How the global EPD system actually works
If your products sell into construction, Environmental Product Declarations are no longer exotic. They’re the passport that gets you into specs, public bids, and climate‑aligned procurement. Here’s the plain‑English map of who sets the rules, where EPDs get published, how they move across borders, and what matters commercially when teams search for a “global epd system.”
First principles: what an EPD is, and isn’t
An EPD is a third‑party verified, Type III label that summarizes a product’s life‑cycle impacts. Think of it as the spec sheet for environmental performance. It follows ISO 14025 and a product‑specific rulebook, then gets published by a program operator. Most EPDs are valid for five years, after which they’re renewed to reflect updated data and rules (UL Solutions, 2025).
An EPD is not a performance claim on durability or safety, and it’s not a marketing brochure. It is a structured, comparable dataset your customers can trust.
The rulebooks: PCRs in plain English
A Product Category Rule (PCR) is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. PCRs define declared units, system boundaries, impact methods, and reporting details so EPDs for similar products read the same way. PCRs normally expire on a five‑year cadence to catch up with new methods and datasets. A smart move is to check when the current PCR ends and what your competitors are using before you start.
The world map of program operators
No single organization “owns” EPDs globally. Instead, verified EPDs are published by independent program operators. Common names in construction include the International EPD System, IBU in Germany, BRE in the UK, UL Solutions and Smart EPD in North America, EPD Italy, EPD‑Global in Norway, Global GreenTag, and PEP Ecopassport for electrical and electronic products. In Europe, many align through ECO Platform, which audits programs against shared requirements for EN 15804 EPDs.
Why that matters commercially: buyers often prefer familiar logos and easy database access. As a proxy for scale, the ECO Platform reports that the International EPD System listed 12,749 EPDs and IBU listed 2,565 as of July 1, 2025, among other programs (ECO Platform, 2025). That footprint can influence visibility in spec tools.
Mutual recognition and “dual registration”
EPDs can travel. Many operators sign Mutual Recognition Agreements that let one verified EPD be listed in another program without re‑verification, improving reach while keeping a single technical core. The International EPD System and PEP Ecopassport signed such an agreement in February 2025 to smooth cross‑listing for electrical and electronic products, aligning with EN 15804+A2 and EN 50693 rules (EPD International, 2025).
The takeaway: plan where you need visibility early. If two markets matter, design the LCA to satisfy both, then use dual registration to extend reach with minimal friction.
Standards that actually show up on your desk
For building products, EN 15804+A2 and ISO 21930 guide what to calculate and report. ISO 14025 sets the Type III declaration framework. Countries may add extras, like France’s FDES ecosystem or Germany’s ÖKOBAUDAT quality gate. None of this is arcane trivia. It determines how your numbers are modeled, verified, and ultimately trusted on real projects.
Databases and portals you’ll hear about
Program operator registries host the official PDF and machine‑readable data. Procurement and modeling teams also lean on hubs such as ÖKOBAUDAT in Germany, INIES in France, and multi‑program search portals. The naming can feel like alphabet soup, but your goal is simple. Publish where your customers search, and make sure the entry is easy to find, current, and complete.
Regulations that push demand in 2025
State‑level rules in the U.S. are doing the heavy lifting right now. In California, the Buy Clean California Act requires EPDs for four material groups as of 2025, with updated maximum GWP limits taking effect on January 1, 2025 (California DGS, 2024). Public owners increasingly ask for facility‑specific, independently verified EPDs. If you supply those categories, an EPD is a go or no‑go ticket.
On the voluntary side, LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025, and continues to emphasize embodied carbon transparency, keeping product‑level data squarely in play for project teams (USGBC, 2025).
What specifiers actually check
Buyers scan for the declared unit, the life‑cycle modules covered, a current validity date, the PCR reference, verification type, and the global warming potential number. If any of that is missing or inconsistent, confidence drops. Clear, facility‑specific EPDs reduce the carbon “penalty” a team would otherwise assign, which helps your product stay in the running when embodied carbon targets must be met.
Picking the right operator for your goals
Choose an operator for market access, not novelty. If your sales are EU‑heavy, ensure EN 15804+A2 alignment and check ECO Platform recognition. If North America is key, confirm recognition in common voluntary systems and state procurements. If multiple regions matter, confirm mutual recognitions up front so you can publish once and list twice.
Project timeline, minus the stress
Speed hinges on data collection. Get the basics lined up early: bill of materials, energy and fuels by site, scrap and waste flows, transport distances, and 12 months of production volumes. For new products with limited data, a prospective EPD can work if the program allows it, then you refresh once a full year is available. Set a single reference year to keep inventories clean. It sounds simple, but it’s where most delays hide.
Avoid the common tripwires
Model to the PCR you will actually publish under, not a generic template. Confirm background datasets and cut‑off rules before modeling. Align plant lists, SKUs, and variants with how you plan to publish so one LCA can feed several EPDs without rework. Lock in a verifier early. And always proof the declared unit and product description. Teams sometimes publish a beautiful EPD for the wrong unit per kilogram when buyers need per square meter. Oops, that can be a costly mistake.
The global EPD system, decoded for action
There isn’t a single global switch to flip. There is a harmonized backbone of standards, a network of program operators, and a growing web of mutual recognitions. Pick the PCR that matches your market, select a program operator that opens doors, plan for dual registration where it really pays off, and make data collection painless so you can ship fast. Do that, and you’ll recieve the spec visibility you actually need.
California DGS, 2024 • USGBC, 2025 • ECO Platform, 2025
Additional numeric reference cited above: (UL Solutions, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
Are EPDs valid worldwide if they follow EN 15804 and ISO 14025?
Generally yes for construction products, especially when published by an ECO Platform audited program and supported by mutual recognition. Some countries add extra requirements, so plan for dual registration and national nuances early.
How long is an EPD typically valid?
Most programs set a five‑year validity period, after which the EPD must be reviewed and renewed to remain current (UL Solutions, 2025).
Which operators should manufacturers consider for Europe and North America?
Europe often uses IBU, the International EPD System, EPD Italy, and others under ECO Platform. In North America, UL Solutions, Smart EPD, and NSF are common. Choose based on customer expectations and mutual recognition options.
Is LEED v5 changing demand for product EPDs?
LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025 and continues to emphasize embodied carbon transparency, so product EPDs remain relevant to project teams (USGBC, 2025).
Do California public projects still require EPDs?
Yes. As of 2025, the Buy Clean California Act requires EPDs for four material groups, with updated GWP limits effective January 1, 2025 (California DGS, 2024).
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.
