New guidance document: application of EPDs in environmental declarations

Within the Dutch Environmental Database, increasing use is being made of producer-specific data, such as EPDs for raw materials and semi-finished products. These data can provide valuable background information, but do not always align with the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works.

This raises a clear practical question: when is an EPD sufficiently comparable to be used in an environmental declaration?

What changes now?

With this guidance document, a uniform approach is now available for assessing and applying EPDs. This means:

• clear verification criteria for methodological deviations from the Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works
• a structured impact analysis to prevent underestimation of environmental impacts
• the possibility to register assessed EPDs, avoiding duplicate assessments
• practical guidance for both LCA practitioners and LCA verifiers

The guidance follows three steps:

• Identifying methodological deviations
• Performing an impact analysis
• Registering applicable EPDs

Apply this approach within your LCA and verification process.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

Glossary

EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)
A standardised environmental product declaration based on a Life Cycle Assessment.

Environmental declaration
The dataset within the Dutch Environmental Database used in environmental performance calculations.

Assessment Method for Environmental Performance of Construction Works
The uniform calculation methodology for determining the environmental performance of construction works.

Dutch Environmental Database
The central database containing environmental data on construction products for application in environmental performance calculations.