EPD Projects: Counting Internal Hours, Not Just Fees
Most teams compare consultant quotes or software subscriptions and miss the bigger bill. Internal hours. Data wrangling, meetings, and cross‑plant follow‑ups often dwarf the external price. This post shows how to estimate the real effort and why connected platforms that automate intake and coordination can shrink both calendar and labor load.
Why internal hours decide your timeline
Consultant‑led projects typically move by meeting cadence. Scoping, spreadsheets, follow‑ups, and more follow‑ups. Verification backlogs then compound the wait, which is not in your control. IBU publicly cautions that verification alone can take about six months in periods of high demand, even though the ideal is closer to eight weeks (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024).
What a connected platform actually removes
A connected platform pulls primary data from ERP, energy meters, and procurement systems, fills obvious gaps with public or proxy data that a verifier will accept, and centralizes tasks in one place. That means fewer stakeholder pings, fewer versions, and less swivel‑chair time. Think of it like using a ride‑share in a busy city instead of switching between three buses and a train.
Timelines you can benchmark without wishful thinking
Two realities can be true at once. Trade groups report that once clean data is submitted, publication can take two to three months in some categories, especially precast (NPCA, 2024). Program operators also warn that verifier queues can stretch reviews to half a year, which pushes total project time to "several months" even for straightforward products (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024).
The hours‑of‑effort model you can run today
Use this structure to estimate internal labor before you pick a path:
- Map the people. Count functional roles and plants that must contribute data.
- Count touchpoints per role. Intake, clarifications, reviews, approvals.
- Assign a realistic average minutes per touchpoint. Include context switching.
- Add a buffer for rework when the verifier asks for corrections.
- Convert hours to internal cost with a blended rate.
For the conversion, a practical proxy is the U.S. manufacturing average employer cost of 46.30 dollars per hour as of June 2025, which includes wages and benefits (BLS, 2025) (BLS, 2025). If you prefer your own rates, plug those in. The goal is to compare options on total cost, not just the invoice.
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Where consultant models concentrate effort
Classic workflows shift the heavy lift to internal teams. Plant managers export utility and scrap data, procurement chases supplier declarations, R&D validates formulations, and marketing polishes the draft. When verification comments arrive, those same people circle back for fixes. That is why the calendar often moves slower than the S‑curve in your gantt.
Where automated platforms reduce hours
Automation does not replace judgment, it routes time to where it matters. Pre‑population against the chosen PCR cuts intake, permissions and assignments trim back email loops, and structured change logs make verifier responses faster. The net effect is fewer touches per person, especially in operations and R&D, which is exactly where interruptions cost the most.
A quick sense‑check for buyers
Paste these into your RFP or scorecard.
- How many hours will our internal team spend by role, from kick‑off to publication, including verifier corrections?
- What data connections are available on day one, and which fields still require manual entry?
- Who chases suppliers and utilities, the vendor or our staff, and how is progress tracked?
- When verification comments arrive, who triages them and who edits the model and draft?
If answers are fuzzy, expect hidden labor to show up later on your calender.
Validity and renewal planning keep hours from spiking later
Most program operators set EPD validity at five years, counted from verification and publication, which means the smartest time to streamline data intake is now since you will repeat the process at renewal (EPD International, 2024) (EPD International, 2024). Building a clean data trail today saves future cycles and avoids scramble when verifier capacity tightens again.
Tie it together with numbers that matter
You do not need a perfect forecast. You need a fair one. Multiply expected internal hours by your blended rate, add external fees, then compare options on total outlay and schedule risk. Where a platform demonstrably lowers touches per stakeholder and shortens verification response cycles, the ROI shows up as freed plant time and faster specs, not just a smaller invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many months should manufacturers realistically budget for EPD verification alone?
Program operators report several weeks in normal conditions, yet IBU warns that six months is possible when verifier queues are long (IBU, 2024) (IBU, 2024).
What hourly cost should teams use to convert internal hours into dollars when building a business case?
A workable proxy is the U.S. manufacturing average employer cost of 46.30 dollars per hour as of June 2025, which includes wages and benefits (BLS, 2025) (BLS, 2025).
Does an expired PCR invalidate an EPD before renewal?
No. EPDs generally remain valid until their own expiry date, commonly five years, then must use the current PCR at renewal under program operator rules (EPD International, 2024) (EPD International, 2024).
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.
