TRANSPARENCY AND THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION
It is easy to understand why greenwashing or carbon washing occurs since consumers want sustainable products more than ever. However, specifying products that do not live up to environmental claims will not only reflect poorly on the manufacturer but also on the designer or specifier who selected that product. Transparency and third-party verification are necessary to combat greenwashing. They address the need to accurately describe both positive and negative aspects of a product so that its environmental performance can be compared to other similar products. In the field of design and construction, one of the most useful tools in this regard are Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). An EPD is a statement that analyses a product’s life cycle to show environmental data about the product and to allow for competitor evaluation. It includes data from all product life cycle stages, from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, throughout its use and beyond, covering recycling and final disposal. Green Star, LEED, BREAM and several other sustainable building rating schemes recognise EPDs when awarding credits for green buildings. EPDs are developed based on the requirements of ISO 14025 (Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations) or EN 15804 for construction products. Every EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is completed by a third-party provider in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
By adopting EPDs, manufacturers can show they are leading on environmental issues. To assist them in getting ISO-compliant eco-labels and EPDs for their products, they work with certified 3rd party organisations and verify through the International ECO EPD Programmes. Under the International EPD System, all EPD documents should be fully verified and made available to the general public. Revised EN 15804+A2 for EPDs for construction products In 2019, EN 15804 +A2, an updated version of the EN 15804 standard, was released. From 2022, all new EPDs must comply with the +A2 standard. Note that there are still EPDs for building products on the old EN 15804 standard, which should now be on the updated standard. The updated EN15804 requires a more thorough and in-depth EPD that will assist designers and specifiers better understand the environmental performance and impact of products. The +A2 standard now considers Global Warming Potential under three impact categories: Climate Change Fossil, Climate Change Biogenic Removal and Emissions, and Climate Change Land Use and Land Use Change. There is also a greater emphasis on the impact on human health, as well as the benefits of end-of-life recycling.
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