Third Party Verification for EPDs

Why Verification Matters Beyond Compliance

An EPD gains market traction only when buyers trust the numbers. Independent review under ISO 14025 turns a company’s own LCA into a Type III declaration that specifiers can cite without fear of greenwashing. Verified EPDs have been shown to boost bid success rates on LEED and Buy Clean projects by 20 percent or more (NBI, 2025).

Who Does What: Program Operators and Verifiers

1. Program operator – maintains the ruleset (General Program Instructions) and publishes the final document.

2. Third party verifier – a qualified individual or firm who checks data quality, modeling choices, and PCR alignment.

3. Accreditor – bodies like ECO Platform audit both actors to keep the checker honest.

Clear segregation keeps foxes out of henhouses and ensures global recognition.

Inside the Verification Checklist

A typical verifier follows a punch-list rooted in EN 15804 and ISO 14044:

1. data completeness (minimum 80 percent contribution captured)

2. background data age (≤ 5 years for specific data)

3. allocation logic and scenario transparency

4. consistency with the governing PCR

Fail one item and the clock resets. Smart EPD’s June 2025 guidelines publish the full 27-page checklist for public scrutiny.

Timelines and What Slows Them Down

Industry guidance pegs review at 4 – 8 weeks for straightforward builds (EPA, 2024; IBU, 2025). More complex products or clumsy data sets stretch to 12 weeks or longer (HHC Earth, 2025). Common delays:

1. late responses to verifier queries

2. PCR mismatches discovered mid-stream

3. iterative graphics corrections just before publication

Parq’s white-glove data chase and pre-submission “red team” review cut that cycle by roughly 70 percent, so many clients see their EPD listed in about three weeks after data lock.

Accreditation Paths: ECO Platform and Smart EPD

ECO Platform’s 2024 Verification Guidelines establish a harmonized quality bar across Europe, while Smart EPD offers a digital workflow favored in North America. Both require:

1. verifier independence checks

2. proof of competence records

3. formal dispute resolution tracks

Choosing a program operator already audited by ECO Platform or holding a Smart EPD mutual-recognition agreement means your declaration lands in databases specifiers actually search.

Shortcuts That Backfire

Some vendors promise “instant” EPDs by skipping third party review or bundling it with the original modeling. That can trigger rejection during credit audits and may force a costly re-issue later. The hour saved today can cost months of credibility tomorrow.