product description<\/em>. Declared unit is the reference point for measuring environmental impact. It’s like saying “calories per serving” when describing food nutrition. For construction products, this might be measured in terms of weight (e.g., kilograms of concrete) or volume (e.g., cubic meters of a material). The declared unit standardizes the environmental data so that the impacts, such as emissions or energy use, are compared on the same basis across different products.<\/p>\nBy checking these elements, you ensure the EPD is current and that you’re examining the intended product. This approach helps you understand\u00a0 the characteristics for comparison, including type, impact, and unit.<\/p>\n
How to compare different EPDs<\/h3>\n
Manufacturers, architects, and engineers often need to compare EPDs when selecting suppliers or choosing products with the lowest environmental impact for their projects. To make an informed decision, it’s essential to focus on key factors that reveal the most important details of their environmental performance. These factors will help ensure a fair and accurate comparison between EPDs:<\/p>\n
1. Functional unit<\/strong><\/p>\nProducts should be compared based on the same functional unit to ensure that their environmental impacts are measured equivalently. If the functional units differ, the comparison will be skewed.<\/p>\n
2. Scope of the EPD<\/strong><\/p>\nEPDs can have different life cycle stages:<\/p>\n
\n- Cradle-to-gate<\/strong>: Covers extraction of raw materials to manufacturing.<\/li>\n
- Cradle-to-grave<\/strong>: Covers the entire lifecycle, from extraction to disposal.<\/li>\n
- Cradle-to-cradle<\/strong>: Includes recycling at the end of life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ensure the products being compared use the same life cycle stages in their EPDs to avoid inconsistencies.<\/p>\n
3. System boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\nUnderstand what is included in each EPD. Some may cover additional or fewer processes, such as transportation, energy use in operation, or end-of-life disposal. The\u00a0system boundary<\/strong>\u00a0should be consistent to ensure all aspects of the product\u2019s lifecycle are accounted for similarly.<\/p>\n4. Environmental impact categories<\/strong><\/p>\nThe environmental impact categories are the same and comparable. Ensure that both products report on the same categories to make meaningful comparisons. Common categories include:<\/p>\n
\n- Global Warming Potential (GWP)<\/li>\n
- Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)<\/li>\n
- Acidification Potential<\/li>\n
- Eutrophication Potential<\/li>\n
- Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5. Data quality and source<\/strong><\/p>\nVerify the quality and sources of data used in the EPD. Primary data (from actual manufacturing processes) is generally more reliable than secondary data (from databases or literature). Products with well-documented, high-quality data are easier to compare accurately. You can find this information in the ‘LCA background information’ section.<\/p>\n
6. Geographical and temporal differences<\/strong><\/p>\nGeography<\/strong>\u00a0can influence the environmental impact of a product (e.g., energy mix in manufacturing locations or transportation distances). Similarly,\u00a0temporal differences<\/strong>\u00a0(the year the data was collected) matter, as technologies and regulations change over time. Ensure both products are analyzed in the same geographic context and time period.<\/p>\n7. Assumptions and allocation methods<\/strong><\/p>\nSome EPDs make assumptions about things like energy use, transportation distances, or recycling rates. Be sure that similar assumptions or allocation methods are used when comparing products. You can find this information in the ‘LCA background information’ section.<\/p>\n
8. Certification and verification<\/strong><\/p>\nEnsure that both EPDs are verified by an independent third party to ensure the data is credible and consistent with international standards (e.g., ISO 14025, EN 15804).<\/p>\n
9. Product lifespan<\/strong><\/p>\nSome products might have different expected lifespans. Comparing them on a per-year basis (e.g., GWP over 50 years of service) can provide a clearer picture, especially if one product lasts significantly longer. Find this information the product description.<\/p>\n
10. Material composition and recyclability<\/strong><\/p>\nConsider the materials used and their potential for recycling or reuse. A product with a high environmental impact during manufacturing might offset this by being highly recyclable or having a long lifespan.<\/p>\n
By focusing on these factors when comparing different EPDs, you can ensure you\u2019re comparing products in a way that reflects their true environmental performance, helping you make more informed and fair eco-friendly choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
EPDs provide valuable insights about a product\u2019s environmental performance at a glance. However, EPDs may vary in appearance depending on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ioct-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"example](\"https:\/\/oneclicklca.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/EPD-General-info-steel.webp?width=583&height=405&name=EPD-General-info-steel.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"EPD](\"https:\/\/oneclicklca.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/EPD%20product%20validity.webp?width=686&height=263&name=EPD%20product%20validity.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"epd](\"https:\/\/oneclicklca.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/EPD-product-info-steel-1.webp?width=754&height=297&name=EPD-product-info-steel-1.webp\")
<\/p>\n