Design a low friction EPD pilot that proves value

Why a pilot beats a grand plan

Big bang EPD programs look impressive on slides, then stall in inboxes. A focused pilot creates momentum, shows commercial impact, and teaches the organization how to run the play without chaos. Think of it like releasing a single before the album.

Pick the right 3 to 10 SKUs

Choose SKUs that are revenue relevant, frequently specified, and operationally stable for the next few years. Favor products with clean bills of materials and consistent sourcing, plus at least one “reach” SKU where competitors already publish EPDs. Avoid items due for formula changes that would force immediate rework.

Align success metrics with sales and leadership

Agree on three outcomes before you start so everyone rows in the same direction. Useful, defensible metrics include number of EPD‑gated bids pursued, added projects where a product‑specific EPD removed a penalty in carbon accounting, spec wins with EPD cited in submittals, and cycle time from data request to publication. LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025, keeping product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs central to documentation, which strengthens these metrics’ relevance (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC, 2025).

Scope the data once, not five times

EPDs rely on a clear reference year of operations data across utilities, production volumes, inbound transport, waste, and packaging. Collect it once with a structured intake, mapped to modules A1 to A3, then reuse across SKUs that share processes. Where a line is brand‑new, ask your program operator about options to publish with partial‑year data and plan a first‑year refresh.

Minimize plant friction with a white‑glove posture

Protect the time of your most valuable people. Appoint one empowered plant champion, give them a concise checklist, and centralize file pulls through one secure folder. We recommend pre‑formatted templates that mirror PCR fields, plus short working sessions to clarify gaps, instead of long email chains. Other consultants often push data‑hunting to manufacturers. A true white‑glove model removes that burden.

Choose the right rulebook and operator

A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. For most construction products under the International EPD System, PCR 2019:14 version 2.0.1 is current and valid until April 7, 2030, which helps you avoid near‑term rewrites while you pilot (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025). Pick a program operator recognized by your target customers, then publish where your sales team can actually point specifiers.

Set a crisp timeline and governance

Timebox the pilot to one quarter when possible. Hold a weekly standup with a single decision owner from product, one from operations, and one from sales. Log decisions in plain language. Verification time varies by operator workload, so build a buffer for that final review step.

Verification and validity, in plain English

Third‑party verification is mandatory for EN 15804 Type III EPDs. Published EPDs are normally valid for five years, and must be updated during that period if a declared indicator worsens beyond the operator’s threshold. The five‑year window is noted explicitly by leading operators such as IBU and the International EPD System (Environdec FAQ, 2025) (Environdec FAQ, 2025). This is why pilot SKUs should not be near end of life.

Do the math on ROI without hand‑waving

Tie wins to the pilot SKUs and to requirements seen in bids. Examples that finance teams accept: project shortlists that opened after submitting an EPD, substitution requests avoided where the EPD met a carbon documentation requirement, and margin preserved where a product‑specific EPD prevented a generic proxy penalty. If solid industry‑wide conversion rates are missing, say so and show the raw counts.

Publish smart, then learn fast

Once verified, publish in both PDF and machine‑readable formats where available. Train sales on two slides per SKU that explain scope, declared unit, and the credential’s role in project documentation. Track which pages in your submittal packets get opened, then trim anything buyers ignore.

Pilot playbook in five steps

1. Define scope, operator, PCR, and 3 to 10 SKUs with sales input.
2. Lock success metrics and a one‑page governance plan with owners.
3. Run a single, structured data pull for the reference year and map to PCR fields.
4. Execute LCA, verification, and publication, with a buffer for reviews.
5. Report outcomes in a one‑pager that finance can sign off on.

Make the pilot your FY budget lever

Close the loop with a short, visual memo that shows wins, frictions, and a clean backlog of SKUs to take next. Highlight the reusable data assets the pilot created. Leadership doesnt fund EPDs for fun. They fund repeatable wins aligned to real bids, and a process that is fast, easy, and complete.

Notes that keep you out of trouble

• If a PCR expires during your pilot, your EPD stays valid until its own printed date, then must renew under the updated rules. Plan the renewal runway accordingly.
• When comparing operators, confirm mutual recognition where your buyers work, and the typical verification queue length. A slow final mile can erase a month of good teamwork.
• If a SKU is close to formula change, park it for the next wave rather than re‑verifying twice.

What “good” looks like after 90 days

You have published EPDs for the pilot SKUs, the sales team can explain them in two sentences, and you can point to real opportunities that would not have been pursued without them. That is the signal to scale.

Parenthetical references: EPD validity is usually five years per operator guidance, and current construction PCRs are listed with their validity windows by the International EPD System. LEED v5 ratification on March 28, 2025 sharpened demand for current, product‑specific EPDs in documentation workflows (USGBC, 2025).