EPD Certification

COMMUNICATING ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE WITH VERIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS

WHAT IS EPD CERTIFICATION?

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized and internationally recognized document that communicates environmental impacts based on scientific, verifiable and comparable data. By providing objective information throughout a product's life cycle, an EPD enables customers, business partners and other stakeholders to make informed decisions. 

EPD Certification: Verification and Validation of Environmental Product Declarations

  • EPD Product Verification

    The EPD Product scheme enables organizations to verify and validate Environmental Product Declarations developed according to applicable Product Category Rules (PCRs) and programme requirements.

    The declaration is based on a Life Cycle Assessment that evaluates environmental impacts throughout the product's life cycle, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, use and end-of-life treatment.
    Verification by an independent third party increases confidence in the accuracy of environmental information and supports transparent environmental communication.

  • EPD Process Certification

    For organizations managing multiple Environmental Product Declarations, the International EPD System offers EPD Process Certification.
    This approach enables companies to implement a structured management system for collecting, managing and updating environmental data, allowing them to develop and publish EPDs more efficiently.

    By reducing the need for systematic third-party verification of each individual declaration, EPD Process Certification simplifies large-scale EPD management while maintaining compliance with programme requirements.

  • Pre-Verified Tools for EPD Development

    To simplify Life Cycle Assessment studies and Environmental Product Declaration development, organizations may use Pre-Verified Tools approved within the International EPD System.
    These software solutions have been independently validated and are designed to generate compliant LCAs and EPDs according to applicable Product Category Rules and programme requirements.

    Pre-Verified Tools help organizations:

    • Automate environmental impact calculations;
    • Simplify data collection and management;
    • Develop EPDs for groups of similar products;
    • Reduce validation costs and lead times;
    • Streamline verification activities.

    Bureau Veritas can also provide verification and validation services for Pre-Verified Tools.

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WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OF EPD CERTIFICATION?

Organizations that develop and verify an Environmental Product Declaration can benefit from:

• Enhanced market differentiation through transparent environmental communication;
• Greater credibility with customers, partners and stakeholders;
• Compliance with Green Public Procurement and sustainable purchasing requirements;
• Support for ESG and sustainability strategies;
• Greater transparency across the value chain;
• Continuous improvement of environmental performance;
• Increased competitiveness in environmentally conscious markets.

EPDs also create value at industry level by enabling transparent comparisons between equivalent products and services, based on independently verified environmental information.

WHAT IS THE EPD VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION PROCESS?

Following successful verification by Bureau Veritas, an Environmental Product Declaration may be published on the International EPD System.

The verification and validation process includes:

• Preliminary Document Review
A detailed review of the Life Cycle Assessment study, supporting documentation and Environmental Product Declaration.
• On-Site Verification
Assessment of processes, data management practices and evidence supporting the declaration.
• Validation and Issuance
Issuance of the verification statement confirming compliance with programmed requirements and applicable standards.

The evaluation verifies that the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) complies with the requirements of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, that applicable Product Category Rules (PCRs) have been correctly applied, and that environmental data is complete, accurate, and traceable. It also confirms that all mandatory impact categories and programme requirements have been addressed, that EPD content complies with relevant reference documents, and that documented procedures are in place to maintain and update the declaration over time.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About EPD Certification

  • What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a methodology based on ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 that evaluates the environmental impacts associated with a product or service throughout its entire life cycle.
    The process begins with the development of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), which collects data covering all life cycle stages, from raw material extraction and manufacturing through transportation, use and end-of-life treatment.

    The subsequent Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) evaluates environmental indicators such as:

    • Greenhouse gas emissions;
    • Resource consumption;
    • Energy use;
    • Chemical consumption;
    • Waste generation.

    These impacts are then analyzed according to categories such as climate change, acidification and other environmental impact indicators.
    In some cases, an independent critical review of the LCA study may also be required.