As environmental reporting and product transparency become increasingly important, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are gaining attention across the construction, landscaping and infrastructure sectors.
But what exactly is an EPD, and why is it becoming an important tool for architects, consultants, municipalities and contractors?
What is an EPD?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document that presents environmental information about a product based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
EPDs follow internationally recognized standards, including ISO 14025 and EN 15804, and are independently verified before publication.
The purpose of an EPD is not to determine whether a product is “good” or “bad,” but to provide transparent and comparable information using a consistent methodology.
Why are EPDs important?
Environmental information can be difficult to compare when different methodologies and assumptions are used.
An EPD helps address this challenge by presenting data in a structured and standardized format. This allows stakeholders to evaluate products using consistent criteria rather than relying solely on marketing claims.
For many organizations, EPDs have become an important source of verified product information during procurement and specification processes.
Who uses EPDs?
- Policymakers and public authorities: EPDs provide access to independently verified product information that can support procurement decisions, policy development and project evaluation.
- Architects and designers: Architects use EPDs to review environmental information during material selection and specification processes. EPDs can also support projects that require environmental documentation.
- Contractors and construction companies: Contractors use EPDs to better understand product information and support project documentation requirements.
- Consultants and engineering firms: EPDs provide structured environmental data that can be incorporated into project assessments, reporting frameworks and Life Cycle Assessments.
- Product suppliers and installers: EPDs help suppliers and installers communicate product information using independently verified and standardized documentation.
What information does an EPD contain?
Although formats may vary slightly, most EPDs include information such as:
- Product description
- Material composition
- Manufacturing information
- Environmental indicators
- Resource use data
- End-of-life assumptions
- Verification details
This information is presented according to recognized standards, allowing products to be compared using a common framework.
How can an EPD support decision-making?
EPDs help stakeholders move beyond general claims by providing access to documented information.
This can support:
- Product comparison
- Procurement processes
- Project documentation
- Environmental reporting
- Specification and design decisions
Because EPDs use standardized methodologies, they provide a more consistent basis for evaluation than non-standardized environmental claims.
ONE-DNA™ and Environmental Product Declarations
At the time, ONE-DNA™ products were supported by independently verified Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (2024 MRPI EPDs, A1 to A3, former Hasselt production).
These documents provide transparent information about product composition, environmental indicators and lifecycle data using recognized methodologies.
By making this information available, project owners, architects and consultants can evaluate products using documented and independently verified information.
Looking ahead
As environmental reporting requirements continue to evolve, access to reliable product information is becoming increasingly important.
Environmental Product Declarations provide a practical way to communicate environmental information transparently and consistently, helping stakeholders make informed decisions based on recognized methodologies and independently verified data.
Update, October 2026: this article reflects the ONE-DNA™ range at the time of publication, based on polyethylene (PE). ONE-DNA™ now also includes a 100% PO route; see Technology. The EPDs mentioned (MRPI, 2024) cover the product stage (A1 to A3) of products made at the former Hasselt site and do not represent current production in Portugal.
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