Is an EPD mandatory?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an increasingly popular document providing reliable information about a product’s environmental impact. But is it legally required? To answer this question, it is important to understand what an EPD is, what functions it serves and in what situations it may be needed.

What is an EPD and what are its functions?

An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a document describing a product’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle, in accordance with the ISO 14025 standard. It indicates, among other things, raw material consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation. It is a Type III environmental declaration, meaning that it is based on objective data verified by an independent entity. Its primary goal is to provide transparent and reliable information regarding sustainability. As a result, EPDs are used in both the construction industry and other sectors, such as energy and industrial manufacturing, as a tool supporting informed purchasing decisions.

Is an EPD required by law?

Currently, in Poland and the European Union, having an EPD is not mandatory, but in many cases it is becoming increasingly desirable. This stems from growing market demands, particularly in the construction sector, where demand for certified building materials is increasing. For investors and designers, it is important to use products that support sustainable construction and help obtain environmental certifications such as BREEAM or LEED. Furthermore, new EU regulations, particularly the new CPR Regulation, which entered into force on 7 January 2025, indicate the increasing role of such declarations in the future.

Benefits of having an EPD

EPDs offer many benefits for manufacturers, investors and end consumers. These include:

• Building market trust – an EPD demonstrates the transparency of a company’s operations.
• Support for building certification – many building rating systems, including BREEAM, LEED and DGNB, require environmental data provided by EPDs.
• A stronger competitive position – products with EPDs are more frequently selected in tenders and environmentally focused projects.
• Cooperation with demanding partners – an increasing number of institutional clients require environmental information.

For manufacturers, an EPD can also support better management of production processes and help identify areas that require optimisation.

How to prepare an EPD?

Preparing an EPD requires collecting accurate data on the entire product life cycle – from raw material acquisition, through production and use, to recycling. The process includes:

• conducting an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment),
• selecting the appropriate certification body,
• meeting the requirements of ISO standards such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14025.

The final step is verification of the documentation by an independent certification body, which ensures the credibility of the declaration. The entire process can be time-consuming, but it can bring tangible benefits in the long term.