EPD Modules C1 to C4 for 2026
End of life is where many products lose the plot. C1 to C4 decide what happens when your product leaves service, and those choices can swing results that influence specs, credits, and bids. Get these modules right and you turn a messy teardown into clear, defensible numbers that buyers trust.
What the C modules actually cover
C1 captures deconstruction or demolition. Think crews, tools, fuel, and site energy.
C2 is the trip. Distances, payloads, and modes to the next stop.
C3 models waste processing like sorting, shredding, cleaning, or re-melting when material is recovered.
C4 is final disposal such as landfill or incineration. Keep it separate from recovery. Module D holds the benefits and burdens beyond your product system.
Why owners care in 2026
Public buyers and large GCs now screen bids for credible end of life. Construction and demolition debris is still massive, topping 600 million tons in the United States for 2018, which dwarfs municipal trash and keeps regulators focused on the back end of products (EPA Construction and Demolition Materials, 2024).
Across the EU, construction made up roughly 35 percent of total waste by mass in recent reporting, so reviewers expect clean C1 to C4 reporting and transparent Module D logic (Eurostat Waste Statistics, 2024).
Scenario design that passes a sniff test
Pick realistic routes. If dismantling happens on site with light equipment, say so and quantify it. If heavy demolition is typical, model the fuel and runtime accordingly.
Use credible distances. Start with the actual transfer station or recycler network you sell into. Round numbers without a source look lazy.
Split flows by what really happens. Landfill, energy recovery, and recycling shares should match contracts, takeback programs, or published municipal rates. When data is thin, state that plainly in the EPD instead of guessing.
How Module D fits without stealing the show
Module D reports the net impacts outside your system from recovered material or energy. Recycled steel or aluminum can show large benefits because primary production is energy intensive. Recycling aluminum typically avoids about 95 percent of the energy of primary production, which is why C3 plus D matter so much for metal-heavy products (International Aluminium Institute, 2023).
Keep D separate from C. C1 to C4 are what happens within your boundary. D is what happens next in another product’s boundary.
Data to collect once, reuse everywhere
- Disassembly method and average crew hours or machine hours per functional unit.
- Typical end-of-life sites by geography, with transport modes and distances.
- Material composition at removal, including coatings, fasteners, and packaging.
- Sorting yields and contamination rates at recyclers where available.
- Disposal fees or permits that hint at the real pathway when direct data is sparse.
We find teams already have half of this in maintenance manuals and logistics files, it just isnt centralized.
Common modeling pitfalls to avoid
Do not double count energy in C1 and C3 when preprocessing occurs at the same site. Choose the stage that truly owns the activity.
Do not bury residuals. Ash, slag, or rejects from C3 should flow to C4 unless recovered with evidence.
Do not let Module D mask a weak C2. Long empty backhauls and unrealistic payloads signal risk to reviewers.
Material quick cues for better C results
Metals often gain from clean separation, magnet recovery, and high recycling value. Small design tweaks that ease fastener removal can cut C1 time and lift C3 yields.
Composites typically face higher C4 burdens. If a viable grinding or cement co-processing route exists, document it and model it explicitly.
Plastics vary. Some streams have established mechanical recycling, others do not. Use the site’s actual capability rather than a regionwide average when you can.
Program operator expectations you should meet
Follow EN 15804+A2 structure for C1 to C4 and report assumptions in plain language. Align the functional unit with the declared unit used in A1 to A3 so reviewers can reconcile totals.
Show data quality for each C dataset and the reference year. If you rely on industry averages, label them and state limits.
Turning end of life into a spec advantage
Clear C1 to C4 modeling proves you understand real handling, not just factory gate numbers. It removes guesswork for design teams and keeps your product in play when carbon targets tighten.
Tidy data capture, pragmatic scenarios, and transparent Module D math let you publish faster and with fewer review cycles. That saves calendar time and helps bids move sooner, which is where the ROI shows up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Modules C and D in an EPD?
C1–C4 describe deconstruction, transport, processing, and disposal within your product system. Module D reports benefits and burdens beyond the system from recovered material or energy.
How do I choose recycling versus landfill shares for C3 and C4?
Use contract data, published local rates, or verified takeback volumes. If only national averages exist, say so and document the source and year.
Can Module D make a poor C result look good?
Module D can offset impacts when high‑value material is recovered, but it must be reported separately and cannot replace accurate C1–C4 modeling.
Does LEED v5 require specific C scenarios?
LEED v5 drafts prioritize verified EPDs and transparency. It does not prescribe one set of C assumptions, but reviewers expect realistic, documented scenarios.
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.
