How Specifiers Really Compare EPDs
Once a category has more than one Environmental Product Declaration, selection stops being pass or fail. Specifiers sort by global warming potential, screen for verification quality, and reward product‑specific data. If two options look close on paper, the tie goes to the EPD that tells a credible, plant‑level story. Here is how the ranking actually happens and which levers manufacturers can pull to rise on shortlists.
The first filter: comparable GWP per declared unit
Specifiers start by normalizing to the declared unit, then stack products by cradle‑to‑gate GWP. Apples to apples matters. If two EPDs declare different units, the one that converts cleanly and transparently gets read, the other gets sidelined. This is the fast pass to the short list.
The quiet penalty for gaps
Products without an EPD or with only an industry‑wide EPD often carry an implicit penalty because project teams must use conservative assumptions when doing carbon accounting. Some public owners formalize this with material limits, which raises the bar for everyone in the category. California’s Buy Clean framework covers four materials and requires Type III EPDs for eligibility (California DGS, 2024).
What wins the tie‑break when GWPs look close
When top candidates sit within touching distance, reviewers scan for confidence signals.
- Product‑specific, plant‑specific EPDs. They show real process control rather than portfolio averages.
- Third‑party verification and alignment with EN 15804. The more rigorous the rulebook, the safer the spec looks.
- Transparent system boundaries and modules. Many teams prefer A1 to A3 for comparability, with clear notes when A4 or A5 are modeled.
- Data vintage. Fresh primary data beats dusty estimates, even if both are compliant.
- A short narrative on energy sourcing, scrap or recycled content, and transport. It turns numbers into a supply‑chain story.
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Why indicator breadth still matters
GWP is the headline, yet reviewers do check the rest. EN 15804+A2 requires at least 13 environmental impact indicators, which helps prevent burden‑shifting across categories (EPD International, 2024). That breadth is not window dressing. It signals that a reduction is real, not just moved somewhere else.
Avoid the apples‑to‑oranges trap
Two EPDs can look similar while hiding crucial differences. Watch for declared unit, allocation rules, transport ranges, and electricity datasets. A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. If competitors follow one PCR family, aligning to that same reference improves head‑to‑head comparability without changing your product one bit.
Data moves that change your position
Small operational tweaks can move a product up the stack. Metered electricity instead of estimates. Supplier‑specific inputs for high‑impact materials. Documented scrap rates. These are boring wins that show up directly in the model. We prefer the unglamorous improvements that land within the current budget cycle and still shift the EPD.
Timing is a strategy, not an admin task
EPDs typically carry a five‑year validity window, so plan renewals to avoid gaps during bid season (EPD International, 2024). If a PCR update is looming, schedule the data pull so the refresh lands after the new rules settle. Better to be first on the new baseline than last on the old one.
How specifiers actually use databases
Reviewers set a GWP threshold, filter for product‑specific and third‑party verified, then sort by percentile bands. They bookmark one or two alternates with similar GWP but stronger documentation, just in case pricing or lead times wobble. If your EPD page explains the top three drivers behind the number, it earns trust fast.
A simple playbook to win more shortlists
Focus the next EPD on a single plant and its highest‑volume SKU. Lock a clean declared unit. Capture primary data for energy and the top three material inputs. Add one paragraph that explains reductions achieved since the last reference year. None of this is flashy, but it is exactly what specifiers reward. Do this well and you are suddenly the safe choice, not the risky one. It’s definately noticeable.
Bring it together
The numbers get you in the room. The story behind those numbers gets you specified. Treat the EPD as a living proof point of process control, not a certificate on a shelf. When teams compare side by side, clarity wins, then quality, then everything else.
(Sources: California Department of General Services Buy Clean California overview, 2024. EPD International General Programme Instructions and EN 15804+A2 indicator requirements, 2024.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do specifiers usually compare EPDs within a product category?
They normalize products to the same declared unit, filter for product‑specific and third‑party verified Type III EPDs, then rank by cradle‑to‑gate GWP. Tie‑breaks often go to EPDs with clearer system boundaries, fresher primary data, and a short narrative on energy and materials.
Does an industry‑wide EPD help or hurt in competitive specs?
It helps meet minimum documentation but often carries an implicit penalty versus product‑specific data, since teams prefer plant‑level numbers for confident comparisons.
Which indicators besides GWP do reviewers actually check?
They scan the EN 15804+A2 set, which includes at least 13 impact indicators, to ensure there is no burden‑shifting across categories. They also review modules covered and data sources.
When should manufacturers plan EPD renewals?
Avoid expiry near major bid windows. Most programs set a five‑year validity, so target a refresh by year four if possible, especially if a new PCR version is imminent.
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.
