10 Frequently Asked Questions About Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming a standard requirement across construction and manufacturing, but most people still only interact with them at the surface level. They’re often requested in specifications or submittals without a full understanding of what they represent or how they’re created.

At a basic level, EPDs exist to answer one question: what is the environmental impact of this product, and how do we compare it to others? They translate complex life cycle data into a standardized, usable format that can support decision-making across design, procurement, and production.

Below are ten of the most common questions about EPDs: answered in a way that connects directly to how they are used in practice.

1. What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized, third-party verified document that reports the environmental impact of a product. It is based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) and provides quantified data rather than general claims.

Unlike marketing labels, an EPD does not say whether a product is “good” or “bad.” It simply provides transparent data so that products with the same function can be compared on a consistent basis. In practice, it acts as a technical document used by engineers, architects, and procurement teams to evaluate materials.

2. What information does an EPD include?

An EPD includes environmental impact data across defined life cycle stages, typically covering metrics like global warming potential (GWP), energy use, resource consumption, and emissions. It also includes information about the product itself—its composition, manufacturing process, and intended use—so that the data can be interpreted correctly. Most importantly, the data is presented in a standardized format, allowing users to compare similar products without recalculating impacts themselves.

3. How is an EPD created?

An EPD is developed using a life cycle assessment (LCA), which quantifies the environmental impacts of a product within a defined scope. The process follows strict rules called Product Category Rules (PCRs), which define how the LCA is conducted, what data is included, and how results are reported.

Once the LCA is completed, the results are verified by an independent third party before the EPD is published.

4. Are all EPDs comparable?

EPDs are designed to be comparable, but only when they follow the same rules and scope. That means they must use the same PCR, functional unit, and system boundaries. If those conditions are not aligned, comparisons can be misleading. For example, two EPDs may report GWP differently if one includes more life cycle stages than the other. In practice, this means users need to understand not just the numbers, but the assumptions behind them.

5. What is the difference between product-specific and industry-average EPDs?

Product-specific EPDs are based on data from a single manufacturer or product, reflecting actual production conditions. Industry-average EPDs represent aggregated data across multiple producers, providing a general benchmark rather than a precise value.

In practice, product-specific EPDs are more useful for procurement and comparison, while industry-average EPDs are often used for early-stage planning or benchmarking.

6. What role do EPDs play in construction and materials selection?

EPDs allow project teams to evaluate materials based on measurable environmental performance rather than assumptions. They are commonly used to compare products that meet the same functional requirements. This enables decisions to be made using data, particularly when multiple options meet the same structural or performance criteria.

7. Do EPDs prove that a product is sustainable?

No, EPDs do not certify that a product is environmentally friendly. They only report environmental impact data in a standardized format. A product with an EPD may still have a higher environmental impact than alternatives. The EPD simply makes that impact visible and measurable. Sustainability decisions depend on how that data is interpreted and compared.

8. How long is an EPD valid?

EPDs are typically valid for a limited period, often around five years, after which they must be updated or re-verified. This is because production processes, energy sources, and supply chains can change over time, affecting environmental impact. Regular updates ensure that the data reflects current conditions rather than outdated assumptions.

9. Why are EPDs becoming more common?

EPDs provide a consistent, credible way to communicate environmental performance, which is increasingly required in design and procurement processes. They solve a key problem in the industry: the lack of comparable, verified data across products. As a result, they are becoming a standard requirement for materials that need to demonstrate environmental performance in a measurable way.

10. How should EPDs be used in practice?

EPDs are most useful when used as part of a decision-making process, not in isolation. They should be used to compare similar products, identify opportunities for reduction, and understand where impacts are coming from. In practice, their value comes from how they are applied: whether in design optimization, procurement decisions, or continuous improvement of products.

The Bottom Line

EPDs are not just documents, they are a system for turning environmental impact into usable data. They connect life cycle assessment, standardized reporting, and third-party verification into a format that supports real decisions.

They don’t tell you what to choose, but they make it possible to choose based on evidence rather than assumptions. And as that data becomes more widely used, EPDs are shifting from optional transparency tools to a baseline requirement for how materials are evaluated and compared

Have questions? Want to learn more? Contact Climate Earth.