Life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration (EPD)

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration (EPD)

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) – evaluation of the life cycle.

A life cycle consists of sequential and interconnected stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or production from natural resources to final disposal. LCA is conducted according to:

• ISO 14040:2006 – Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and framework,
• ISO 14044:2006 – Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Requirements and guidelines.

EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – environmental product declaration.

An EPD is a third-party verified document that transparently and quantitatively presents information about the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle, based on life cycle assessment (LCA). EPD is developed according to:

• EN 15804 – Sustainability of construction works. Environmental product declarations. Core rules for the product category of construction products,
• ISO 14025:2006 – Environmental labels and declarations. Type III environmental declarations. Principles and procedures.

Benefits of LCA and EPD

For Manufacturers:

• Competitive advantage – demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and compliance with environmental standards.
• Transparency – provides objective information about a product’s environmental impact.
• Market access – enables participation in green building projects (e.g., LEED, BREEAM standards).
• Process optimization – helps identify areas in the production chain where environmental impact can be reduced.

For Clients:

• Product information – provides a clear understanding of a product’s environmental impact.
• Sustainability goals – allows for more sustainable choices in construction projects.
• Comparison – enables comparison of products from different manufacturers based on environmental indicators.
• Regulatory compliance – ensures that used products meet sustainability criteria in building regulations (CPR – Construction Products Regulation) or national requirements.