Environmental Product Declaration – What is an EPD?
An Environmental Product Declaration, also called an EPD, is a document that shows how a product affects the environment throughout its entire life cycle. The declaration is standardized, verified by an independent party, and reports everything from raw materials and manufacturing to use and recycling.
At Aura Light, it is important to us that our products have as little environmental impact as possible. Here we explain how an EPD works and how you, as a specifier or purchaser of lighting, can use them to compare different luminaires and solutions, as well as to calculate the climate impact of a building project.
When is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) used?
An EPD is used primarily in the construction industry to calculate and understand how different building materials affect the climate. By combining information about material consumption in a project with data from the EPD, it is possible to calculate the total carbon footprint resulting from the chosen materials.
Since January 1, 2022, it has been a legal requirement to carry out a climate declaration when constructing new buildings. In this declaration, information about the building product’s climate impact—mainly from life-cycle stages A1–A3—is used to provide product-specific environmental data. If the project lacks EPDs for certain products, one must instead rely on default values or industry-generic data, which often gives a less accurate picture of the climate impact.
What is included in an EPD?
An EPD is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) and follows international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804. It contains three main parts: product sheet, methodological choices, and results from the environmental impact assessment.
Below is an overview of the sections included in our EPDs:
1. Product information
Manufacturer – the company responsible for developing and providing the product. The manufacturer stands behind the data and calculations used in the EPD.
Website – provides more information about the manufacturer and its products.
Published date – indicates when the EPD was officially published. It also marks the start of its validity period and is based on the data and calculations current at that time.
Product sector – specifies the industry or category in which the product is used.
EPD number – a unique identification number used to track and reference the EPD. It works like a registration code in databases, making the document easy to find.
Country – shows where the manufacturer is based or where the product is primarily produced.
Expiry date – EPDs have a limited validity period, usually five years. After this date, the declaration must be updated or renewed to reflect any changes in production, materials, or environmental performance.
2. EPD details
This section describes the fundamental framework of the EPD — the rules, standards, and assumptions behind its content.
Product sector – specifies the type of product the EPD covers.
EPD category – indicates the category of the EPD and its validity period.
Averaging type – indicates whether the environmental data is based on a single product, an average of several products, or a representative product.
Scope – describes the scope of the life-cycle assessment (LCA), for example cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave, or cradle-to-cradle, showing how much of the product’s life cycle is included.
Reference standard – specifies the standard followed by the EPD, such as ISO 14025 or EN 15804, ensuring comparability and quality assurance.
PCR (Product Category Rules) – describes the rules for this specific product category and how life-cycle data must be collected and presented. A PCR works as the “manual” for how the EPD must be calculated.
cPCR (complementary PCR) – additional rules used in some cases to clarify specific requirements.
3. Manufacturer information
This section presents the party responsible for the environmental declaration.
Name, address, email, website – formal contact information for the manufacturer. This is important for verifying data or requesting additional information.
4. Verification details
This section describes how the EPD has been reviewed and approved.
EPD author – the person or organization that developed the document.
Verifier – an independent party that ensures the EPD complies with relevant standards and PCR rules.
Declaration status – indicates whether the EPD is “verified,” “under verification,” or “expired.” A verified EPD has undergone third-party review and is therefore more reliable.
5. Environmental impacts
This section presents the results of the life-cycle assessment (LCA), the core of the EPD.
Declared unit – the unit on which the results are based, such as “1 m² of product,” “1 ton of material,” or “1 piece.” This makes it possible to compare different products on an equal basis.
Mass per unit – indicates the weight of the declared unit and is necessary for recalculating environmental data.
Why are Environmental Product Declarations important for Aura Light and our customers?
By providing EPD documentation for our luminaires and solutions, we give our customers the tools to make informed environmental choices, document and communicate environmental performance in their facilities, support sustainability goals, and meet requirements in procurement and construction projects.
We believe that the best technology is also sustainable technology, and EPDs are a crucial step in making that visible. Do you have questions or want to know more about how we work with environmental product declarations? Contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How is an EPD used in practice?
An EPD is used to compare products from an environmental perspective, assess the climate impact of projects, and meet requirements in environmental certification systems. In industry, they are often used in procurement or when companies want to calculate their total climate impact.
Is an EPD the same as an ecolabel?
No. An EPD is not a label or certification like the Nordic Swan or EU Ecolabel. It is a factual report of environmental data without value judgments. It does not say whether a product is “good” or “bad,” only how it performs environmentally.
Where can I find EPDs?
EPDs are often published in open databases. You can find our EPD documents here:
https://manage.epdhub.com/