Choosing the Right EPD Consultant

Why this choice matters now

The buildings and construction sector contributed about 34% of global energy related CO2 emissions in 2023, which keeps embodied carbon firmly on every spec team’s agenda (UNEP Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, 2025) (UNEP, 2025). If your products lack product specific EPDs, buyers often default to conservative assumptions that make price the only lever.

First screen criteria

A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. A strong EPD consultant maps your product family to the right PCR and program operator, such as the International EPD System, IBU, UL, ASTM, or Smart EPD, then shows recent competitor EPDs to confirm fit. Ask for their plan to keep you aligned to EN 15804 or ISO 21930 as versions evolve.

Speed without shortcuts

Real speed comes from ruthless project management and white glove data collection, not from cutting modeling corners. The best partners set a single reference year, lock a document list on day one, and run standing check ins so your most valuable people stay focused on core work.

Data wrangling included, not assigned

Who chases utility bills, transport distances, batch recipes, and supplier EPDs. If the answer is “you”, expect delays. A capable EPD consultant takes on the data wrangle and cleans what comes back so verification stays smooth. That is where weeks vanish or are saved.

Verification path that clears review

Third party verification is not a box to tick, it is a dialogue. Look for teams who can name preferred verifiers for your category and explain typical comment cycles. We look for evidence of repeat collaborations that keep questions predictable and timelines short.

Machine readable by default

Specification platforms and rating tools increasingly expect digital, structured outputs. The International EPD System published 252 fully digital EPDs in 2025, a small but telling shift toward data you can reuse across portals and submittals (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). If a consultant only hands you a static PDF, that is yesterday’s deliverable.

Market reach and operator agnosticism

If you sell in North America and Europe, you want a publication plan that balances authority and reach. That can mean publishing with IBU for German market pull and listing with the International EPD System for global discovery. IBU reported over 840 EPDs published in 2024 and more than 4,700 since 2012, which signals active market use by specifiers there (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024). Operator agnosticism helps you match buyer expectations without rework.

Renewal timing is a competitive lever

Most construction EPDs are valid for five years, set at verification under program rules. Plan renewals early so there is no gap that forces buyers back to generic values. The International EPD System states validity is normally five years and requires mid cycle updates if indicators worsen beyond thresholds (EPD International FAQ, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Treat the printed validity date like a product launch window, not an afterthought.

Scale and credibility checks

Volume is not everything, yet it hints at reviewer familiarity and discovery. The International EPD System surpassed 18,000 valid EPDs in 2025, with construction still the majority category, which means spec teams are more likely to find and use your documents there (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Always confirm where your buyers actually search before you commit.

Software only or full service

Pure software can look cheaper, yet the hidden cost is staff time. If your team must assemble data, model scenarios, manage verification, and publish across portals, the internal hours stack up quickly. A full service EPD consultant should free R&D, product, and plant leaders so they dont spend evenings building spreadsheets.

Five questions to ask in your first call

1. Which PCR and operator would you choose for our product line, and why now.
2. Who owns data collection, supplier outreach, and document QA inside our company.
3. How many verified construction product EPDs have you published in the last 12 months, and in which operators.
4. What is your plan to deliver machine readable outputs alongside the PDF.
5. When should we start the renewal to avoid any market gap.

The practical bottom line

Choose an EPD consultant who handles the heavy lifting, proves operator fluency, and delivers verification ready models on a predictable timeline. The payoff is commercial. Current, credible EPDs remove the hidden penalty of no data and move your product from maybe to specified on projects where embodied carbon rules the tiebreaker. It is defintely worth getting right.