What is an EPD certification Environmental Product Declaration ?

Mondo Technology Updated on 2024-01-30

EPD is an acronym for Environmental Product Declaration, which is a Type III environmental declaration based on the ISO 14025 standard. In accordance with ISO 14025 and the PCR of each product, from the product life cycle, the accounting function unit product in the environmental impact data (including non-renewable resources, climate change, acidification, eutrophication, human toxicity, etc.) is issued reports and statements, and the EPD project operator (EPD Programme Operator) is implemented, managed and supervised. Generally, an environmental product declaration is valid for up to 5 years.

It is worth mentioning that in 2023, Europe officially adopted the agreement on the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will enter into force on October 1. CBAM refers to the requirement to pay or refund corresponding taxes or carbon allowances for high-carbon products imported or exported on the basis of the implementation of strict domestic climate policies, and the first batch of industries covered includes steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizer and electricity.

This agreement will pose a major challenge to China's high-carbon enterprises. Therefore, it is urgent for domestic enterprises, especially export enterprises, to carry out carbon emission accounting and carbon emission reduction

Based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

Comparability (similar products are calculated based on the same PCR).

Transparency (EPD reporting files can be made public).

Voluntary (the market demand in Europe and the United States is gradually changing to mandatory, especially in building materials, textiles, electronics and other products exported to Europe).

Independent verification (both LCA assessment and EPD reporting documents require third-party review and validation).

Multi-stakeholder participation (covering upstream and downstream industry chains).

Why do companies need to make environmental product declarations?

Improve environmental decision-making

Quantify your company's environmental performance

Promote green consumption

Highlight corporate social responsibility

Break through the international barriers

Enhance the corporate brand image

In response to the dual carbon policy, enterprises can understand the impact of climate change and other aspects, and provide a basis for enterprises to further set product carbon reduction targets.

In response to the requirements of the EU's Green New Deal, the EU's EPD requirements for products have changed from voluntary to mandatory, and some products exported to the EU must be EPD accounted for in accordance with European standards.

EPD is a procurement requirement for international brands and the best chain.

EPD is one of the prerequisites for LEED certification, green product certification, and green building materials product certification.

It helps enterprises understand the environmental impact of the product life cycle, and can guide their work in product design, procurement, production and other links.

One person cheers for the graduate school entrance examination

1.Provide product-related information before applying.

2.Find or create relevant product category rules (PCR).

3.LCA studies and modeling are performed on the basis of PCR.

4.The company prepares an EPD report based on environmental information.

5.Verify EPD reports against corporate environmental information.

6.Phase I verification.

7.Phase II verification.

8.EPD platform review, registration and release (5 years validity).

9.Annual supervision (2nd-3rd-4th year), subject to change as applicable.

10.Recertification (5th year).

Related Pages