Why third-party verification matters for EPDs

What is an EPD and why must it be verified?

An EPD is essentially a transparent report of a product’s environmental performance, covering impacts from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life. It is based on the LCA methodology and follows strict international standards (EN 15804 for construction products and ISO 14025 for type III environmental declarations). These standards require independent verification of EPDs in order to ensure consistency and credibility. 

“Any EPD should be independently verified according to ISO 14025, with third-party verification preferred. EPDs using EN 15804… are preferred,” states the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

In practice, this means a qualified, neutral verifier must check that the LCA data and calculations conform to the relevant Product Category Rules (PCR) and standards before an EPD can be published.

Third-party verification is what proves that the product EPD is a robust, standardised document, rather than just self-declared. Without verification, an EPD’s data could be incomplete or biased, undermining its usefulness. Verification provides an external audit of the LCA methods, ensuring all required life cycle stages and impacts are included and correctly calculated. This gives confidence that, for example, one company’s EPD for cement can be fairly compared to another’s, because both have been vetted to the same yardstick (EN 15804 + A2) by independent experts.

The importance of independent, third‑party verification

Third‑party verification of EPDs is critical for a few key reasons:

Data reliability and accuracy

An independent verifier ensures the LCA data, modelling, and results are accurate and free of errors or omissions. The verifier checks that the EPD’s calculations meet all technical requirements of EN 15804 and ISO 14025. This independent verification ensures reliability of the results, giving end-users confidence in the numbers . In other words, a verified EPD is a stamp of quality — it has undergone a rigorous review process.

Compliance with standards

Verified EPDs must adhere to the defined PCR and standards, which promotes consistency. All construction product third-party verified EPDs follow the same ruleset (EN 15804), so third-party review makes sure the rules are applied correctly. This consistency is essential if EPD data is to be used in whole life carbon assessments (WLCA) or compared across products. It’s also often a prerequisite for EPDs to be accepted in building certification schemes or databases. For example, BREEAM and LEED green building rating systems only award credits for products with verified, EN 15804-compliant EPDs, recognising the value of standardised, trustworthy data.

Credibility and trust

A manufacturer could theoretically publish environmental data about their product without verification, but it would carry little weight. When an EPD is verified by a respected program operator or certification body, it signals to customers and regulators that the information is objective and credible, not just marketing. The independent review removes any suspicion of cherry-picked data, thereby countering greenwashing. In fact, the UK’s Green Claims Code advises using certified data like EPDs to substantiate environmental claims.

“EPDs are independently verified by an experienced expert who must be approved by an EPD programme… and a very detailed verification checklist ensures quality,” said Dr. Jane Anderson, LCA expert and BSI committee chair, on the rigour of third-party EPD verification.

Market and regulatory acceptance

As demand for transparency grows, many procurement contracts and regulations now require EPDs or give preference to products that have them. Critically, these must be third-party verified EPDs to count. For instance, public infrastructure projects in some countries require a certain number of products to have EPDs, and the European Commission’s upcoming regulations will mandate verified, digital EPD data for key construction materials like steel and concrete. Without a verified EPD, manufacturers risk being excluded from tenders or markets that insist on transparent, standardised impact data. Even where not yet mandatory, having verified EPDs is increasingly seen as industry best practice and is often a selling point. It demonstrates a manufacturer’s commitment to credible sustainability reporting, which can differentiate their products. In the UK, while EPDs aren’t legally required for all products today, they serve as trusted evidence under voluntary schemes (e.g. to comply with client carbon reporting or the Green Claims Code).

Avoiding greenwashing and liability

In the era of scrutiny on environmental claims, unverified or self-declared environmental data can be risky. A third-party verified EPD helps protect manufacturers from greenwashing accusations by ensuring claims are backed by impartial data. Several European countries (e.g. France, Germany) already have laws that if you make an environmental claim about a product, you must back it up with a verified EPD. Regulators and consumers are less likely to challenge claims grounded in an independently verified EPD, whereas unsupported assertions could lead to reputational damage or legal issues.

How the EPD verification process works

To obtain a verified EPD, manufacturers typically work with an EPD program operator, either directly or through a verified tool approved by the operator. The process involves conducting a detailed LCA of the product (often using an LCA software tool compliant with EN 15804), compiling the results into an EPD report, and then submitting it for external verification. The verifier — an LCA professional approved by the program operator — reviews all underlying data, calculations, and documentation. They confirm that the correct PCR was used, the calculations are correct, and that the EPD meets the standard’s requirements. Only after the verifier is satisfied with the data does the program operator issue the EPD for publication. A quality-focused program can also audit the verifier’s work.

Verified EPDs are valid for five years in most programs as defined in the relevant Product Category Rules (PCR), after which they need updating or re-verification. This validity period ensures that data stays relatively up-to-date with any changes in the product or background data (such as electricity grid factors). It also means manufacturers must plan to renew EPDs periodically, which again is more efficient if the underlying LCA models are maintained in a robust software platform.

Benefits for manufacturers and construction buyers

For manufacturers, investing in third-party verified EPDs can yield multiple benefits. First, it unlocks access to projects where clients explicitly ask for EPDs (which is increasingly common in green building projects and public procurement). A verified EPD signals that your product’s sustainability claims are dependable and globally recognised, helping meet supplier pre-qualification criteria. It can also streamline reporting, for example, providing data for a client’s whole-building carbon assessment or for your own ESG disclosures. Organisations pursuing Science-Based Targets or reporting Scope 3 emissions find that having EPD data for their products makes life easier down the line.

Specifiers and buyers, on the other hand, gain confidence that they can use the EPD data to compare options or sum up impacts without being misled. Because EPDs report a range of impact indicators (from carbon footprint to acidification, water use, etc.) using the same functional unit and scope, a verified EPD allows apples-to-apples comparisons between products. This is invaluable in design and procurement decisions. It shifts conversations from vague “green” claims to quantified metrics. In short, third-party verification turns an EPD into a decision-making tool that all parties can trust, rather than a marketing brochure.

Third-party verification is what gives an EPD its credibility for public projects, certification schemes, and other reporting purposes. It ensures the environmental data about a product is objective, accurate, and aligned with international standards — which in turn builds trust with customers, meets compliance needs, and supports the industry’s move toward more sustainable, low-carbon construction. For any manufacturer serious about sustainability, a verified EPD is a must-have asset that demonstrates transparency. And for the industry at large, it’s the mechanism that makes “sustainable material choices” a data-driven reality rather than a hollow claim.

FAQ

What does “EPD” stand for, and what does it mean?

EPD stands for environmental product declaration (EPD). It is a standardised document that transparently reports the environmental impacts of a product across its life-cycle. In practice, an EPD is the outcome of a detailed life-cycle assessment of a product, formatted according to set rules. For construction products, EPDs follow the European standard BS EN 15804, ensuring consistency in how impacts like carbon footprint, water usage, and other indicators are calculated and reported. An important point is that an EPD does not declare a product “good” or “bad” for the environment; it simply provides objective data. Think of it as an environmental nutrition label for a product, verified by an independent third party for credibility.

What is an LCA in this context?

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is the methodology used to quantify the environmental impacts of a product or system across its entire life cycle. In the context of EPDs, an LCA looks at stages from raw material extraction (cradle) to manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling (grave). It compiles an inventory of all inputs and outputs (e.g. energy, materials, emissions) and then assesses the environmental impacts (such as climate change potential, acidification, etc.) – this phase is called the life-cycle impact assessment. The LCA forms the basis of an EPD. In simple terms, LCA is the methodology behind the EPD. By doing an LCA, one can identify where most impacts occur (e.g. energy use during production or raw materials) and report those findings in the EPD. LCA is sometimes referred to as life cycle analysis; both mean the same thing. It’s a rigorous, ISO 14040/14044-standardised process to ensure all products’ EPDs are calculated on a level playing field.

What are Product Category Rules (PCRs)?

Product Category Rules are the specific calculation and reporting rules for EPDs of a certain product type. Because different products have different lifespans and use scenarios, PCRs establish how to perform the LCA for that product category in a consistent way. For example, there might be a PCR for cement, another for insulation materials, another for carpets, and so on. The PCR defines things like the functional unit (what quantity of product the impacts are declared for), which life-cycle stages to include, how to handle recycling, and which impact indicators to report. PCRs ensure that when you compare EPDs of similar products, you’re comparing apples to apples. They are usually based on overarching standards (EN 15804 serves as the core PCR for all construction products) and are often published or overseen by EPD program operators. In short, a PCR is the rulebook that both the LCA practitioner and the verifier follow to create a compliant, comparable EPD .

What are the life cycle stages covered in an EN 15804 EPD?

EN 15804 divides the product life cycle into a set of modules labeled A1 to D. These are grouped into stages: Production (A1-A3) which covers raw material supply, transport, and manufacturing; Construction (A4-A5) which covers transport to site and installation processes; Use stage (B1-B7) which includes use and maintenance, though for many products not all B modules are relevant; End-of-Life (C1-C4) covering deconstruction, waste transport, waste processing, and disposal; and a final module D for declared benefits or loads beyond the system (for example, credits from recycling or energy recovery). A “cradle to gate with options” EPD might include A1-A3 (cradle-to-gate), plus some other modules if relevant, whereas a “cradle to grave” EPD includes A1-C4 (the full life cycle). Module D is reported separately as additional information. This modular structure makes it clear which parts of the life cycle are included. All EN 15804 EPDs must at least include the product stage A1-A3 (often called the “embodied impacts up to factory gate”), and then additional stages as needed or as the PCR dictates. The modular breakdown is important because it lets assessments plug product data into building models stage by stage.

How is a product carbon footprint related to an EPD?

A product carbon footprint generally means the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, typically expressed as kilograms of CO₂-equivalent. This is actually one of the main results you get from an LCA. In an EPD, the product’s carbon footprint is reported as the “Global Warming Potential” (GWP) impact indicator, broken down by life-cycle stage (for example, X kg CO₂e in production, Y in transport, etc.). So, an EPD includes the product carbon footprint, but also goes beyond it by reporting other impacts (like ozone depletion, acidification, water pollution, etc.). You can think of an EPD as a multi-dimensional product footprint: carbon is usually the headline metric, but the EPD gives a fuller picture of environmental performance. Importantly, the carbon footprint data in an EPD is verified and calculated in accordance with standards, whereas a generic “product carbon footprint” claim might not be. For manufacturers, having a verified EPD means their product’s carbon footprint has been rigorously assessed and can be trusted by customers and regulators.

What are Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions, and do EPDs account for them?

The terms Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions come from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and refer to an organisation’s carbon emissions. Scope 1 are direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company (e.g. fuel burned on-site), Scope 2 are indirect emissions from purchased energy (electricity, heat), and Scope 3 are all other indirect emissions up and down the value chain (like upstream material production, transportation, product use and disposal). EPDs, on the other hand, are product-specific and cover impacts across a product’s life-cycle. In essence, an EPD for a product will include many of the upstream and downstream emissions that would fall under various scopes if looked at from a company perspective. For example, when a manufacturer creates an EPD for an insulation material, the EPD’s A1-A3 modules include emissions from producing raw materials and manufacturing – which correspond to some of the manufacturer’s Scope 1 (on-site fuel use) and Scope 2 (electricity use), plus their suppliers’ Scope 1/2 (which are the manufacturer’s Scope 3 upstream). The use and end-of-life stages in the EPD correspond to downstream Scope 3 emissions for the manufacturer, and so on. In short, EPDs aren’t categorised by Scope 1/2/3, but the LCA approach captures many Scope 3 emissions of a product in a structured way. This is why EPD data can be very useful for companies trying to quantify Scope 3: it provides a transparent, standardised carbon footprint per product. However, it’s important to note that scope accounting and LCA have different boundaries and rules, so they are used in parallel for different purposes (corporate footprint vs product footprint).

How long is an EPD valid, and do we need to update it?

Most EPDs are valid for 5 years from the date of issue. This validity period is set by EPD program operators and the relevant PCR, and it is noted on the EPD document. After 5 years, the manufacturer should update the LCA and go through verification again to publish a new EPD. The reason for the time limit is to ensure the information stays current – over several years, things like the electricity grid mix, manufacturing efficiency, or raw material sources might change, which could alter the impacts. Also, the underlying standards themselves can be updated (for example, the move from EN 15804+A1 to A2 in 2019 introduced some changes in methodology). So, updating the EPD keeps it aligned with the latest data and standards. If a significant change in the product or production process occurs, a new EPD can be done sooner. Always check the “valid until” date on an EPD. Using an expired EPD in a project might not meet certain green building certification or regulatory requirements. Manufacturers who use One Click LCA’s EPD generation tools often find it easier to update EPDs, since the software can be updated with new data and quickly re-verified when needed.

Are EPDs mandatory in the UK?

As of now (2025), EPDs are not universally mandatory by law in the UK for all products – but they are increasingly expected in practice. The UK government’s procurement standards and many industry initiatives encourage the use of EPDs. For example, major infrastructure clients and initiatives like PAS 2080 (a standard for managing carbon in infrastructure) push suppliers to provide carbon data, often satisfied by EPDs. There is also an industry-proposed amendment to building regulations called Part Z that, if adopted, would require whole-life carbon assessments for buildings – which in turn would drive demand for EPDs for all construction products. Moreover, if you plan to export or sell products in Europe, be aware that the EU is moving towards mandatory EPDs for certain products under the updated Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. In some European countries like France, it’s already required to have an EPD to make any environmental product claim. While the UK doesn’t yet have an equivalent law, the UK’s Green Claims Code (enforced by the CMA) effectively requires companies to have solid evidence for any eco-claims – and a verified EPD is a prime example of such evidence. So, while not legally mandated across the board, EPDs are increasingly necessary for doing business competitively and transparently in the construction sector.

How can a manufacturer get a third-party verified EPD?

The process of getting an EPD can be broken down into a few steps. First, you’ll need to conduct a life-cycle assessment of your product. This usually involves gathering data on raw materials, energy use, transport, etc., and using LCA software or an LCA specialist to calculate impacts according to the relevant standard and Product Category Rules. Next, the results are compiled into an EPD document following an approved template. You then submit this to an EPD Program Operator for verification. The program operator will appoint an independent verifier to review your LCA and EPD. Once any issues are resolved and the verifier is satisfied, the operator issues the final EPD with a registration number and publishes it (often on their website or EPD library). For UK manufacturers, common program operators include BRE, International EPD System, or ECO Platform member programs. An alternative route is to use an EPD generation tool that is pre-verified – for example,  One Click LCA offers a Pre-Verified EPD Generator where the software’s methodology is already approved by a program operator, meaning EPDs created through it can significantly speed up final verification. This can simplify the process and reduce costs, especially if you need multiple EPDs. But even with such a tool, an independent review is typically required for the final EPD issuance (the “pre-verified” aspect just streamlines that review). Overall, getting a verified EPD requires some effort and expertise, but it has become more accessible with user-friendly LCA software and established verification services. Many manufacturers start by doing a pilot EPD for one product (sometimes supported by government grants or industry programs), learn the ropes, and then scale up to cover more products.