How Data Center Buyers Rank EPD Ready Products
Specs for data centers and enterprise campuses are changing fast. Technical fit still rules, but buyers now screen for credible, comparable environmental paperwork before they even read your cut sheets. If your product lacks the right EPD coverage, or the numbers do not line up with the standard the project is using, the bid can fade without a phone call. Here is how specifiers actually stack competing offers and where EPDs change your position on the page.
The new shortlist filter
In connectivity, power, cooling, and pathways, EPDs act like turnstiles at a stadium. If the ticket does not scan, you do not enter. Hyperscalers and major operators are aligning on embodied carbon disclosure for materials and equipment, and they explicitly call for standardized reporting to handle Scope 3, which can represent 38 to 69 percent of a data center footprint (iMasons Climate Accord Open Letter, 2024).
What specifiers actually score
Procurement teams run a clear order of operations. First pass removes any offer that fails a code or documentation check. Second pass compares the survivors on performance and risk.
- Standards compliance and safety: UL, IEEE, IEC, EN 15804 or ISO 21930 for the EPD, and the right PCR.
- Form factor and integration: footprint, thermal limits, cable routing, mounting, and software hooks.
- Availability: lead times, multi plant redundancy, and distributor depth.
- EPD coverage and clarity: product specific, third party verified, plant or region identified, PCR match, and public access.
EPDs that move the score
Buyers reward product specific declarations because they are decision ready. Under LEED v4.1, a product specific Type III EPD with external verification is valued as 1.5 products toward the BPDO EPD path, which is a concrete signal for many owners and GCs (USGBC, 2024). In mixed portfolios, a single well documented SKU can tip the whole package across a project threshold.
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Documentation that de risks submittals
Great enviromental paperwork is boring in the best way. It is easy to download, matches a commonly used PCR for the category, names the plant or geography, and lists the verifier. Include the declared unit, system boundary, data vintage, and module coverage on one readable summary page. Make sure the PDF is public. Hidden or paywalled files stall submital reviews.
Availability still wins ties
Racks are getting hotter, and supply chains remain bumpy. Uptime Institute notes most adoption sits in the 10 to 30 kilowatt per rack range, and 45 percent of IT workloads still live in corporate facilities, which keeps enterprise campuses very relevant (Uptime Institute, 2025). When two offers look equal on performance and EPDs, the one with inventory and a credible ship date takes the lane.
Regional scoring can flip decisions
Some regions apply conservative default factors when a project lacks product specific data. In the Netherlands, generic Category 3 data in the National Environmental Database carries a 30 percent uplift, so a product without a brand specific entry can look worse on paper than it performs in reality (NMD, 2025). The lesson travels. Even when a market does not publish an explicit multiplier, owners often treat missing EPDs as higher risk in their internal carbon ledgers.
A practical EPD coverage plan for data center products
Start with the SKUs that drive revenue or get swapped most often during value engineering. Verify the PCR competitors use, then match it to keep comparisons clean. Publish a product specific EPD for each form factor that shows up in the same schedules, not just the flagship size. Stage publication in waves so renewals never cluster in a single quarter, and avoid having key declarations within a few months of expiring during a major bid season. Pick an LCA partner who handles data collection and program operator coordination so plant and R&D teams keep their focus on production, not spreadsheets.
What great buyer facing EPDs include
Think of the EPD as the API for your environmental data. It should answer the obvious questions without a follow up call.
- Correct standard and PCR reference, with version and date.
- Declared unit and system boundary aligned to peers.
- Plant or regional scope, with clear electricity profile and transport assumptions.
- Third party verifier name and contact.
- A stable public URL that your sales team can drop into submittals.
The quiet edge
Technical performance gets you invited. Availability and form factor keep you in the conversation. EPDs decide whether the specifier can say yes without chasing clarifications. When your documentation is clear, current, and comparable, procurement stops treating sustainability as a box to tick and starts using it as a reason to award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hyperscalers and large operators really ask for EPDs in RFPs for data center builds or expansions?
Yes. Industry groups representing major operators have called for standardized embodied carbon disclosure across materials and equipment so suppliers can be compared on consistent Scope 3 data (iMasons Climate Accord Open Letter, 2024).
Does a product-specific EPD materially change how a materials package scores on LEED projects?
It can. Under LEED v4.1, a product-specific Type III EPD with external verification counts as 1.5 products in the EPD credit path, which influences how quickly teams reach thresholds (USGBC, 2024).
Why do some markets penalize missing product-specific data?
To prevent optimistic assumptions. The Dutch NMD applies a 30% uplift to generic Category 3 data, making brand-specific entries commercially important for tenders and permits (NMD, 2025).
What if we cannot publish EPDs for every SKU this year?
Prioritize high-revenue SKUs and the forms most likely to be substituted. Publish in waves, align PCRs with competitors for comparability, and ensure public access so submittals move without friction.
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.
