EPD Ireland allows manufacturers of construction products to provide third party verified transparent information on the environmental impacts of their products. On this page, you’ll find all you need to know to develop an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
Table of Contents
How to develop an EPD?
The process of developing and EPD can be divided into 3 main stages: data collection and Life Cycle Assessment Study, verification of the Life Cycle Assessment Study, registration and Publication of the Environmental Product Declaration.
The process can be divided into 3 main stages:
- Data collection and Life Cycle Assessment Study
- Verification of the Life Cycle Assessment Study
- Registration and Publication of the Environmental Product Declaration
Data collection and Life Cycle Assessment Study
The first step to developing an EPD consists in collecting the data for the Life Cycle Assessment Study of the product, carried out by an LCA consultant. The manufacturer appoints its own LCA consultant and liaises with him/her to collect data and information needed to develop the assessment. This includes information on energy use, quantities of raw materials and chemicals, resource consumption and waste data for your product. The LCA consultant develops a Life Cycle Assessment report providing a detail description of the processes and assigning environmental impact factors to each resource in compliance with the relevant standards.
Verification of the Life Cycle Assessment Study
The manufacturer/ LCA consultant can now ask EPD Ireland to appoint an independent verifier. The verification ensures accuracy, reliability and guarantees that the EPD conforms to the requirements of the relevant Product Category Rules. The fees for this step are set by EPD Ireland but are paid directly to the Verifier.
Registration and Publication of the Environmental Product Declaration
Once verification is complete the LCA is processed into a standard EPD Ireland graphic design format and is published on the website. Fees for this process are paid directly to EPD.
How much does it cost?
The cost of an EPD is comprehensive of 3 fees: the LCA consultant’s fee, which is negotiated by the manufacturer and is not set by EPD Ireland; the Verifier’s fee set by EPD Ireland; Registration and publication fee, also set by EPD Ireland. You can find the programme fees here.
How to get financial assistance?
If you are an Enterprise Ireland client company, you can apply for a grant. Enterprise Ireland has set Green Start and Green Plus that can cover most of the cost of developing an LCA with a consultant. Read more here.
Why develop an EPD?
Publishing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of your construction product gives you the opportunity to improve your business while demonstrating your Company’s commitment to transparency. Many Irish manufacturers have already chosen to evaluate the environmental performance of their building products. This is the first step towards improvement. Here we give you 7 reasons why you should assess your product and publish an EPD under the EPD Ireland program.
EN15804 + A1 2012 transitioned to EN15804 +A2 2019. What does it mean for me?
EPD Ireland has developed its PCR to the revised standard EN15804+A2 and producers must now use it. All EPD to EN15804 +A1 will remain valid for their 5-year period of validity. However, all EPD issued after Summer of 2022 must be in the EN 15804 + A2 2019 format. Since EN 15978, the construction LCA counterpart to 15804, has not been updated yet, to ensure your EPD data can be used in all building level LCA, EPD Ireland suggests including the core indicators also to EN 15804+A1. Read more here.
Where do I find the EPD Ireland’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)?
You can download all our EPD in pdf format here and in digital format (XML and CSV) on ECO Portal or here.
I have already developed EPD with another Programme Operator. Can I upload my EPD on EPD Ireland?
Yes. You can upload your EPD here. This service is free for IGBC members and there’s a small charge for non-members.