Discover the difference between EPDs, Product Carbon Scores, and LCAs. Understand their goals, uses, and how to choose the right tool to assess the environmental impact of your products.
EPD, Product Carbon Score, LCA... It’s not easy to keep track. Here are the key differences between these environmental assessment tools.
In the world of sustainable construction, you often hear about EPDs, Product Carbon Scores, or LCAs. These terms are related, but they don't mean the same thing. Here is how to tell them apart.
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a standardized method used to rigorously quantify the environmental impacts of a product or structure. It covers every stage of its life cycle: from raw material extraction, to production, installation, use, and finally end-of-life (reuse, recycling, disposal).
👉 This comprehensive environmental analysis serves as the common methodological foundation used to develop:
- an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for construction products,
- a Product Carbon Score, which quantifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product throughout its entire cycle.
The environmental indicators evaluated in an LCA include:
- CO₂ emissions (or carbon footprint),
- energy consumption,
- use of water resources and raw materials,
- waste production
Each document (EPD or Carbon Score) takes the results for these various indicators into account to help guide design, sourcing, or construction decisions toward a more eco-friendly and sustainable approach.
An EPD, or Environmental Product Declaration, acts as an environmental and health ID card for construction products.
This standardized document, based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), provides reliable information on the environmental and health impact of a product throughout its lifespan—from raw material extraction to end-of-life.
Compliant with ISO 14025 and European environmental and health regulations (including European Union requirements and the Grenelle Law in France), the EPD is governed by strict rules and must be verified by an independent third party.
Une FDES est essentielle pour les fabricants de produits de construction qui souhaitent participer aux appels d'offres de projets soumis à la RE2020. Cette réglementation exige une évaluation environnementale et sanitaire complète des bâtiments basée sur la modélisation des impacts des matériaux utilisés. Pour cette modélisation, la FDES constitue le document officiel de référence - c'est le seul format officiellement reconnu, certifié, structuré et vérifiable au niveau national.
With this environmental and health declaration sheet, professionals can access a series of standardized environmental and health indicators:
- Resources consumed (raw materials, energy, water, etc.)
- Emissions into the air, water, and soil
- Waste production
- Impacts on human health related to product use
- Overall environmental impact across various categories (global warming, resource depletion, pollution, etc.)
This data allows for a precise assessment of the environmental and health performance of products and materials used in a construction project, and facilitates their integration into assessment software like those required by RE2020.
The analysis provided by the FDES is a key tool for anticipating environmental and health impacts, making sustainable choices, and meeting the growing expectations of project owners, architects, and building industry stakeholders regarding responsible construction.
In short, the FDES is a standardized sheet primarily intended for construction products. It follows precise rules (NF EN 15804 standards + national supplement) and is subject to independent third-party verification.
It incorporates numerous indicators (carbon, water, resources, waste, etc.) for use in environmental and health assessment software such as RE2020.
The Product Carbon Score is an environmental indicator increasingly used to measure and calculate a product's carbon footprint, particularly in commercial contexts or for the general public. It allows you to calculate the carbon impact of a product over all or part of its life cycle and present it as a single figure, usually expressed in kg CO₂e (kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions).
This carbon score can be based on a full or simplified life cycle assessment (LCA), depending on the goals of the carbon footprint analysis. It is particularly useful for responsible purchasing initiatives, guiding consumers or professional buyers toward material choices that are more environmentally friendly, thereby contributing to the ecological transition and the energy transition.
💡 Note: The Product Carbon Score is not systematically governed by a standard or verified by an independent third party, unlike an FDES. It is therefore a more accessible tool, but its rigor may vary.
In any case, this score is a first step toward calculating, measuring, and potentially reducing emissions associated with a product, and for optimizing its carbon footprint as part of a strategy to reduce overall environmental impact.
In summary, the Product Carbon Score is often used in more general public or commercial contexts. It can:
- Be based on a full or simplified LCA,
- Be expressed in kg CO₂e (greenhouse gas emissions),
- Be used to communicate a single figure to customers or buyers, particularly in the context of responsible purchasing.
💡 It is not always verified by an independent third party or compliant with FDES standards.
Construction industry players are increasingly being asked to justify the environmental performance of their materials and products. In this context, several tools are emerging or becoming more mainstream: the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), the Product Carbon Score, and the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment).
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion.
However, each serves a very specific purpose, with different levels of requirements and target audiences. Understanding how they complement each other and where they differ helps you choose the right tool for your needs—whether you are meeting regulatory requirements, designing a high-performance building, or communicating transparently about a product's environmental impact.
EPDs and Product Carbon Scores serve different needs, even though both are based on LCA. While an EPD is essential for complying with RE2020 regulations or integrating data into building analysis tools, the Product Carbon Score is an accessible communication lever, useful for raising awareness, making comparisons, or starting a carbon reduction initiative.
In short:
- Are you a manufacturer or distributor looking to highlight the environmental impact of your products for transparency or differentiation? The Product Carbon Score can be a great starting point.
- Are you working on a construction project subject to RE2020 or looking to rigorously integrate sustainable materials? The EPD is the right tool, as it is standardized, verified, and interoperable with industry software.
- Are you starting a low-carbon strategy? A better understanding of LCA will help you choose the right method and identify which emission sources to optimize.
Ultimately, regardless of the method chosen, these tools all share a common goal: actively contributing to the ecological transition of the building sector.
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