EPD

Sustainability & Carbon

Environmental Product Declaration — ISO 14025 Type III Environmental Declaration

Buy Clean Laws Are Spreading. Can You Produce a Verified EPD for Every Product a Customer Specifies?

EPD compliance requires facility-specific life cycle data from across your supply chain—raw materials, energy inputs, transport modes, and waste streams. GWP thresholds are tightening. The EU's revised CPR makes environmental declarations mandatory for construction products starting 2026. US Buy Clean requirements are expanding state by state. Certivo automates EPD evidence collection from supplier LCA data to verified, submission-ready documentation.

See How Certivo Automates EPD Compliance

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13

Core environmental impact indicators under EN 15804+A2

5 years

Standard EPD validity period before renewal required

12+

US states with Buy Clean EPD requirements (active or enacted)

Regulation Overview

Jurisdiction

Global (ISO 14025); EU (EN 15804+A2); US (Buy Clean state + federal programs)

Regulatory Body

ISO / CEN (standards); EU Commission (CPR); US EPA, GSA, state agencies (procurement)

Regulation Number

ISO 14025:2006; EN 15804:2012+A2:2019; EU CPR 2024/3110; Buy Clean California Act (AB 262)

Effective Date

ISO 14025 (2006); EN 15804+A2 (2019); EU CPR GWP reporting (January 2026); Buy Clean CA (July 2022)

Official Source

https://www.environdec.com/services/what-is-epd

Key Threshold

Product-specific GWP limits set by jurisdiction (e.g., Buy Clean CA maximum GWP per material category)

What is an EPD?

An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized, third-party verified document that quantifies the environmental impact of a product across its full life cycle. For supply chain and compliance teams, EPDs are the evidence currency for sustainable procurement, green building certifications, and emerging regulatory mandates.

EPDs are built on Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) conducted under Product Category Rules (PCRs) and verified by independent third parties per ISO 14025. Construction EPDs follow EN 15804+A2, which mandates 13 core environmental impact indicators including Global Warming Potential. The EU's revised CPR now requires GWP disclosure for construction products from January 2026, with full environmental reporting by 2030.

EPD compliance demands facility-specific production data—energy consumption, raw material inputs, transport distances, waste streams—from every manufacturing site and supplier. When product formulations change or PCRs update, existing EPDs require reassessment.

Key Components / Sub-Frameworks

Obligation

Defines EPD framework, program operator roles, verification requirements

ISO 14025

Type III Environmental Declaration standard

Obligation

13 mandatory impact indicators; life cycle modules A1–C4 and Module D

EN 15804+A2

Core PCR for construction product EPDs

Obligation

Govern scope, functional units, system boundaries, cut-off criteria

Product Category Rules (PCRs)

Category-specific LCA and reporting rules

Obligation

Facility-specific EPDs required; products must meet GWP limits

Buy Clean (US)

State and federal procurement mandates

Obligation

GWP in Declaration of Performance from 2026; full indicators by 2030

EU CPR 2024/3110

Revised Construction Products Regulation

Obligation

EPDs required for materials credits; product-specific EPDs preferred

LEED / BREEAM

Green building certification programs

⚠️ EU CPR Requires GWP Reporting for Construction Products from January 2026—Are Your Supplier Data Pipelines Ready?

The revised Construction Products Regulation makes environmental performance declarations mandatory. Penalty enforcement begins January 2027. US Buy Clean requirements continue expanding—Minnesota mandates EPDs for state-funded projects starting 2026. Manufacturers without facility-specific LCA data face bid disqualification and lost market access.

Key Compliance Requirements

Who Must Comply

• Manufacturers of construction materials sold in jurisdictions with Buy Clean laws
• Importers placing construction products on the EU market under the revised CPR
• Suppliers bidding on US federal GSA projects with low-embodied-carbon requirements
• Companies pursuing LEED, BREEAM, or Green Globes certification credits
• Manufacturers responding to OEM or general contractor EPD specifications
• Material suppliers in steel, concrete, glass, insulation, and asphalt categories

Get an EPD Compliance Assessment

Key Thresholds

GWP limits (jurisdiction-specific)

Maximum Global Warming Potential per material category under Buy Clean laws

Facility-specific EPD

Required for compliance in Buy Clean CA; industry-average EPDs not accepted

5-year validity

EPD renewal required; earlier if manufacturing parameters change significantly

EN 15804+A2 alignment

Required for EU market; mandatory indicators expand from 2026 to 2032

Core Obligations

1

Buy Clean CA (AB 262)

Facility-specific EPDs for steel, glass, insulation on state projects; GWP below DGS limits

DEADLINE

At bid submission; GWP limits reviewed every 3 years (next: 2028)

2

EU CPR GWP Reporting

Global Warming Potential declared in Declaration of Performance and Conformity

DEADLINE

From January 8, 2026

3

EU CPR Full Indicators

All EN 15804+A2 core environmental indicators in DoPC

DEADLINE

From January 9, 2030

4

Federal Buy Clean (GSA)

Type III EPDs for concrete, steel, asphalt, glass on IRA-funded projects

DEADLINE

Active on eligible GSA projects

5

EPD Renewal

Update and re-verify EPDs before 5-year expiry or upon significant process changes

DEADLINE

Ongoing per program operator rules

EPD-Specific Pain Points

The Multi-Facility Data Collection Nightmare

A facility-specific EPD requires one full year of production data—energy by source, raw materials, transport modes, waste by stream. You operate 6 plants across 3 countries. Each uses different ERP systems, energy reporting formats, and waste classifications. Compiling consistent LCA input data takes months of back-and-forth with plant managers.

The Bid Deadline Crunch

A general contractor specifies a facility-specific EPD for your structural steel product. Your existing EPD expired 3 months ago. The PCR has been updated since your last LCA. Re-verification takes 8–12 weeks. The bid closes in 30 days. You lose the project.

The GWP Threshold Ratchet

Buy Clean California reviews GWP limits every three years and can only adjust downward. Your concrete product met the 2022 limit. The 2025 review tightened limits. Two of your six plants now exceed the threshold. Without plant-level data visibility, you discover this at bid rejection—not during production planning.

The Multi-Jurisdiction Patchwork

California requires EPDs for steel, glass, and insulation. Colorado adds concrete and asphalt. The EU CPR requires GWP for all construction products. LEED v5 deepens whole-building carbon requirements. Each jurisdiction references different PCR versions, GWP scope boundaries, and acceptance criteria. Managing this manually across hundreds of SKUs is unsustainable.

Certivo In Action

EPD Workflow

GET EVIDENCE IN

Collect Facility-Specific LCA Data from Every Plant and Supplier—Without the Chasing

CORA launches targeted campaigns to collect production data, energy inputs, transport records, and raw material specifications from manufacturing facilities and upstream suppliers.

• Launch data collection campaigns across all production facilities with one click
• CORA-powered outreach in plant managers' native languages
• Accept any format: ERP exports, utility invoices, PDFs, Excel, freeform responses
• Track response rates and escalate non-responders automatically

MAKE SENSE OF IT

Know Instantly Which Products Meet GWP Thresholds—and Which Don't

CORA extracts environmental input data, validates against applicable PCR requirements, and flags GWP threshold exceedances by facility and jurisdiction.

• CORA parses supplier data to extract energy inputs, material composition, and transport parameters
• Automatic GWP calculation against Buy Clean, CPR, and LEED threshold requirements
• Real-time alerts when PCR updates or threshold changes affect your product portfolio
• Facility-level benchmarking to identify which plants meet which jurisdictions

⚠️

PROVE COMPLIANCE OUT

Respond to EPD Requests and Bid Requirements in Hours, Not Months

Generate LCA-ready data packages, EPD renewal documentation, and jurisdiction-specific compliance evidence instantly from validated facility data.

• One-click LCA input packages organized by PCR requirements
• Pre-formatted GWP compliance reports for Buy Clean submissions
• Customer-specific EPD evidence packages with full traceability
• Complete audit trail for every data point, validation, and submission

One Data Collection. Validation Against Every GWP Threshold. Audit-Ready in Hours.

Certivo collects facility-level production data, extracts environmental parameters, validates against Buy Clean limits, EU CPR requirements, and green building specifications, and generates submission-ready documentation automatically. When GWP thresholds tighten or PCRs update, Certivo reassesses your portfolio and alerts you—before bids are due.

Facility Data Collection

GWP Threshold Validation

PCR Compliance Tracking

Multi-Jurisdiction Reporting

CPR Readiness

See How to Automate Compliance

Features Tabs

Data Collection

Environmental Data Extraction

GWP Threshold Monitoring

Compliance Documentation

Multi-Jurisdiction Reporting

Data Collection

Certivo's automated campaigns achieve 95% response rates vs. 20-30% with manual data requests.

• Targeted campaigns by facility, product line, or material category
• Multi-language outreach to plant managers across global operations
• Intelligent follow-up sequences adapting to facility response behavior
• Format-agnostic: ERP exports, utility records, PDFs, Excel, freeform responses

95%

Facility Response Rate

Environmental Data Extraction

Every facility submission parsed to input-parameter level automatically—no manual data entry.

• Deep extraction of energy consumption, raw material quantities, transport distances, waste volumes
• Parses ERP exports, utility invoices, and proprietary facility reporting formats
• Multi-language document processing
• Anomaly detection for inconsistent or incomplete facility data

99.2%

Extraction Accuracy

GWP Threshold Monitoring

Always validated against current GWP limits—not your last EPD cycle.

• Automatic sync with Buy Clean CA, Buy Clean CO, GSA, and emerging state programs
• EU CPR threshold tracking aligned with EN 15804+A2 indicators
• Proactive alerts when threshold changes affect your product portfolio
• Historical tracking of facility GWP performance over time

Real-Time

Threshold Sync

Compliance Documentation

Generate EPD renewal data and bid compliance packages in hours instead of months.

• One-click LCA input packages organized by PCR and program operator requirements
• GWP compliance reports formatted for Buy Clean bid submissions
• Facility-specific data packages with complete traceability to source records
• Renewal tracking for 5-year EPD validity deadlines

4 hours

To Submission-Ready Package

Multi-Jurisdiction Reporting

One data collection feeds compliance across every EPD jurisdiction and program.

• Pre-formatted outputs for Buy Clean CA, CO, MN, federal GSA, and EU CPR requirements
• LEED v5 and BREEAM materials credit documentation
• PCR version tracking with automatic alerts when rules change
• Product-level compliance dashboards across all active jurisdictions

Unified

Cross-Program Compliance

Related Regulations

EU CPR (2024/3110)

Mandates GWP and environmental indicators in Declaration of Performance from 2026

Combined Value

EPD data feeds directly into CPR-required environmental declarations

CBAM

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism tracks embodied carbon in imports

Combined Value

Shared upstream emissions data supports both CBAM and EPD workflows

CSRD

EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires value chain emissions

Combined Value

EPD facility data contributes to Scope 3 product-level carbon disclosures

ESPR / Digital Product Passport

EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation introduces product passports

Combined Value

EPD LCA data populates environmental fields in Digital Product Passports

LEED v5 / BREEAM

Green building certifications requiring product-level environmental data

Combined Value

Validated EPD evidence generates materials credit documentation

California Prop 65

Some EPD-relevant material inputs overlap with Prop 65 listed chemicals

Combined Value

Unified data collection covers environmental and chemical compliance together

Managing EPD obligations alongside related sustainability frameworks eliminates duplicate supplier data requests. Certivo validates one submission against multiple programs.

Industries Most Impacted

Construction Materials Your Pain Point Buy Clean mandates; GWP thresholds tightening; facility-specific EPDs required](/content/industries/building-materials-construction/index.html)

Industrial & Heavy Equipment Your Pain Point OEM sustainability specs; EU CPR overlap; multi-plant complexity](/content/industries/industrial-machinery-heavy-equipment/index.html)

Energy & Infrastructure Your Pain Point Federal Buy Clean for IRA-funded projects; concrete and steel specifications](/content/industries/energy-infrastructure/index.html)

Electronics Manufacturing Your Pain Point Product carbon footprint demands growing; EN 15804 expanding beyond construction](/content/industries/electronics-manufacturing/index.html)

Automotive Manufacturing Your Pain Point OEM embodied carbon targets; material sustainability requirements](/content/industries/automotive-manufacturing/index.html)

Medical Devices & Equipment Your Pain Point Sustainability reporting; EU green procurement for healthcare infrastructure](/content/industries/medical-devices-equipment/index.html)

Consumer Goods Your Pain Point Retailer sustainability scorecards; product carbon labeling demands](/content/industries/consumer-goods/index.html)

Chemical Manufacturing Your Pain Point Upstream LCA data supplier to downstream EPDs; energy-intensive processes](/content/industries/chemical-manufacturing/index.html)

Return on Investment

80%

Reduction in Data Collection Labor

80% Reduction in Data Collection Labor

CORA collects facility-specific production data automatically across all plants and suppliers. Your team focuses on LCA optimization—not chasing spreadsheets from plant managers.

4 hours

To Bid-Ready Package

4 Hours to Bid-Ready Package

Generate complete, submission-ready GWP compliance reports and LCA data packages in hours—not the months of manual compilation across facilities.

Real-Time

GWP Threshold Tracking

Real-Time GWP Threshold Tracking

When Buy Clean limits tighten or EU CPR indicators expand, Certivo reassesses your product portfolio instantly. Know which facilities and products are affected before bids are due.

Key Statistics

13

EN 15804+A2 environmental indicators tracked per product

99.2%

Environmental data extraction accuracy from facility submissions

95%

Facility and supplier response rate with CORA-powered campaigns

Frequently Asked Questions

Which products require an EPD today?

EPD requirements are driven by jurisdiction and procurement context. Buy Clean California mandates facility-specific EPDs for structural steel, rebar, flat glass, and insulation on state-funded projects. Colorado, Minnesota, and other states are adding concrete and asphalt. The EU's revised CPR requires GWP reporting for construction products from 2026. LEED and BREEAM award credits for products with verified EPDs. Certivo tracks which of your products fall under active EPD mandates across all jurisdictions.

What happens if my product exceeds a Buy Clean GWP threshold?

Products exceeding GWP limits set by the awarding authority cannot be used on eligible public projects. In California, contractors who install non-compliant materials may be liable for removal costs. GWP limits are reviewed every three years and can only be adjusted downward. CORA monitors your facility-level GWP performance against current thresholds and alerts you when limits change.

What are the penalties for non-compliance with the EU CPR environmental requirements?

Member States can enforce penalties related to environmental performance declarations in the Declaration of Performance and Conformity from January 8, 2027. Penalties are set at the national level and can include fines, product withdrawal from market, and restriction of CE marking. The CPR also introduces Digital Product Passports that will require verified environmental data.

How does Certivo help with EPD data collection and renewal?

Certivo automates collection of facility-specific production data—energy, materials, transport, waste—across all manufacturing sites and upstream suppliers. CORA parses submissions in any format, validates data completeness against PCR requirements, and flags gaps before LCA practitioners begin modeling. Renewal tracking ensures you never miss a 5-year EPD expiry or a PCR update deadline.

How does EPD compliance relate to CBAM, CSRD, and other carbon frameworks?

EPDs, CBAM, and CSRD all require upstream emissions data from manufacturing facilities. The LCA data underpinning an EPD overlaps significantly with CBAM embedded emissions calculations and CSRD Scope 3 product-level disclosures. Certivo collects facility environmental data once and validates against multiple frameworks simultaneously, eliminating duplicate data requests to suppliers and plant managers.

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Every account includes a dedicated compliance expert alongside CORA.