The green transition is now a must for every sector. Whether you're a building materials manufacturer, an electronics company, a construction firm, or a distributor, everyone is facing a growing demand for transparency regarding the environmental impact of the products they bring to market.
In this context, several types of environmental declarations coexist: FDES (Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet), PEP (Product Environmental Profile), and EPD (Environmental Product Declaration).
Three acronyms that can be confusing at first, but are actually complementary and follow specific regulatory frameworks.
In this article, we will:
- Break down these acronyms and explain their differences.
- Show their regulatory and economic value.
- Provide practical tips to help you navigate them and showcase your efforts.
1. Why environmental declarations are becoming essential
Before diving into the details of FDES, PEP, and EPD, it’s important to understand the context that led to these tools.
1.1. Stricter regulations
- La RE2020 dans le bâtiment impose de calculer l’empreinte carbone des constructions, en intégrant l’impact des matériaux et équipements. Impossible donc de travailler sans données environnementales fiables.
- La loi AGEC, la directive CSRD et plus largement la taxonomie européenne poussent toutes les entreprises à prouver leur performance environnementale, y compris au niveau produit.
- À l’international, des réglementations similaires émergent : par exemple le Buy Clean Act aux États-Unis qui impose des critères d’impact carbone pour les marchés publics.
1.2. Market and customer pressure
Beyond the law, it’s also tenders, major contractors, and end customers who are demanding proof. In the construction industry, a company without an FDES is at a disadvantage: its products cannot be properly included in regulatory calculations.
1.3. An economic opportunity
When used correctly, these declarations aren't just a burden. They allow you to:
- Highlight your eco-design efforts.
- Stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
- Access new markets (public or private) that require environmental transparency.
2. FDES, PEP, EPD: decoding the acronyms
2.1. The FDES: Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet
- Specifics: The FDES is specific to the construction sector and covers construction products (concrete, insulation, paint, windows, etc.).
- Format: It is a standardized document, written according to the EN 15804+A2 standard and managed in France by the INIES database.
- Content:
- Environmental impacts (carbon, water, resources, waste, etc.).
- Health information (composition, indoor air quality, VOC emissions).
- Use: Essential for RE2020 compliance and for calculating a building's full life-cycle environmental footprint.
Real-world example: An insulation manufacturer without an FDES will see their products replaced in studies by default data, which is usually less favorable.
2.2. The PEP: Product Environmental Profile
- Specifics: The PEP concerns electrical, electronic, and HVAC equipment (e.g., radiators, boilers, cables, lighting).
- Regulatory framework: Written according to the EN 50693 standard and managed in France by the PEP ecopassport® association.
- Content: Environmental footprint over the entire life cycle, as well as energy and recycling characteristics.
- Use: Allows manufacturers to demonstrate the performance of their equipment and meet RE2020 requirements for building technical systems.
Real-world example: a boiler manufacturer with a specific PEP can highlight their product's low energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint compared to competitors.
2.3. EPD: Environmental Product Declaration
- Specifics: the EPD is the international equivalent of FDES and PEP. It also follows the EN 15804 standard, but can be used at a European or global level.
- Scope: any type of product can have an EPD (not just building materials or electrical equipment).
- Distribution: EPDs are published in European (e.g., ECO Platform) or international databases.
- Usefulness: for manufacturers who export or want to harmonize their processes, an EPD makes it easier to respond to tenders in multiple countries.
Real-world example: a French construction materials producer with an EPD can sell more easily in Germany, Scandinavia, or the United States.
3. Key differences between FDES, PEP, and EPD
Comparatif FDES / PEP / EPD
| Critère |
FDES |
PEP |
EPD |
| Secteur |
Produits de construction |
Équipements électriques, électroniques, CVC |
Tous produits |
| Norme |
EN 15804+A2 |
EN 50693 |
EN 15804 (international) |
| Spécificité |
Ajoute la dimension sanitaire |
Focalisé sur équipements techniques |
Vision globale et export |
| Base de données |
INIES (FR) |
PEP ecopassport® (FR) |
ECO Platform, bases internationales |
| Utilité |
RE2020, chantiers en France |
RE2020, équipements techniques |
Export, appels d’offres internationaux |
4. How to navigate this and choose the right declaration?
4.1. If you are a manufacturer in the construction sector
Priority: FDES.
It is essential for inclusion in RE2020 calculations. Without an FDES, your products risk being penalized by default values.
4.2. If you manufacture technical equipment
Priority: PEP.
It is the only recognized declaration for electrical, electronic, and HVAC equipment.
4.3. If you export or target international tenders
Priority: EPD.
It allows you to speak the same language as your European or international clients.
4.4. And if you are a distributor?
Even if you don't manufacture, this concerns you. The AGEC law and transparency requirements mandate that distributors relay certain environmental information. Having your suppliers' FDES, PEP, or EPD documents is therefore a major asset for meeting client requests and building trust.
5. Practical steps to obtain an environmental declaration
5.1. Conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
All these declarations are based on a rigorous LCA. It involves measuring a product's environmental impacts throughout its entire life cycle:
- Raw material extraction
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Use
- End-of-life (recycling, waste)
5.2. Drafting and verifying the declaration
- LCA data is compiled into a standardized format (FDES, PEP, or EPD).
- A third-party verification is mandatory to ensure the reliability and credibility of the information.
5.3. Publishing in a recognized database
- FDES → INIES database.
- PEP → PEP ecopassport® website.
- EPD → international databases (ECO Platform, IBU, etc.).
6. The economic value: turning a requirement into an advantage
6.1. Accessing regulated markets
In the construction industry, without an FDES or PEP, your products may be excluded from projects subject to RE2020. Having a declaration is therefore a prerequisite for staying competitive.
6.2. Leveraging your CSR commitments
These declarations fit perfectly into a comprehensive CSR strategy. They provide tangible data that can support your CSR reports, EcoVadis assessments, or CDP responses.
6.3. Gaining a commercial edge
Example: two insulation manufacturers offer products with similar pricing and technical performance. The one that highlights an FDES demonstrating a lower carbon footprint will have a clear competitive advantage.
6.4. Anticipating market trends
Environmental transparency requirements will only continue to grow. Investing in FDES, PEP, or EPD now means preparing for tomorrow's tenders and avoiding being caught off guard later.
7. Pitfalls to avoid
- Thinking that a declaration is enough on its own.
- An FDES or PEP is only valuable if it is integrated into a broader eco-design and communication strategy.
- Underestimating the importance of verification.
- An unverified or poorly drafted declaration can damage your credibility.
- Limiting yourself to the domestic market.
- EPDs are becoming essential for companies looking to grow internationally.
8. How Altopi can help you
Creating an FDES, PEP, or EPD is a technical process that requires mastery of standards, LCA, and official databases.
At Altopi, we support companies from start to finish:
- Product LCA conducted by our certified experts.
- Drafting and verification of FDES, PEP, or EPD.
- Integration into your CSR initiatives (carbon footprint, EcoVadis, CSRD).
- Commercial promotion to turn your efforts into a competitive advantage.
9. Conclusion: Turning transparency into a growth driver
FDES, PEP, and EPD are powerful tools for proving your commitments, meeting regulatory requirements, and strengthening your market position.
You can turn them into a tool for differentiation and business growth. Customers, investors, and regulators value companies that can demonstrate and communicate their environmental performance.
