ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION (EPD) –

ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPARENCY IN THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS INDUSTRY

As the world moves toward sustainability and carbon reduction, the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) has become an essential tool for construction materials manufacturers and building design professionals.

1. What Is an EPD?

An EPD is a transparent report that discloses a product’s environmental impacts based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This document provides quantitative data on indicators such as:

• Climate change (CO₂e)
  

• Energy and resource consumption
  

• Water, soil, and air pollution
  

• Recycling and reuse potential
  

All EPDs must undergo independent third-party verification before being registered and published through an accredited EPD Programme Operator.

2. Standards and Calculation Methods

EPDs are developed in accordance with international standards:

• EN 15804: The European standard governing EPDs for construction products
  

• EN 16757: The specific standard for concrete products
  

A typical EPD describes the product’s entire life cycle, including:

• A1–A5: Raw material extraction, manufacturing, and construction
  

• B1–B7: Use phase
  

• C1–C4: End-of-life (deconstruction, processing, disposal)
  

• D: Reuse, recovery, and recycling potential
  

EPDs are valid for five years and must be updated afterward to comply with the latest standards.

3. Common Types of EPDs

1. Manufacturer-Specific EPD

Developed by an individual manufacturer, reflecting actual factory data. Offers the highest level of accuracy.

2. Average EPD

Based on the average data from one or more plants producing the same product category.

3. Sector EPD

Developed by an industry association using aggregated data from multiple members. Sector EPDs are especially useful for:

• Establishing industry benchmarks
  

• Supporting design comparisons and preliminary assessments
  

• Enabling Green Public Procurement
  

Note: Under the new EN 15941 standard, the term generic EPD is no longer used; Sector EPD is now the appropriate terminology.

Example: Cement and Concrete Sector EPDs in the UK

The UK’s Mineral Products Association (MPA) is a pioneer in developing Sector EPDs for cement and concrete.

Cement

• CEM I: 839.8 kg CO₂e/ton
  

• Average Portland Cement: 812.3 kg CO₂e/ton
  

These EPDs are registered through The International EPD System and the Eco-Platform Eco-Portal.

Note: Cement EPDs typically cover A1–A3 only due to the chemical characteristics of cement once incorporated into concrete.

Ready-Mixed Concrete

In 2024, MPA released five Sector EPDs for C28/35 ready-mixed concrete, covering various cement blend compositions. These EPDs take a cradle-to-grave approach and enable designers to evaluate and select low-carbon concrete alternatives from the early design stage.

Precast Concrete

In 2025, MPA Precast published six Sector EPDs for products such as:

• Lightweight, medium-weight, and dense concrete blocks
  

• Prestressed hollowcore slabs
  

• Prestressed T-beams
  

• Upcoming: cladding and crosswall EPDs
  

4. Benefits of Having an EPD

• Compliance with green building certifications (LEED, BREEAM, HQE, DGNB, etc.)
  

• Enhanced transparency and customer trust
  

• Establish industry benchmarks and drive emission reduction
  

• Strengthen eligibility for government green procurement programs
  

5. Conclusion

EPDs are more than a technical requirement—they demonstrate a company’s commitment to sustainability in the construction materials sector. By implementing EPDs, companies can proactively align with global trends, enhance competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to carbon reduction goals in the construction industry.