Kiwa‑Ecobility Experts, an EPD operator explained
Trying to sell into Germany or the wider EU and keep getting asked about ÖKOBAUDAT, ECO Portal, or NMD? Kiwa‑Ecobility Experts is one route to get verified EPDs into those places without detours. Here’s what they do, where your declaration ends up, and when this operator is a good fit for busy product teams.
Who Kiwa‑Ecobility Experts are
Kiwa‑Ecobility Experts (Kiwa‑EE) is an ISO 14025 Type III EPD program operator within the Kiwa Group. They run programs aligned to EN 15804 and ISO 21930 for construction products, and EN 50693 for electrical and electronic equipment. Kiwa‑EE is listed by ECO Platform, and publicly states it has conducted 700+ validations and verifications, which signals a mature review bench (Kiwa, 2025) (Kiwa, 2025).
Where your EPD gets published
Publish with Kiwa‑EE and your declaration can appear on Kiwa’s site, in ECO Platform’s ECO Portal, and be delivered into ÖKOBAUDAT once operator acceptance and dataset checks are satisfied. For Dutch tenders, Kiwa‑EE notes optional delivery into the National Environmental Database, where the NMD reported adding 1,000 new environmental declarations in 2024, a clear sign of market pull (NMD, 2024) (NMD, 2024).
How their governance works
Think of the PCR as the rulebook of Monopoly, ignore it and the game falls apart. Kiwa‑EE convenes an independent advisory board to oversee program operation, approve PCR drafts, and appoint external verifiers. That structure is meant to keep verification independent, transparent, and anchored to EN 15804 and ISO 14025.
The process you’ll actually experience
Teams submit LCA results against the applicable PCR, an independent verifier checks method, data quality, and calculations, then Kiwa‑EE publishes the EPD. The steps are familiar, yet the friction usually hides in data collection. Your LCA partner should remove that burden with white‑glove templates, plant data wrangling, and clear asks so engineering and operations stay focused on production, not paperwork.
Digital and cross‑market visibility
Specifiers increasingly expect machine‑readable EPDs. In 2025, the International EPD System passed 18,000 valid EPDs and recorded 252 in digital format that year, showing early but real digital adoption across Europe’s ecosystem (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Publishing via a recognized operator that feeds ECO Portal and ÖKOBAUDAT helps your data travel into tools without manual rework.
Germany’s quality gate, briefly
ÖKOBAUDAT sources most datasets from accepted program operators and checks conformance to EN 15804, with a documented application process for operators before data delivery. If Germany is on your roadmap, make sure your operator is accepted for transfer, and that your LCA includes the extra material information fields ÖKOBAUDAT requires. Reliable counts by operator are not publicly consolidated, so teams should confirm acceptance status directly.
Costs and timelines, realistically
Kiwa‑EE states it does not charge membership or annual fees, instead charging per registration, verification, publication, and maintenance. That can be attractive if you publish a focused set of EPDs. Timelines hinge on data readiness, PCR availability, and verifier queues. Reliable averages are hard to pin down because scopes differ, but getting plant data right the first time consistently saves weeks.
When Kiwa‑EE fits
- You sell into Germany and need ÖKOBAUDAT visibility without detours.
- You want ECO Portal listing to support EN 15804 comparability across Europe.
- You operate electrical or electronic product lines that require EN 50693 coverage alongside construction products.
What this means for manufacturers
EPDs published through a recognized operator reduce friction for specifers who must hit carbon accounting rules in project models. Pick a partner that streamlines data capture, coordinates verification, and can publish with your operator of choice, so commercial teams get a declaration they can actually use in bids. Tight process beats heroics every time, and the price of one missed tender often dwarfs the cost of doing this right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiwa‑Ecobility Experts recognized by ECO Platform and what does that mean for market acceptance?
Yes, Kiwa‑EE is listed by ECO Platform, which supports alignment with EN 15804 practices and allows listing in the ECO Portal. For many EU buyers, an ECO‑listed operator improves comparability and tool visibility.
Can EPDs verified by Kiwa‑EE be delivered to ÖKOBAUDAT?
Yes, once the operator has applied for acceptance and the datasets pass checks, EPDs can be delivered into ÖKOBAUDAT. ÖKOBAUDAT documents its operator acceptance process publicly, and accepted operators can transfer compliant datasets.
Does Kiwa‑EE handle electronics under EN 50693 as well as construction under EN 15804 and ISO 21930?
Kiwa‑EE operates programs for EN 15804 and ISO 21930, and a separate program for EN 50693, which covers electrical and electronic products and systems.
Are there membership fees to publish EPDs with Kiwa‑EE?
Kiwa‑EE states it does not charge membership or annual fees, instead charging per registration, verification, publication, and maintenance. Exact fees vary by scope and are quoted per engagement.
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.
