufacturers meet these demands and stand out in a competitive market focused on eco-conscious choices. ICC-ES is the only ANAB-accredited Type III Eco-Labeling verifier of EPDs under the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065:2012, ISO 14025:2006 and ISO 14020:2000.

An EPD can provide the following benefits:

EPDs are transparent documents. By providing quantified data on a product’s environmental impact, it can allow consumers and designer to make informed choices.
EPDs can contribute product-specific environmental performance data which can be used to calculate a whole-building LCA, as applicable.
EPDs can be used in Green Building Schemes such as for LEED.
EPDs are becoming a requirement in certain states that are implementing Buy Clean Legislation, and organization such as GSA are setting requirements with EPDs.

Contact ICC-ES for a quote to develop an EPD environmental@icc-es.org

New Requirements

Two major regulations driving EPD generation are the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) in Europe and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the US. Both regulations aim to reduce the environmental impact of building materials and construction works. In the US:

US General Services Administration (GSA) Requirements: In 2022, the GSA set new standards requiring EPDs for low embodied carbon concrete and asphalt in federal construction projects. This is the first federal-level requirement in the U.S., pushing contractors to provide third-party verified EPDs where available.

CALGreen has put limits on the maximum acceptable GWP value for building product materials such as hot-rolled structural steel sections, hollow structural steel sections, steel plates, concrete ready-mixed and concrete reinforcing steel.

Buy Clean Initiatives: Several states, such as California, have introduced "Buy Clean" policies, requiring contractors to prioritize materials with low embodied carbon and provide EPDs for key construction products.

What is an EPD?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified document that provides transparent, science-based information about the environmental impacts of a product or material throughout its lifecycle. It is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and follows international standards.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):

LCAs assess the environmental impact of a product across its life stages-from material extraction to end-of-life. While LCA reports are lengthy and detailed, EPDs are a compact summary of this information for easy comparison with other products in the same category. LCAs used for an EPD are based upon Product Category Rule (PCR).

Product Category Rule (PCR):

A PCR is a document which provides guidance by defining rules and requirements on how to measure and report the life cycle impacts for a specific product type when developing an EPD. A PCR defines what information is reported in the EPD from the LCA, where it should appear in the EPD, how the information is to be used and the applicable market. PCRs ensure consistency and comparability for products within the same category.

Click here to view a directory of PCRs.

Contact ICC-ES for a quote to develop an EPD and/or PCR for your products. environmental@icc-es.org

Steps to Develop an EPD:

Choose a Program Operator:
Select ICC-ES to guide the process, following ISO 14025 guidelines. A Program
Operator is required to have published General Program Instructions that cover the basic process and procedures for the development of Product Category Rules (PCRs) and EPDs within its program.
Develop Product Category Rules (PCRs):
PCRs define the product category and provides a detailed set of procedures for the LCA. ICC-ES consults with stakeholders to either adapt existing PCRs or develop a new PCR.
Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
Perform an LCA in accordance with the finalized PCR. ICC-ES works with trusted industry partners to provide LCA services.
Create the EPD:
EPD verification may be conducted by an internal reviewer for B-to-B declarations and by a third-party verifier for B-to-C declarations. The Program Operator appoints the verifier and establishes a transparent verification procedure, usually in consultation with the verifier. The EPD summarizes the LCA results. ICC-ES ensures that the LCA and EPD complies with international standards and PCR guidelines through verification.
Register the EPD:
Once verified, the EPD is registered in ICC-ES’s public EPD directory for industry-wide access.

Added benefit for ICC-ES clients:

The manufacturer also has the option to include within the EPD an independent evaluation of their product to other normative reference documents such as the model building codes and/or green building rating systems within the EPD. For example, manufacturers can directly link their ICC-ES ESR, VAR or PMG reports within the EPD.

Click here to view EPD Program Instructions

What is an EPD?

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