If you've started hearing customers, suppliers or industry contacts mention Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), you might be wondering what they actually are and whether your business needs one.
For many manufacturers, EPDs are becoming a more common request, especially from customers looking to understand the environmental impact of the products they buy. The challenge is that the language around them can feel complicated.
Terms like Life Cycle Assessment, embodied carbon and product environmental data can make EPDs sound like something only large organisations with dedicated sustainability teams need to worry about.
The reality is much simpler.
An EPD is a way of showing the environmental impact of a product using verified data. It helps customers understand what goes into making a product, the emissions associated with it and where improvements can be made.
In this guide, we'll explain what an EPD is, when you might need one and how manufacturers can prepare.
What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified document that provides information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle.
A simple way to think about an EPD is like a nutrition label, but for a product's environmental impact.
Instead of showing calories, ingredients and nutritional values, an EPD provides information such as:
- Carbon emissions
- Energy use
- Resource consumption
- Water use
- Waste generation
- Environmental impacts linked to manufacturing and materials
The purpose is to give customers clear, transparent information so they can compare products and make more informed decisions.
For manufacturers, an EPD is not a statement that a product is "green" or "sustainable". Instead, it provides factual information about the product's environmental performance based on a recognised assessment process.
Why are manufacturers being asked for EPDs?
EPDs have been around for some time, but demand for them has grown significantly in recent years.
One of the main reasons is the increasing focus on embodied carbon.
When people talk about reducing carbon emissions, the conversation often focuses on energy use in buildings or vehicles. But there is another important part of the picture: the emissions created before a product is even used.
This includes:
- Extracting raw materials
- Manufacturing processes
- Energy used during production
- Transport
- Packaging
- End-of-life treatment
For many products, a significant proportion of their environmental impact is created during these early stages.
Customers, particularly in construction and industrial supply chains, are increasingly looking for better information about these impacts. They want to understand not just what a product does, but how it was made.
That is where EPDs come in.
Is an EPD the same as a carbon footprint?
This is one of the most common areas of confusion.
While the two are related, they are not the same thing.
A carbon footprint measures the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, business or activity.
For example:
"This product has a carbon footprint of 25kg CO₂e."
An EPD provides a broader environmental assessment and includes carbon emissions as one part of the picture.
An EPD can include information about:
- Climate change impact
- Energy consumption
- Water use
- Resource use
- Waste generation
- Other environmental indicators
Another important difference is that EPDs follow recognised standards and require independent verification.
A carbon footprint can be a useful internal measurement tool, while an EPD is designed to provide transparent information that can be shared externally with customers and supply chain partners.
What information is included in an EPD?
An EPD is based on a detailed assessment of a product's lifecycle.
The information included will depend on the product and industry, but typically covers areas such as:
Product information
This explains what the product is and how it is made.
It may include:
- Product description
- Materials used
- Manufacturing location
- Intended applications
- Technical information
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results
Behind every EPD is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
An LCA looks at the environmental impact of a product from beginning to end.
This can include:
Raw materials
Where materials come from
How they are extracted or processed
Manufacturing
Energy used
Production processes
Waste generated
Transport
Movement of materials and finished products
Use phase
Environmental impacts during the product's lifetime, where relevant
End of life
Recycling, reuse or disposal
The result is a detailed picture of where environmental impacts occur.
What standards do EPDs follow?
One of the reasons EPDs are trusted is because they follow recognised standards.
Common standards include:
- ISO 14025, which sets requirements for environmental declarations
- EN 15804, commonly used for construction products
EPDs also use something called Product Category Rules (PCRs).
These are essentially the agreed rules for assessing a particular type of product.
For example, the process for creating an EPD for insulation materials will be different from creating one for flooring, concrete products or electrical equipment.
The PCR ensures products are assessed consistently and fairly.
When does a manufacturer need an EPD?
The answer depends on your industry, customers and future plans.
There is no single rule that says every manufacturer must have an EPD.
However, there are several situations where having one becomes increasingly important.
When customers request one
This is the most common reason manufacturers start looking into EPDs.
Large customers, contractors and procurement teams are increasingly asking suppliers to provide environmental information as part of their purchasing decisions.
If your customers are being asked to report on their own environmental impact, they may need data from their suppliers too.
When supplying into construction projects
EPDs are particularly common in the construction sector.
Many building projects now consider embodied carbon as part of their sustainability requirements.
If you manufacture products such as:
- Building materials
- Insulation
- Flooring
- Structural components
- Mechanical and electrical products
there is a growing chance that customers may ask for an EPD.
When you want to win new business
An EPD can become more than a compliance document.
For manufacturers, having verified environmental data can help demonstrate transparency and give customers confidence.
As sustainability becomes a bigger factor in purchasing decisions, being able to provide reliable information can help differentiate your products.
When you want to understand your products better
Creating an EPD can highlight areas where improvements are possible.
For example, you might discover that most of a product's environmental impact comes from:
- A particular raw material
- An energy-intensive process
- Packaging
- Transport
This information can help guide future improvement projects.
How does the EPD process work?
The process can seem complicated at first, but it follows a fairly straightforward structure.
Step 1: Define the product
The first step is deciding what product or product range you want to assess.
You'll need to understand:
What product is being assessed?
Where is it manufactured?
Which materials and processes are involved?
Step 2: Collect the data
This is often the biggest part of the process.
Typical information includes:
Raw materials
Supplier information
Energy consumption
Manufacturing processes
Waste data
Packaging details
Transport information
This is where manufacturers with good data collection processes have a real advantage.
Step 3: Complete the Life Cycle Assessment
The collected information is analysed to calculate the environmental impacts associated with the product.
Step 4: Independent verification
Before an EPD can be published, it must be reviewed by an independent verifier.
This ensures the information is accurate and follows the required standards.
Step 5: Publish the EPD
Once approved, the EPD can be registered and shared with customers.
Common challenges manufacturers face
Like many sustainability projects, the biggest challenges are often practical rather than technical.
"We don't have all the data"
This is very common.
Many manufacturers don't have every piece of information available when they start.
The process often helps identify where better data collection is needed.
"We don't have a sustainability expert"
You don't need to be a sustainability specialist to begin.
Many EPD projects involve people from across the business, including:
Operations
Procurement
Engineering
Quality
Compliance
The key is having the right information and support.
"Our products change regularly"
Manufacturers often worry that changing designs or materials will make an EPD impossible.
In reality, EPDs can often be developed around defined product ranges or manufacturing processes.
The important thing is clearly understanding what is being assessed.
"It sounds expensive and complicated"
The effort involved depends on the complexity of the product and the quality of your existing data.
Having good energy, material and production information makes the process much easier.
How can manufacturers prepare for an EPD?
Even if you don't need an EPD today, there are steps you can take now to make the process easier in the future.
Start by understanding your products and collecting reliable data.
Useful information includes:
- Product specifications
- Bills of materials
- Manufacturing energy use
- Waste information
- Transport details
- Supplier data
- Existing carbon calculations
Good data management is the foundation of any successful sustainability project.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EPD mandatory?
Not always.
Most manufacturers are not legally required to have an EPD. However, some customers, industries or specific projects may require one.
How long does an EPD last?
An EPD is typically valid for five years, although this can vary depending on the programme operator and whether significant changes are made to the product.
Can one EPD cover multiple products?
Sometimes.
If products are similar and use the same manufacturing process, it may be possible to cover a product range. This depends on the relevant rules and assessment approach.
Do I need an EPD if I already have ISO 14001?
Not necessarily.
ISO 14001 focuses on how your business manages its environmental responsibilities.
An EPD focuses on the environmental impact of a specific product.
They support different goals.
Getting started with EPDs
For manufacturers, EPDs are becoming an increasingly important part of demonstrating environmental responsibility.
But they don't need to feel like another complicated sustainability requirement.
The best place to start is with the data you already have.
Understanding your energy use, materials, manufacturing processes and product impacts gives you a strong foundation, whether you need an EPD now or want to prepare for future customer expectations.
At Switch2zero, we help manufacturers make sense of sustainability requirements and turn environmental data into practical action.
Whether you're responding to a customer request, exploring your first EPD or simply trying to understand where to begin, having the right information is the first step.
Book in a free consultation to chat with one of our sustinability experts.
