BREEAM and EPDs for manufacturers
If buyers or design teams ask for a “BREEAM EPD,” they want proof your product’s impacts can be used in a BREEAM assessment without friction. The good news is simple. A third‑party verified, product‑specific EPD built to EN 15804 or ISO 14025 is accepted, and in many schemes it can unlock direct Materials credits while also feeding the building LCA. The trick is timing, scope, and quantity, not reinventing your product.
BREEAM in one minute
BREEAM is a building rating, not a product label. Products are never “BREEAM certified.” What matters is whether your documentation helps a project meet credits in the Materials category and the building LCA workflows. That is where Environmental Product Declarations pull real weight.
What counts as a “BREEAM EPD”
An EPD produced under EN 15804 or ISO 14025 and independently verified is acceptable. BREEAM states there are no “BREEAM compliant products,” yet projects can claim credits when using products covered by verified EPDs that follow these standards (BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2025) (KBCN0925, 2025). If your EPD is issued by any recognized program operator and follows those rules, it works.
Where the points live
Two places. First, Mat 01 uses product data inside a whole‑building LCA. Second, Mat 02 awards up to 1.5 credits when at least 20 products in the build have product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs. BRE states both the 20‑product threshold and the 1.5‑credit cap for UK New Construction 2018, and similar logic appears in related manuals (BRE, 2024) (BRE EPD overview, 2024). That is the clearest, fastest win.
Validity windows and the key date that actually matters
EPDs are typically valid for five years, with possible renewal if nothing material has changed (BRE, 2024) (BRE EPD overview, 2024). For credit purposes, BREEAM requires the EPD to be valid when the product was specified. It does not need to remain valid through later design or post‑construction submissions, which removes a lot of last‑minute panic (BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2025) (KBCN0798, 2025).
Which scheme version am I looking at
BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 remains common, BREEAM International NC V6 is also active, and work on V7 continues. BRE has flagged an intention to increase the emphasis on Materials in upcoming weighting reviews, so EPD coverage will not get less important in new versions (BRE, 2025). Check the project’s exact scheme and version before locking your plan.
Product‑specific really means product‑specific
Industry‑average EPDs are helpful context, but the Mat 02 credit focuses on product‑specific declarations. System EPDs can qualify when they reflect a set of components always installed together, and BREEAM provides guidance on what counts as a “product” in this context (BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2025). If a component is routinely swapped or sourced from another plant, expect the assessor to dig in.
How many EPDs do we actually need
For Mat 02, aim for a clean pathway to 20 EPD‑covered products for UK NC 2018. Treat it like filling a shopping cart in a speed run. Start with big ticket elements that will certainly be specified, then backfill with frequently repeated items. This builds resilience if late design changes drop an item.
EPD program operators and BREEAM tools
EPDs from BRE’s Verified EPD Scheme are automatically added to IMPACT, BRE’s LCA database used in BREEAM workflows, which can smooth coordination between the product side and the assessor’s toolset (BRE, 2024) (BRE EPD overview, 2024). EPDs from other credible program operators also qualify when aligned to EN 15804 or ISO 14025. For the building LCA, only software tools recognised by BREEAM are accepted, so confirm your assessor’s tool appears on BRE’s current list (BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2024).
Timing beats perfection
Get core utility, material, and process data ready early. A solid, verified EPD that is available at specification can be worth more to the project than a perfect one that arrives after tender. Update the declaration later if your process improves. Those lower impact results can feed Mat 01 in future projects and might even unlock extra credit potential.
A quick partner checklist
- Can they take on the heavy data collection across plants and shifts without draining your team’s time?
- Do they publish with the operator your market prefers and understand BREEAM evidence rules by heart?
- Will they track validity dates so products specified on key bids recieve credit?
Bringing it together
Think of EPDs as the passport your product needs to cross into BREEAM territory without delays at customs. Make them product‑specific, keep an eye on validity at specification, and plan for at least 20 where Mat 02 applies. Do that, and your materials do not just show up in the model. They help win the score you came for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BREEAM certify products or only buildings?
Only buildings. BREEAM does not certify products, but it awards credits when projects use products with verified EPDs produced to EN 15804 or ISO 14025 (BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2025) (KBCN0925, 2025).
How long is an EPD valid for BREEAM purposes?
EPDs are typically valid for five years and can sometimes be extended if the process has not changed. For credits, the EPD must be valid at the time of product specification, not necessarily at later submission stages (BRE, 2024; BREEAM Knowledge Base, 2025) (BRE EPD overview, 2024; KBCN0798, 2025).
How many EPDs do we need to earn Mat 02 credits?
Under UK New Construction 2018, up to 1.5 credits are available when at least 20 product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs are used in the project (BRE, 2024) (BRE EPD overview, 2024).
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.
