Find out what an EPD is, what it’s used for, and why it’s essential for assessing the environmental impact of construction materials.
Find out what an EPD is, what it’s used for, and why it’s essential for assessing the environmental impact of construction materials.
The EPD, or Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet, is a standardized document that assesses the environmental and health impacts of construction products throughout their entire life cycle. Acting as a true environmental ID card for a product, it is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted in accordance with European and French standards (NF EN 15804 + national supplement).
Individual EPD:
This is produced by a single manufacturer and describes the precise environmental characteristics of a specific product from their own site or manufacturing process.
Collective EPD:
This is developed by a group of manufacturers (for example, a trade organization like the UFME). It concerns a representative generic product, based on average data collected from a statistically relevant sample.
Individualized EPD:
A manufacturer can customize a collective EPD by adjusting certain parameters (sourcing, processes, energy used, transport, etc.). This provides a more accurate reflection of their actual environmental impact, which is often lower than the collective average.
Default data (MDEGD):
Established by the government, this generic data applies when no specific EPD is available. It is based on conservative calculations that include safety margins and provides no health information (air emissions, comfort, etc.). It is used for regulatory calculations (such as RE2020) but remains less favorable than verified data.
The EPD is an environmental assessment that serves several purposes:
- Providing user information for greater transparency when selecting products (greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, pollution, etc.).
- Enabling comparisons between different products to make more sustainable choices.
- Powering environmental simulation tools for buildings (such as E+C-, RE2020).
- Meeting regulatory requirements for sustainable construction.
An EPD can be developed at the initiative of a manufacturer when they wish to declare the specific environmental performance of one of their products. It can also be produced by a professional industry body or trade union as part of a collective EPD representing a standard product common to several manufacturers. Finally, there are so-called "custom" EPDs, generated via configurator tools. These allow data to be adjusted based on the actual characteristics of the product as it is used in a specific project.
EPDs are primarily used by:
- Architects and design offices,
- Project owners for public or private tenders,
- Manufacturers to highlight the environmental quality of their products,
- Construction companies, to optimize their overall carbon footprint.
An EPD is valid for 5 years.
An Environmental and Health Declaration (EPD) follows a highly structured format. It aims to provide reliable, verifiable, and comparable data on the environmental impacts of a construction product. Here is the key information you will find in one:
- Product name and intended use
- Manufacturer name or sponsoring federation
- Reference service life (RSL) of the product (e.g., 50 years)
- Functional unit used for calculations (e.g., 1 m² installed)
- Validity period of the EPD (usually 5 years)
This is the core of the EPD, representing the environmental profile of the assessed product.
It breaks down the product's environmental impacts throughout its entire life cycle, following these phases:
- A1-A3: Production (raw material extraction, manufacturing)
- A4-A5: Transport and installation
- B1-B7: Use phase (maintenance, energy consumption)
- C1-C4: End-of-life (deconstruction, transport, treatment)
- D: Benefits beyond the end-of-life (e.g., recycling)
The environmental indicators provided are numerous:
- Climate change (carbon impact - result expressed in CO₂ eq)
- Energy and water consumption
- Waste production
- Pollution of natural environments (eutrophication, acidification, etc.)
The EPD can also include useful health information, such as:
- VOC emissions (volatile organic compounds)
- The health rating of the product
- Effects on indoor air quality
- Density
- Dimensions
- Installation method
- Packaging
An EPD published on the INIES database must be:
- Verified by an independent third party
- Compliant with the NF EN 15804 standard and its national supplement
It can be:
- Individual (specific to a manufacturer)
- Collective (supported by an industry sector)
To access Environmental and Health Declaration Sheets (EPDs), the gold standard in France is the INIES database, which is available for free online at www.inies.fr.
This official database includes:
- Individual EPDs, created by manufacturers for their own products;
- Collective EPDs, produced by industry trade groups to represent a typical product.
Every EPD published on INIES is:
- Verified by an independent third party,
- Compliant with the NF EN 15804 standard + national supplement,
- Valid for 5 years, with a clearly stated publication and expiration date.
An EPD is a standardized, regulated, and verified document. Therefore, you cannot simply edit it; it must follow a rigorous procedure. Any update actually involves creating a new version, which must then be validated. Here are the steps to follow if you want to modify an EPD.
You should consider a modification if:
- You change the composition or the manufacturing process of the product,
- You update environmental data (e.g., energy consumption, transport),
- You are correcting an error or improving data quality,
- You want to renew the EPD at the end of its validity period (5 years maximum).
💡 If the changes are significant, a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is usually required.
It is not possible to directly edit an existing EPD on INIES or change its content without a new verification. Any update is treated as a new official version.
In a context where environmental regulations are tightening, the EPD has become an essential tool for all building industry stakeholders. It not only helps meet compliance requirements for building permits, but also helps you stay ahead of regulatory changes, such as the implementation of the NF EN 15804 standard. Having it verified by a third party adds value to your data, ensuring reliability and environmental certification.
Whether it’s a regulatory requirement or a voluntary initiative, including EPDs in your projects helps create a more responsible build, while showcasing your commitment to clients and partners. To learn more, check out the INIES database on their website and consider working with a professional or a qualified consulting firm to develop or update your EPDs in line with current standards.
In addition to EPDs, PEPs (Product Environmental Profiles) offer a similar approach for technical equipment.
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