EPD Italy: Program Operator Overview
Publishing an EPD for Italy can feel like choosing a train at Roma Termini when the board keeps updating. Here’s the short map of who operates what, where Italian buyers actually look, and what has changed for public tenders. Pick right and your declaration travels farther with fewer rewrites.
Who actually runs EPDs in Italy
EPDItaly is the national program operator connected to ICMQ and recognized by Accredia for accredited verification bodies working under ISO 14025 and EN 15804. It is part of ECO Platform, which harmonizes construction EPDs across Europe and lists operator‑level counts for market context. As of July 1, 2025, ECO Platform shows EPD Italy in the “Very Large” tier with 1,906 listed EPDs (ECO Platform, 2025).
Where Italian manufacturers also publish
Many Italian teams publish with other European operators when cross‑border visibility matters. Two of the biggest are the International EPD System and IBU, shown at 12,749 and 2,565 EPDs respectively as of July 1, 2025 (ECO Platform, 2025). Electrical and electronic equipment often goes to PEP ecopassport, which aligns with EN 50693 and is widely referenced by building LCA tools in Europe.
Public tenders and CAM: what changed
Italy’s Minimum Environmental Criteria for construction were updated by Decree of November 24, 2025, effective February 2, 2026, replacing the 2022 text and a 2024 corrective note. The scope now clearly spans design services and works for buildings and civil infrastructure, so verified EPDs remain a practical way to evidence product impacts in bids (Accredia, 2025). If you sell into public projects, coordinate publication timing to avoid expiry collisions with procurement calendars.
Validity and updates you cannot ignore
Across major operators, EPDs are normally valid for five years from verification, with mid‑cycle updates if results worsen beyond stated thresholds. The International EPD System also requires an annual internal follow‑up during the validity window to keep information current, reinforcing that five‑year clock (EPD International, 2025). Plan renewal 6 to 9 months ahead so you dont scramble near bid deadlines.
Mutual recognition, in practice
EPDItaly maintains mutual recognition agreements that allow a verified EPD to be cross‑listed in partner programs without re‑verification, which reduces overhead while keeping one technical core. This is handy when a product is sold in Spain, Germany, or the United States alongside Italy. Cross‑listing preserves your review history and speeds submittals because specifiers find the same dataset in the registry they prefer.
Picking the operator: quick rules of thumb
- Publish with EPDItaly when Italian public buyers and CAM compliance are the primary lens, and when local verifiers and Italian‑language materials help internal review.
- Use the International EPD System if multiple EU markets and global partners need one widely recognized reference with broad digital distribution.
- For electrical and electronic equipment, consider PEP ecopassport if project teams ask for that scheme alongside EN 15804 coverage in building LCAs.
Keep your PCR choice competitive
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Start by matching the PCR used by close competitors, then check its revision timeline so your declaration will outlast active tenders. When no product‑specific PCR exists, choose the generic construction PCR accepted by your operator and confirm EN 15804+A2 indicators so the data drops cleanly into building models.
What this means for speed and ROI
Pick the operator that your buyers already trust, align the PCR on day one, and lock a realistic data window for factories and utilities. That sequence trims weeks of back‑and‑forth and keeps sales from hitting default carbon penalties in whole‑building LCA models. Your EPD becomes a passport rather than paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many EPDs does EPDItaly list today and why does that matter?
ECO Platform categorizes EPDItaly as a Very Large program with 1,906 EPDs as of July 1, 2025, which signals market maturity and broad tool visibility (ECO Platform, 2025).
Do CAM updates in 2025 change whether I need an EPD for tenders?
They reinforce the expectation for verified environmental data in design and works contracts effective February 2, 2026. A current EPD remains the most straightforward way to document product impacts in submissions (Accredia, 2025).
How long is an EPD valid and what upkeep is required?
Typically five years across major operators, with required updates if results worsen and an annual internal follow‑up to keep information current (EPD International, 2025).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
