EPD essentials:

Crafting an efficient
EPD program

1
Table of contents

Introduction 3

Chapter 1: Creating an EPD: 6 key steps 4

Chapter 2: Industry best practices 5

Chapter 3: How Sphera can help 7

Conclusion 8
2
Introduction
Environmental product declarations (EPDs) enable companies to communicate the environmental impacts of their products throughout their
lifecycle in a clear, scientifically-backed manner. With a growing focus on sustainability, transparency and environmental accountability, they’ve
become critical tools for helping your organization meet market demands, ensure regulatory compliance and drive meaningful decarbonization.

This eBook serves as your roadmap to simplifying the complexity of the EPD development process. Join us as we lay out how an EPD is created,
dive into real-world case studies of successful EPD programs and detail how the experts at Sphera can help guide you through this process,
whether you need a single EPD or a scalable program, complete with easy-to-use EPD software tools.

Let’s begin.

3
Chapter 1 Creating an EPD: 6 key steps
The EPD creation process can look slightly different for every company. The complexity of your product, your access to reliable and
comprehensive data and the third-party verification timeline all impact how quickly you’re able to generate and publish an EPD that can be
shared with the public. Nevertheless, here are the 6 key steps you’ll need to follow in the development process:

1 2
Scoping Data collection
Identify the market context, legal requirements Gather primary data on raw materials, manufacturing processes, energy
and product category rules (PCR) that need to sources, transport and logistics. Supplement your data collection with reliable
be considered. secondary data from industry-based, annually updated LCA databases, such as
Sphera’s Managed Life Cycle Assessment Content (MLC).

3 4
Modeling Documentation
Conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) of your Compile the results and background information into a report that meets the
product in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 necessary format and content requirements, such as ISO 14025, ISO 21930 and
standards and selected PCR guidelines. EN 15804.

5 6
Verification Publications
Submit the EPD for third-party review to ensure Publish the verified environmental product declaration so it’s accessible for use
that the methodology, data and disclosures in procurement, certifications and reporting.
meet the applicable standards and rules.

As part of the EPD development process, companies collaborate with a third-party program operator, who provides a framework that ensures
EPDs align with international standards and legal requirements. This guarantees that published declarations are credible, comparable and fit for
use in both regulatory and market contexts.

4
Chapter 2 Industry best practices
Next, let’s move from theory to practice. What follows are two real-world examples that demonstrate how companies are using environmental
product declarations to drive meaningful and measurable outcomes. These examples showcase the practical benefits of innovative and efficient
EPD programs.

Case study 1: Sievert’s fast and accurate EPDs at scale for dry mix mortars
In collaboration with Sphera’s EPD consultants, Sievert verified EPDs that support product transparency, regulatory
developed a customized LCA Calculator to streamline the compliance and customer sustainability requirements.
creation of environmental product declarations. This tool enables
precise and product-specific environmental assessments by
analyzing data across the entire product lifecycle from raw “The expert guidance and the pre-verified EPD tool
material extraction to end-of-life. developed by Sphera’s consultants have been invaluable
in helping us assess and reduce the environmental
Within seconds, the tool generated a comprehensive impacts of our products. The tool now provides planners
environmental profile, including 37 indicators such as the global and architects with reliable data, empowering informed
decision-making for greater sustainability in the building
warming potential. Verified by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V.
and construction sector. For companies committed to
(IBU), the resulting EPDs provide architects and planners with
climate action, proactively conducting these analyses is
reliable data for sustainable decision-making.
essential—not something to wait for until EPDs become
mandatory.”
This innovative tool-based approach not only enhances
credibility but also accelerates the EPD generation process, — Uwe Kielhorn, Team Leader Research & Development,
setting a new standard for environmental transparency in the Sievert Baustoffe SE & Co. KG
construction industry. As a result, Sievert can efficiently generate

5
Case study 2: Shaw’s journey to efficient EPDs and sustainable innovations

Shaw Industries partnered with Sphera to implement a “Partnering with Sphera’s sustainability consultants has
streamlined EPD tool to drastically reduce time-to-market for transformed our approach to sustainability. The easy-to-
EPDs. The tool enables efficient compliance with multiple market use, tool-based EPD solution provided by Sphera helped
requirements across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond. us streamline our processes across multiple regions. We
have enhanced our ability to innovate while maintaining
Since implementation, the firm has been recognized for compliance with global EPR requirements. This strategic
sustainable product innovation through notable industry
collaboration has solidified Shaw’s position as a leader
in sustainable flooring solutions and enables us to meet
awards. What’s more, internal teams are now empowered with
market demands swiftly and efficiently.”
eco-design tools for independent LCA and EPD generation to
drive continuous product improvement and environmental
— Eleazer P. Resurreccion, PhD, Sustainability Manager,
transparency.
Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

6
Chapter 3 How Sphera can help
Your specific EPD needs will vary depending on your sector and goals. Sphera helps you clarify those needs, unlock credible product data, develop
environmental product declarations for individual products and entire product portfolios and enhance your reputation through greater transparency. As a
global company, we’re capable of helping you meet standards and comply with systems the world over.

What’s more, we blend deep industry-specific sustainability consulting expertise with powerful LCA software and data to help you unlock the power of
EPDs in your own organization. From one-off declarations to full-scale, automated EPD production, we help you stay compliant with global standards and
regulations including EN 15804, ISO 14025 and ISO 21930, state Buy Clean initiatives and the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

Navigating the EPD journey

1 Start with EPD as a service
This initial tier of service is ideal for EPD newcomers. Sphera’s sustainability consultants provide expert guidance and hands-on support at every
stage of EPD development from selecting the appropriate product category rule to ensuring timely verification and publication with the selected
EPD program operator.

2 Accelerate EPDs with pre-verified expert tools

Create environmental product declarations for multiple product groups or your entire portfolio faster and more efficiently with our tailored and
expert-led EPD tools. Our EPD consultants collaborate with you to develop parameterized life cycle assessment models and implement them in the
user-friendly LCA Calculator tool, enabling quick and seamless EPD generation. Additionally, we guide you through the tool pre-verification process
with program operators of your choice, such as The International EPD® System, Smart EPD, IBU, UL, PEP ecopassport, INIES and EPDItaly, ensuring
EPD compliance for your key markets.

3 Automate EPD generation

Stay ahead of regulatory and market requirements for emissions transparency and digitalization with our solutions for EPD and LCA Automation.
Generate environmental product declarations and LCA results for your entire product portfolio using Sphera’s LCA software solutions and data
seamlessly integrated into your enterprise systems.
Conclusion
In a greening marketplace, EPDs are crucial assets. They arm your organization with standardized, transparent and verifiable information about
the environmental performance of your products that you can share with investors, regulators, consumers and potential partners at will. Not
only do they equip you with the proof you need to demonstrate your environmental leadership today, but they highlight hotspots and other
opportunities for you to improve the sustainability of your offerings tomorrow and into the future.

With Sphera’s help, you can incorporate this highly valuable tool into your operations so you can comply with regulations, seize emerging market
opportunities and establish your brand as a true pioneer in an increasingly eco-conscious marketplace.

For more information on the importance of EPDs for your business, read the companion eBook, “How EPDs drive regulatory compliance and
meaningful decarbonization.”

8
Sphera is the leading provider of integrated sustainability and operational risk management software, data and consulting
services focusing on Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S), Process Safety, Product Stewardship and Supply
Chain Transparency. For more than 30 years, we have served 8,500 customers and a million-plus users in 100 countries to
help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive.

Learn more about Sphera at [Link] | Follow Sphera on LinkedIn.

®️2025 Sphera. All rights reserved.

9