In the drive towards more sustainable construction and manufacturing methods, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are becoming more prevalent.

While closely related, these two assessments serve different purposes and are often confused. In this article, we break down the key differences between EPDs and LCAs, clarify when each is needed, and explain how they work together to support environmental transparency and compliance.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

A life cycle assessment (LCA), also known as life cycle analysis, typically assesses the full life cycle impact of a product, activity or service and reports against multiple environmental impact categories, such as carbon, water depletion, eutrophication, toxicity, and more.

LCAs are often used to:

• Identify environmental hotspots in a product, building or service’s life cycle

• Compare the impacts of alternative materials or processes

• Support internal sustainability strategies

• Contribute to broader environmental reporting

An LCA is a sophisticated decision support tool that can be tailored in scope to support the goals of your study. A robust life cycle assessment would adhere to the International Standards on LCA:

• ISO 14040:2006 – Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework

• ISO 14044:2006 – Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines

What is an Environmental Product Declaration? 

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardised, verified document that communicates the environmental impact of a product. It is created in accordance with international standards such as EN 15804 or ISO 14025, and can follow specific Product Category Rules (PCRs) to ensure comparability between similar products.

An EPD typically includes:

• A summary of the product and its declared unit

• LCA results across multiple key impact categories (e.g., global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication)

• Information regarding the production process and boundaries

• Validity period and verification details

EPDs are designed for external communication, often for procurement, green building certification (e.g. LEED, BREEAM, DGNB), and meeting regulatory or client requirements.

An EPD is based on an LCA study that adheres to specific product category rules.

How Are They Different?

In the table below, we can summarise the key differences between EPDs and LCAs:

When Do You Need an LCA vs an EPD? 

• If you’re looking to improve your product’s sustainability or compare design options, start with an LCA

• If you’re required to disclose environmental data, obtain green building credits, or provide credible documentation to clients, you’ll need an EPD

In most cases, an LCA is the foundation for creating an EPD.

Need Our Help?

Circular Ecology specialise in both Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations. Whether you’re developing internal insights or preparing for third party certification, our team ensures that your environmental data is accurate, compliant and aligned with industry standards.

We support a wide range of sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure, and we’re happy to guide you through the process, from initial data collection to EPD registration.

Use the form below to get in touch to learn how we can support your sustainability goals.

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