Expired EPD? Here’s What To Do Now

First, confirm it’s truly expired

Open the declaration and check the validity date on the cover or first page. Most EPD programs set a five year validity window from publication, after which the document is no longer current (EPD International GPI, 2024) (EPD International GPI, 2024). IBU follows the same five year rule for construction products, which keeps market comparisons fair across update cycles (IBU Program Rules, 2024) (IBU Program Rules, 2024).

If the date has passed, the EPD is expired in the eyes of program operators. That means no verified claims and most project teams will not count it toward submittals.

What an expired EPD means in practice

Think of an EPD like a passport. It still has your identity, but it will not get you through the gate once the date rolls over. Owners and GCs typically ask for current third party verified EPDs. Several public purchasers that rely on EPDs for eligibility or benchmarks only accept current documents, for example Buy Clean California, which applies to structural steel, rebar, flat glass, and mineral wool board insulation (California DGS Buy Clean, 2024) (California DGS Buy Clean, 2024).

Renew or reissue, what’s the difference

If only formatting or minor editorial items changed, some programs allow a reissue during validity, with the same expiration date. Once the EPD has expired, you are looking at a renewal with fresh verification and updated data. That sounds heavy, yet it is often faster than producing a first EPD because your data map already exists.

The 90 day recovery plan

Start with triage. If a bid is live, ask the specifier whether a signed verification letter with a firm publication timeline will hold your place. Some will allow it, others will not. Move quickly regardless.

Next, lock your reference year. Most teams pick the most recent full calendar year of production data. If the product is new and you only have a few months, a prospective EPD can be feasible, then you update once a full year is available.

Finally, line up verification early. Queues can be the long pole, so booking a verifier while data collection is underway saves time.

When the PCR expired too

A Product Category Rule is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. If the PCR used by your previous EPD has been revised or replaced, you can still renew. The next edition must follow the current PCR or an appropriate alternative. Expect changes to impact categories, datasets, or allocation rules, which can shift your reported results. Good partners will benchmark what competitors are using and recommend the right PCR, not just the nearest one.

Data you will need on day one

Keep it lean and precise. Utility consumption by process and energy source, production volumes by product variant, inbound material bills with supplier locations, waste and scrap, transportation modes and distances, packaging, and declared unit definitions. If you produce in multiple plants, separate data is essential to avoid blending that hides facility performance.

Spec risk, translated into sales language

Without a current product specific EPD, design teams are often forced to apply conservative default values in carbon accounting. That can push your product out of the conversation before price even shows up on the screen. A renewed EPD removes that penalty and keeps you competitive in projects that score materials.

What reviewers actually check

Most submittal reviewers look for a few simple markers before reading the fine print.

• Program operator name and EPD number
• Publication and expiry dates
• Product name, declared unit, and standard
• Third party verifier identification

Make those elements easy to spot and you reduce back and forth.

How long will renewal take

Timelines depend on data readiness, the complexity of the PCR, and verifier availability. Teams that centralize utility bills, production logs, and supplier EPDs finish faster. We see the bottleneck shift from modeling to waiting for confirmations, which is why early scheduling pays off.

Common questions we hear during “expired EPD” panics

Will we need to redo the LCA from scratch. Usually no, but you will need to update inputs to the chosen reference year and reflect any process changes. Will results get worse. Not necessarily. Energy efficiency or cleaner electricity mixes can improve results, and PCR updates sometimes refine methods in your favor.

How to avoid the scramble next time

Set a reminder twelve months before expiry. Run a quick variance check against the last reference year, especially for energy mix and major material changes. Decide whether you will renew one to one or use the moment to consolidate SKUs into families under a smart declared unit. Small habits here prevent big headaches.

A quick note on “expired EPD what to do” searches

If the question sitting in a notes app reads expired EPD or EPD renewal, start with the validity check, lock your reference year, and book verification. The rest is disciplined project management. It is definately manageable.

Threading it all together

Expired does not mean doomed. It means press go on a focused renewal, watch the PCR you anchor to, and keep the data handoffs simple. Do those three things and the EPD becomes a springboard instead of a speed bump.