If you are here, you probably already know what is an EPD and which are its benefits but you are still confused about the whole process. EPD Ireland it’s here to help! In this post, we are going to go through all the steps of developing an 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
1. 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 their 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. In this blog post, we explain how you to get financial assistance from Enterprise Ireland to assist with this step.
2. 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.
3. 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.
EPD Ireland is in the process of digitalising the EPDs so this third step will soon include the development of a digital EPD. The data will be hosted on ECO Platform, available to international specifiers.
Do you have questions for us? Get in touch
Are you an IGBC member? Watch our webinar “Environmental Product Declarations for Manufactures and Specifiers”. Not a member yet? You can purchase the webinar here, or become a member!
Did you know IGBC is mainstreaming sustainable buildings in Europe through aligning certifications, skills, and public procurement with LCA, LCC and IAQ components of Level(s)? Read more here.
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The Life for LCA LCC Level(s) project (short: LIFE Level(s)) has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union. The European Union’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the EU cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. |  |