Environmental Product Declaration for your project
The global trend is increasingly focusing on carbon footprint, eco-efficiency and circular economy. An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is verifiable and comparable proof that a product meets the requirements of a modern, sustainable industry. EPDs help you achieve LEED, BREEAM, DGNB building certifications. As ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting obligations approach, EPDs are becoming a major asset for developers and construction companies.
ACO EPDs confirm that we care not only about performance and quality, but also about responsible environmental impact.
EPD is a transparent step towards sustainable construction
An EPD is a verified document that transparently communicates the environmental impact of a construction product throughout its entire life cycle - from raw material extraction, through production and distribution, to its disposal or recycling.
EPDs are created in accordance with EN 15804 and ISO 14025, and follow the principles of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). While the LCA is a technical document intended more for internal use or professional assessment, the EPD is a public document based on it and serves to communicate the environmental impacts of a product in a clear and transparent way.
How we assess environmental impact
To understand the environmental impact of our products, we divide their life cycle into three main stages:
1. Cradle to Gate (A1-A3)
This covers everything from the extraction of raw materials through the production of materials up to the actual production of the product - i.e. until the product leaves the factory.
How to read EPD results?
At first glance, the EPD result tables may seem overwhelming – filled with technical indicators, units and lifecycle stages. However, it’s possible to focus on a few key parameters that give you meaningful insight, especially in early decision-making.
The most widely used and compared indicator today is GWP-total (Global Warming Potential) for the stages A1–A3, which represent the CO₂ emissions of the product from raw material extraction to manufacturing. This value directly reflects the carbon footprint of the product, which is increasingly relevant in both certification and legislation.
Another important indicator is SM (Secondary Material) – it shows how much recycled content is used in the product. Higher values reflect a stronger contribution to circular economy principles.
Can we compare EPDs?
Yes, but with care. Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) cannot simply be placed alongside another and if you do, you cannot automatically expect an objective comparison.
To make the comparison meaningful, several principles need to be followed:
Functional unit: e.g. 1 m², 1 metre of product or specific usable time of use.
Durability: EN 15804+A2 allows to declare the lifetime of the product - but it depends if the manufacturer proves it with real data or just gives an "estimated reference lifetime" (e.g. 15, 25, 50 years).
Different materials have different levels of durability depending on the conditions in which they are used. It is therefore important to consider how long the product will actually last in a given environment.
Scope of assessment: compare EPDs that cover the same life cycle phases (e.g. A1-A3 or A1-C4+D).
Standard and methodology: only EPDs based on the same version of the standard (e.g. EN 15804+A2) can be compared.
Product rules (PCR): EPDs must be produced according to the same rules for a given product type.
Key considerations when working with EPDs
- Make smart comparisons - always follow them in the right context.
- Older EPDs may not be comparable to new ones (different methodology, scope).
- Some EPDs do not include recycling or disposal stages - results may then distort the true impact of the product.
- Product selection is not just about the 'number on paper' but about how long the product actually serves without losing functionality.
- EPD is not a 'who has the smaller number' competition - it is a tool for informed decision making.
Benefits of EPD
Credibility and transparency
You get clear and understandable information about the environmental properties of the product
Obtaining building certifications (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB) - allowing to earn points towards your rating
Preparing for legislation (EU Building Directive (EPBD), Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Digital Product Passport (DPP) etc.)
- EPDs are already required in many public contracts. It will soon be part of wider EU requirements
“Together we build smarter, cleaner and with a vision for the future.”
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