Dutch National Environmental Database, Explained
If the Netherlands is on your sales map, the Nationale Milieudatabase (NMD) is your scoreboard. Designers, contractors, and public clients pull product data from it to calculate MPG for buildings and MKI for civil works. Having your EPDs present and correct here turns sustainability paperwork into commercial traction, not a compliance drag.
What the NMD is
The NMD is the national hub that standardizes how material impacts are calculated in the Dutch market. It hosts verified product data and the official Determination Method that LCA tools must follow.
MPG and MKI, in one minute
Two acronyms, two arenas. MPG is the environmental performance figure used in building permits, while MKI monetizes impacts for infrastructure tenders. As of January 2026, the legal MPG cap remains 0.8 for new housing and 1.0 for new offices larger than 100 m², per the ministry’s current guidance and NMD policy page (NMD, 2025).
The three data categories, and the hidden multiplier
NMD data comes as Category 1 (company specific, verified), Category 2 (industry average, verified), and Category 3 (generic). Category 3 carries a 30% uplift, so a product modeled with generic data is penalized before the design even starts (NMD, 2025). Upgrading to a Category 1 EPD removes that uplift and improves the project score instantly.
How your EPD gets into the NMD
Publish an EN 15804 compliant EPD with the indicators and background datasets required by the Dutch Determination Method, then have it verified and entered as Category 1 or 2 via NMD’s intake workflow. Declarations in the database carry a five‑year validity window before update is required (NMD, 2025).
Method updates that matter for spec outcomes
The Dutch system aligns with the EN 15804+A2 set of 19 impact indicators, which are monetized into euros to produce MPG and MKI. The official weighting set behind those euros was formalized in 2025 legislation, bringing more certainty to comparisons and tender math (Staatsblad, 2025). The shift to A2 indicators is reflected across NMD guidance and tools (NMD FAQ, 2025).
Why this shapes sales conversations
Design teams need compliant numbers early. If your product shows up as Category 1 in the NMD, it avoids the 30% generic penalty and can improve a project’s MPG headroom, which keeps you in the running when budgets and carbon targets collide. In civil bids, lower MKI can translate into real evaluation benefits, so your data quality can be the tie‑breaker on price‑tight tenders.
A quick checklist for manufacturers
- Pick the right PCR family used by Dutch competitors and align your system boundaries to EN 15804 A2.
- Model with the background datasets recognized by the Determination Method and document assumptions clearly.
- Plan for 5‑year renewals and keep utility and scrap inputs traceable, so updates are painless (NMD, 2025).
- Submit for NMD intake as Category 1 to avoid the Category 3 uplift that drags MPG and MKI.
Where speed actually pays off
Most delays happen inside the factory walls, not in the LCA software. The partner you choose should shoulder data wrangling across plants and SKUs, keep reviews moving with verifiers, and deliver an NMD‑ready package without stealing time from your R&D or plant leads. Do that, and the NMD stops being red tape and starts being runway. It sounds simple but it isnt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the current MPG limit for new Dutch homes and offices changing in 2026?
As of January 2026 the stated caps remain 0.8 for new homes and 1.0 for offices over 100 m², while method and policy updates continue to be implemented and discussed. See the NMD policy page for the current figures (NMD, 2025).
How much does Category 3 data penalize my product in the NMD?
Category 3 carries a 30% uplift compared to verified data, which directly worsens MPG and MKI results. Moving to Category 1 removes this surcharge and can unlock spec opportunities (NMD, 2025).
How long is an NMD declaration valid before I must update it?
Five years is the standard validity period stated by NMD for declarations in the database (NMD, 2025).
What changed in 2025 that affects MPG and MKI calculations?
The government formalized the weighting set used to monetize EN 15804+A2 indicators, adding legal clarity to the single‑score math used in MPG and MKI comparisons (Staatsblad, 2025).
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
