How Hyperscalers Use EPDs to Future Proof Net Zero
Data center leaders are shrinking carbon budgets per megawatt and tightening supplier rules. If your product lacks a product specific, third party verified EPD, you look like a risk. In many bids your numbers get replaced by conservative defaults, which makes your offer heavier on paper and slower to approve. That is the opposite of future proof.
Why data centers are turning the spotlight on embodied carbon
Servers get cleaner as grids decarbonize, so construction materials now dominate a data center’s early footprint. Hyperscalers are publishing targets and procurement rules that push embodied carbon down in steel, concrete, envelope, flooring, and MEP packages (Google Environmental Report, 2024) (Google, 2024). LEED v5 drafts raise the bar on product specific EPDs and low carbon procurement, which flows straight into major tech building programs (USGBC, 2024) (USGBC LEED v5, 2024).
EPDs are the supplier passport hyperscalers can audit
An EPD translates your life cycle assessment into a common language under ISO 14025 and EN 15804. That makes your claim traceable, comparable, and defensible to a third party reviewer, which is exactly what large owners need across thousands of line items (ISO 14025, 2010; EN 15804, 2019). Without it, buyers must assume a higher factor for risk management.
What RFPs quietly signal
The ask is simple on the page. Provide current EPDs for all specified products, preferably plant specific for A1 to A3. The signal behind it is louder. If you cannot evidence carbon with a verified declaration, procurement treats the line as a liability that can slow schedule and jeopardize portfolio targets.
Why suppliers without documentation get a penalty
When an EPD is missing, owners and their consultants often plug in conservative default factors from recognized databases. Your product can look 10 to 30 percent heavier on paper even if your actual process is better. The math is not personal. It is just how portfolio accounting stays on track.
Plant specific beats generic
Portfolio carbon plans are written to move real emissions, not just paperwork. That is why plant specific or product specific EPDs tend to score better than generic industry averages. They unlock more precise baselines and more credible reduction plans year over year.
The compliance halo is growing
Hyperscalers operate globally and many fall under EU CSRD reporting. CSRD pushes for auditable, decision useful supply chain data, which increases the value of product level declarations that tie to purchasing decisions (European Commission CSRD, 2024) (EC CSRD, 2024). That pressure flows into North American projects even when local policy is quiet.
What future proof looks like in practice
It looks like a current, product specific EPD for each top selling line and each plant that feeds strategic regions. It looks like a renewal calendar aligned to the governing PCR so nothing goes stale mid bid. It looks like a clean data trail for materials, energy, transport, and scrap rates so updates are fast, not heroic.
A quick playbook to be bid ready
- Map your top bid drivers. Start with SKUs that appear in data center envelopes, structure, floors, cable trays, racking, ducts, or cooling.
- Pull one clean reference year of data for each plant that serves those SKUs. Utilities, material inputs, transport, yields, and waste are the essentials.
- Publish with a reputable program operator so buyers can verify in minutes, not weeks. Smart EPD and IBU are common choices in the US and EU respectively.
Speed and quality are not opposites
You do not get points for suffering through internal spreadsheets. Hyperscalers care about accurate, comparable, and on time. The fastest route is a white glove partner who collects plant data with minimal disruption, aligns the right PCR, and handles verification with the operator you prefer. Reliable cost averages are hard to pin down because each product scope differs, but the payback often arrives with one mid sized project win.
Common traps that stall submittals
Picking a PCR that your competitors do not use can make your numbers look odd next to theirs. Waiting until renewal month creates a scramble that invites mistakes. Leaving out upstream energy and packaging looks like under reporting. None of these are fatal, yet each burns time you cannot afford when a bid is requried.
How this protects hyperscaler roadmaps
Portfolio owners need proof that every new megawatt added will not blow through the carbon budget. EPD backed procurement gives them credible numbers today and a path to ratchet them down tomorrow. Suppliers that can update declarations quickly and cleanly keep getting specified, even as targets tighten.
Bottom line for manufacturers
Do not let a missing EPD hand your competitor the slot. Bring auditable numbers, keep them current, and make it easy for a data center owner to say yes. That is what future proof really means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are hyperscalers asking for product specific EPDs instead of generic industry averages?
Product specific EPDs are auditable to a facility and SKU, which lets owners model real impacts and track reductions across procurements. Generic EPDs only offer a coarse estimate and often receive less credit in rating systems like LEED v5 drafts (USGBC, 2024).
Do I need a new EPD if the PCR expires?
Your current EPD does not become invalid on the PCR’s expiry date. You will use the updated PCR at renewal, so plan lead time and data pulls ahead of that date.
Which program operators are acceptable for data center projects?
Owners typically accept any ISO 14025 and EN 15804 compliant operator. In the US, Smart EPD is common. In Europe, IBU is frequent. Confirm preferences in the RFP.
How detailed does plant data need to be?
At minimum, one full reference year for materials, energy by carrier, transport, yields, and waste streams. More detail enables stronger hotspots analysis and faster updates.
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.
