EPDOverview and key topics

Sven-Olof RydingThe Swedish Environmental Management Council

Presentation at the Bologna seminar on EPDMarch 1, 2006

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

01970’s 1980’s 1990’s

Corrective

Preventive

Predictive

Rel

ativ

e U

nit C

ost

Environmental trends

Cost-benefit value of environmental work

Time

£ Concept DetailDesign

Feasibility Construction

Potential for cost reduction

Cost of change

VALUE MANAGEMENT VALUE ENGINEERING

ISO activities

Ongoing standardisation work:

• ISO TC 207/SC3/WG4: Environmentallabels and declarations – ISO/DIS14025 : Type III environmental declarations

• ISO TC 59/SC17/WG3: Sustainability in building construction – ISO/DIS 21930: Environmental declaration of buildingproducts

What is an EPD?A Type III environmental declaration provides

quantified environmental data for a product with pre-set categories of parameters based on ISO 14040-series of standards but not excluding additional environmental information provided within a Type III environmental declaration program

A Type III environmental declaration is open for all products and presents the information in a format that facilitates comparisons between products

A Type III environmental declaration includes information supplied to industrial customers and to end-use consumers(ISO / DIS 14025: Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations)

ISO activitiesISO TC 207/SC3/WG4: Type III environmentaldeclarations – DIS 14025

Objectives: Type III environmental declarations are intended to:

• provide LCA based information about a product to enable the purchaser/user to make accurate comparisonsbetween products

• reflect changes over time and relevant environmental information along a product’s value chain

• enable purchasers/users to add up LCA-based information in the supply chain for estimating a total environmental impact for an end product.

EPDs are indeed key tools in Green Procurement

EPD-activities in different countries

• Sectorial activities (mostly in the building sector):

Finland, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, USA

• National activities: Canada, (Denmark), (Germany), Japan, Norway and South Korea

• Cross-national activities (Intend project): Italy and Sweden

The The EPDEPD®®systemsystemcurrent statuscurrent status

Number of EPDs

18

1

25 23

1 1

26

95

0

30

60

90

120

Belgium Finland Italy Japan SudKorea

Poland Sweden Total

•Consensus on methodology •Transparency of program•Verified information

•Product category specific •Harmonised LCA requirements

•Short reaction time•Facilitate environmental competition•Affordable for SME

•Life Cycle Thinking•As product specific as possible

Basic requirementsfor a declaration:CredibleInformativeComparableUnderstandableMarket benefitsNo trade barrier

•Relevant and useful

•Fair comparisons based on environmental issues

Use of Use of EPDsEPDs

For producers:EPD provide opportunities for giving a

quantitative and verified description of the environmental performance of product / services in a comprehensive life cycle perspective.

For consumers: EPD is a source of information in procurement

and purchase of product and services.

MEETS THE NEEDSMEETS THE NEEDS

The need for harmonisedcalculation rules

To meet expectations in ISO standards of enabling:

• the possibility to add up information in the supply chain

• the possibility to make fair comparisonsbetween declarations

there is a need for harmonised and verifiableLCA-calculation rules (so-called PCR –product category rules)

Global Type IIIEnvironmental Product Declarations

Network

www.gednet.org

GEDnetGEDnet PCR LibraryPCR Library

• GEDnet, the Global Type III environmental product declarations network, was founded in 1999 and is an international non-profit association of EPD programme operators and practitioners

• The overall objectives of GEDnet is to foster cooperation, encourage information exchange and facilitate harmonization of EPD programmes and PCR documents

• GEDnet is administrating an open on-line service to collect worldwide information about ongoing PCR activities and collect all available PCR documents to be accessed by anyone in a Global PCR Library

Global PCR ForumGlobal PCR Forum

• The Global PCR Forum provides the possibility for all interested parties to:

• be used as a marketplace for an open communication and dialogue to take place between PCR stakeholders on any issue related to PCR in general,

• enable questions and answers on any relevant PCR area or document existing in the GEDnetPCR Library to be addressed to those parties responsible for the PCR development and

• offer the possibility to comment on any PCR document open for consultation before approval

Intend into ExtendIntend into Extend

Swedish EPD system

Italian Pilots Projects

‘99

‘99

‘03

INTEND PHASE 1 INTEND PHASE 2 THE EPD INTERNATIONAL SCHEME

Intend into ExtendIntend into Extend

•• Involve existing EPD Involve existing EPD systemssystems

•• Start cooperation Start cooperation with with GEDnetGEDnet

•• Promote the Promote the organisation of local organisation of local or national or national supporting bodiessupporting bodies

•• The diffusion of the system is starting in:The diffusion of the system is starting in:

••Denmark Denmark ••GermanyGermany••HollandHolland••BelgiumBelgium

••NorwayNorway••PortugalPortugal••SpainSpain

Thank you for your attention

• Sven-Olof Ryding• The Swedish Environmental Management

Council (SEMC)• Vasagatan 15-17, SE-111 20 Stockholm• Tel: +46 8 700 66 91• E-mail: sven-olof@miljostyrning.se