A Brief Guide to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

How to Produce and Publish an EPD

From the first decision to publication, we walk you through choosing an EPD programme, confirming the standards and the Product Category Rules, appointing a competent life cycle specialist, preparing the model and the draft, and then completing independent verification before programme checks and public listing. We’ve also covered which documents programmes expect at submission and how to avoid delays.

EPDs vs LCAs: Where They Differ & How They Work Together

If you are new to this space, start here. We explain how an Environmental Product Declaration speaks to external stakeholders while the life cycle assessment does the heavy lifting behind the scenes. Discover when an internal assessment is the right tool and when you need a verified declaration for projects and procurement. Read on for a comparison of purpose, audience, scope, and verification.

The Verification Process of an EPD

Verification gives users confidence that methods, data, and reporting align with the correct standards and product category rules. We have broken down who can verify, how independence is maintained, and what reviewers look for in methodology, data quality, transparency, and internal consistency. Find out what to submit, what can influence timing, and what happens between signoff and public registration.

Product Category Rules Explained

Product Category Rules are the rules that keep EPDs comparable within a product group. Find out what a PCR covers, how complementary PCRs (c-PCRs) add detail for subcategories, and how construction rules based on EN 15804 and ISO 21930 shape reporting. If you are choosing between candidate PCRs, we’ve compiled a short decision checklist and a summary of what happens when a PCR updates during your EPD cycle.

How Long Does it Take to Produce an EPD?

Timeframes depend on data readiness, product complexity, supplier engagement, and verifier capacity. The journey includes planning, data collection, modelling, documentation, verification, and programme publication, and we’ve broken down where projects gain or lose time.

How Much Does it Cost to Produce an EPD?

Costs are broken down into three areas. Life cycle assessment and EPD preparation, independent verification, and programme fees. In this article, we summarise published workload and cost findings, explain why figures vary by sector and product, and show how a portfolio approach can lower the average cost per declaration.

EN 15804(+A2) Explained

EN 15804 is considered the most popular global standard for producing environmental product declarations (EPD) for construction products. We’ve mapped the full structure of EN 15804 from A1 to A3 for the product stage, A4 to A5 for construction, B1 to B7 for use, C1 to C4 for end of life, and Module D for benefits and loads beyond the life cycle, with information on how this aligns to the construction life cycle assessment scope.

We have also highlighted the key changes shaping most construction declarations with the EN 15804+A2 update, including the expanded set of impact indicators, explicit biogenic carbon reporting, and mandatory reporting of stages C1 to C4 and Module D, plus how cradle to gate, cradle to gate with options, and cradle to grave are framed.

The Circular Ecology EPD Programme

The Circular Ecology EPD Programme, established to provide verified EPDs across the construction sector and beyond at a competitive price, provides a structured framework for developing, verifying, and publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804.

Get Support

If you are preparing an EPD or planning to begin the process, we can help with:

• Life Cycle Assessment and data support
• EPD drafting and document preparation
• Independent verification and publication through our programme

Contact us by completing the form below to discuss your product and timelines.