Upstream Data: The Hidden Fuel of Reliable EPDs
Module A1, the upstream slice of an Environmental Product Declaration, often carries three-quarters of a building product’s embodied carbon, yet many teams still model it with decade-old generic averages. That gap can cost bids, credibility, and CO₂. Here is how to close it without drowning in spreadsheets.
Why Module A1 Sets the Tone
Industry studies put 70-80 % of upfront emissions in the raw-material and manufacturing steps captured by A1–A3 (Infrastructure Australia, 2024). If that data is off, every downstream module wobbles like a Jenga tower. Precise upstream numbers are the difference between an EPD that steers design decisions and one that just decorates a tender package.
Suppliers Hold the Keys, Not Your ERP
Your enterprise system tracks purchase orders, not blast-furnace energy mixes or recycled-content rates. That intel lives with suppliers. The 2025 CLF Baselines show a 4-to-1 spread between lowest and highest-impact reinforcing steel on the North American market (CLF, 2025). A single email may surface an up-to-date supplier EPD that halves your product footprint overnight.
Public Databases Help, But Only So Much
Portals like ÖKOBAUDAT or EC3 host tens of thousands of EPDs, yet gaps remain for niche alloys and regional aggregates. When a data point is missing, project teams revert to conservative high-carbon defaults and your product looks worse than it is. Hunting down supplier declarations plugs those blind spots.
Asking for Supplier EPDs: A Tactful Script
Nobody loves extra paperwork. Open with why their EPD matters, share the PCR reference they must match, and offer to handle the upload. Close by naming the benefit: preferred-vendor status on the next order. People usualy respond to mutually-beneficial framing.
Automation Beats Email Ping-Pong
Scaling this chase across fifty inputs calls for more than a brave intern. Purpose-built request portals collect certificates, flag expired ones, and auto-remind laggards.
ROI: Faster Bids, Fewer Surprises
Bid teams armed with current upstream data slash contingency buffers. The Dutch contractor Heijmans reported 8 % lower material premiums on public tenders once supplier-specific EPDs replaced generic factors in cost models (Rijkswaterstaat, 2024). Better data also shields you from carbon-fee surprises as city-level Buy Clean rules spread in the EU and some US states.
Wrap-Up: Start Climbing Upstream Today
Upstream data may feel distant, yet it shapes every headline number in your declaration. Recruit a consultant who can curate supplier EPDs at scale, stitch gaps with defensible proxies, and leave your engineers free to, well, engineer. The sooner you recieve that first batch of certificates, the sooner your next EPD will actually reflect the product you worked so hard to perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convince a reluctant supplier to share their EPD?
Explain the mutual win (inclusion on future orders), keep the ask clear and demonstrate how providing one is is benefitial to everyone.
Can I publish my product EPD if some suppliers still lack data?
Yes, but use conservative, clearly documented proxies and highlight ongoing data-improvement plans. Program operators allow updates without starting from scratch.
What if supplier data uses a different PCR than mine?
Ask for the underlying inventory data or use conversion factors backed by the relevant standard. Switching PCRs mid-stream can trigger additional third-party review, so plan carefully.
Does better upstream data always shrink the carbon number?
Not always. Sometimes precise data reveals a higher impact, but it also pinpoints where upgrades pay off.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
