BRE Global’s EPD Programme, Untangled
Choosing a program operator is where many manufacturers stall. BRE Global sits at the center of the UK EPD landscape, and understanding how their scheme works can shorten your route from first data pull to a verified declaration. Here’s the practical view that helps teams move with confidence, not guesswork.
Who BRE Global is in the EPD world
BRE Global runs an Environmental Product Declaration programme under the BRE Group umbrella, better known for BREEAM. In practice they act as the publication and verification home for construction product EPDs that follow European rules accepted across the UK and many EU markets.
Standards BRE relies on
BRE’s programme aligns to EN 15804 for construction products and ISO 14025 for Type III environmental declarations. That means core modules A1 to A3 are mandatory and reported in a consistent format that specifiers recognise (EN 15804+A2, 2019).
Verification, plain and simple
Manufacturers submit an LCA report and EPD draft, then an independent verifier checks conformity to the PCR and programme rules. The process focuses on data quality, methodological consistency, and claims that can be substantiated, not marketing language.
Where your EPD will live
BRE publishes EPDs on a public directory that specifiers can search, typically alongside PDF downloads and programme information. Visibility matters because many design teams start their screening in operator directories before they ever email a supplier.
When BRE is a good fit
Targeting UK public or commercial work where BREEAM, EN 15804 alignment, and familiar naming conventions help reviews go faster makes BRE a strong choice. If your sales conversations center on London, Manchester, Dublin, or EU hubs, publishing with a widely recognised European programme can remove friction.
What to prepare before you contact them
Have a clean bill of materials, site utilities by month, production volumes, waste streams, packaging, transport legs, and supplier locations. Ask early about scenario assumptions for A4, A5, and end of life so your sales team is not surprised by numbers that clients will question later.
- Core product and process data for a defined reference year.
- Evidence for allocation choices and any cut-off rules used.
- A reviewer-ready LCA report matching the chosen PCR.
Timelines and renewals without the fog
A competent LCA partner will map the PCR version you plan to use and track its revision window. EPDs are typically updated on a multi‑year cycle, with ISO 14025 calling for updates at least every 5 years to keep information current (ISO 14025, 2006). Ask for the renewal path in writing so budgets do not get caught out later.
Commercial relevance for bids and specs
EN 15804 EPDs reduce uncertainty for design teams that must document whole‑building impacts, which can keep you from being swapped for a competitor that already published. In busy tenders, a program operator directory listing plus clear A1 to A3 results is a small thing that prevents big delays.
How BRE compares in practice
Across operators, the biggest differences manufacturers feel are admin effort, verifier response times, directory visibility, and acceptance by your buyers. The smartest move is to pick the operator that matches your target market, then partner with an LCA team that takes on the heavy lifting so your engineers are not stuck exporting spreadsheets late at night.
A few buying questions to ask any operator
Will digital data exports be available alongside the PDF. How will changes to the PCR be handled mid‑cycle. Which verifier pool will be used and what are typical review comments, with examples, so we can pre‑empt rework. Ask these upfront to avoid seperate rounds of fixes.
Bottom line for manufacturers
BRE Global offers a familiar, EN 15804‑aligned route that specifiers in the UK understand. If speed, clean documentation, and predictable reviews matter, line up your data once, choose the right PCR, and publish where your customers will actually look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BRE Global follow EN 15804+A2 for construction product EPDs?
Yes. BRE aligns with EN 15804, and A2 updates define the current indicator set and require reporting for core modules A1–A3 (EN 15804+A2, 2019).
How often should a BRE‑published EPD be updated?
Programme rules follow ISO guidance that EPDs are updated at least every 5 years to remain current, although project scope can lead to earlier revisions (ISO 14025, 2006).
Where are BRE EPDs listed for specifiers?
They are published in BRE’s public directory with downloadable documentation so design teams can verify scope and indicators quickly.
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
