Business benefits of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) aren’t just a way for your company to understand the climate impact of its products, there are compelling business benefits of EPDs too.

In the process of helping Blue Marble clients gain EPDs for their products, we often enable them to improve if not excel in areas such as regulatory compliance, competitive advantage and innovative product development.

What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?

An EPD helps to answer a crucial question – how does your product perform in different stages of its life cycle? It’s an objective report, carried out alongside a life cycle assessment (LCA). An EPD studies what your product is made of and how it impacts the environment across its entire lifecycle.

For instance, your product may well be produced in a sustainable way but, if it only lasts a short time or can’t be reused or recycled, then it will not be considered sustainable towards the end of its life cycle.

EPDs are becoming standard in product manufacture and construction and are often demanded within supply chains and by investors. They provide crucial data on a product’s environmental impact, such as resource consumption, energy use, waste generation and emissions to air, water and soil.

Business benefits of EPDs:

1.        Competitive advantage

Having quantified data on the environmental impact of a product can offer commercial advantage, especially when clients are asking about the environmental performance and impact of products over their life cycle. EPDs are also crucial when clients demand them as part of their procurement process.

Blue Marble was able to help Amron Architectural (a company that provides creative metal solutions to the architectural and interior design market) gain EPDs for five of its products and thus secure a competitive edge. The company had previously reported losing out on a major business opportunity because, at the time, it didn’t have EPDs. Find out more now.

2. Meets regulatory demands

EPDs are fast becoming integral to sustainable operations and decision-making in manufacturing and construction. They’re also increasingly recognised by building assessment schemes such as BREEAM and LEED. Plus, a growing number of architects now prefer to use products with EPDs over those without.

Gaining an EPD for a product is therefore a sensible way to future-proof your business. EPDs meet European Standards and they’re becoming a gold standard for sustainable comparison.

Blue Marble was able to help flexible solar panel manufacturer Verditek to meet international standards with an EPD and have confidence in the environmental performance of its products.  Find out more now.

3. Supports innovative product development

For companies creating innovative environmental products, an EPD demonstrates credibility. Manufacturers of non-traditional building materials, such as Cem-Rock® eXtreme, can use an EPD to highlight the benefits of new and novel building materials in an industry that is increasingly focused on sustainability.

Blue Marble was able to help Cem-Rock® showcase the sustainable nature of its innovative magnesium oxide boards with an EPD. Find out more now.

4. Drives costs down in line with carbon savings

Changes that are implemented during and after an LCA  and EPD have the potential to save on costs. For example, reducing the amount of packaging around a product may lead to lower material and transportation costs.

At Blue Marble, we help clients identify areas where resources are being used inefficiently so they can drive down costs in line with environmental long-term value.

5. Enhances reputation

Companies exceeding customer demands, by being transparent about the environmental impact of their products, rightly want to shout about it and an EPD can be an excellent marketing tool.

In 2023, Blue Marble conducted a LCA study on Multipanel (the UK’s leading brand of waterproof bath and shower panels) and produced an EPD.  Blue Marble then offered a bespoke briefing session to members of the Multipanel business development team focusing on how to interpret the EPD and how to discuss the implications with potential customers. Find out more now.

6. Supports a circular economy

EPDs encourage the use of materials that can be recycled or reused at the end of their life. This contributes to the circular economy where products are repurposed or recycled instead of going to landfill.

Blue Marble helped Rock Solid (a company that converts domestic waste into new raw materials) produce an EPD on its Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA). The ash is generated by Energy from Waste plants which have been set up to divert waste from landfill. The company has found innovative ways to repurpose IBA as a construction aggregate.

By completing the waste cycle, Rock Solid is firmly supporting the wider circular economy and helping the UK achieve its Zero to Waste sustainability goals. Find out more now.

Enjoyed finding out about the business benefits of EPDs? If you’d like our help with your business’ journey, get in touch here.