What is EPD, and why is it important?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a comprehensive third-party verified standardised certificate that provides detailed information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle, from the sourcing of raw materials to its disposal. EPD provides information on the environmental impact of a product in a quantitative and transparent manner.
Why EPD matters for cables and construction projects
The EPD certificate of a cable contains information on the carbon footprint of the cable, the environmental impact of its components and the recyclability of the product, providing a comprehensive overview of the environmental performance of the product.
In the case of construction projects, the EPD certificate is one of the main tools that helps guide projects towards strategically important environmentally friendly options. Environmental certificates also facilitate compliance with environmentally friendly construction standards and certificates, such as LEED and BREEAM.
EPD provides a lot of information and benefits
EPD contains extensive information that may vary slightly from product to product but generally covers the areas listed below.
- Sourcing of raw material: information on the raw materials used and their origin.
- Manufacturing process: a detailed description of the manufacturing process and the associated environmental impacts.
- Energy consumption: information on energy consumption at different stages of the life cycle.
- Emissions: the amounts of emissions, such as carbon dioxide, which influence climate change.
- Impact on water bodies: the impact of the product on water bodies, such as water consumption and pollution.
- Waste: generation and management of waste.
- Recyclability: the recyclability of the product and the recycling options.
To make this even clearer, EPD evaluates five life cycle stages:
- Production stage: Raw material supply, transport, and manufacturing.
- Construction process stage: Transport and installation.
- Use stage: Maintenance, repair, refurbishment, replacement, and operational energy use.
- End-of-life stage: Deconstruction, transport, waste processing, and disposal.
- Beyond building life cycle: Assessment of reuse, recovery, and recycling.
Cables are very important in various construction projects and understanding their environmental impact is very important from the point of view of sustainable construction. The EPD certificate for cable products has many benefits.
1. Transparency and reliability
The EPD certificate provides clear and verified information on the environmental impact of the cable. Such transparency helps builders and designers make informed choices and favour more environmentally friendly products.
2. Compliance with regulations and standards
Environmental legislation and sustainable construction standards, such as LEED and BREEAM, increasingly require evidence of the environmental impact of building materials. EPD certificates help to meet these requirements and may raise the environmental classification of a construction project.
3. Competitive advantage
EPD certificates for cables can provide a significant competitive advantage in the market, as environmentally conscious customers and project managers value transparency and sustainability, which can strengthen competitiveness and the brand.
4. Managing life cycle costs
The EPD certificate helps to understand the life cycle costs and environmental impact of cables. This, in turn, can help to optimise the use of resources, reduce waste and increase cost efficiency in the long run.
5. Innovation and development
Market requirements for product characteristics covered by the Environmental Product Declaration encourage manufacturers to develop more environmentally friendly products through further innovations and improved production processes.
EPD certificates bring more transparency, regulatory compliance, competitive advantages, life cycle cost management, innovation and development to construction projects. EPD certificates enable actors in the construction sector to make more informed and sustainable choices, thereby contributing to a greener way of construction and a better future.
Why EPD demand is growing
The increasing importance of EPD is driven by EU sustainability regulations, including:
- Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
These directives require companies to identify, understand, and address environmental and social impacts across their entire value chain, making verified data exchange essential.
Verification and comparison rules
- EPDs are not intended for comparing products from different manufacturers. They can, however, be used to compare different products within the same company.
- Prysmian uses a generator from LCA Norway, verified by EPD Norway, to calculate the carbon footprint of all cable materials and processes. This ensures a standardized and credible environmental profile for each product.
- EPD documents highlight the CO₂ equivalent footprint and outline measures taken to reduce environmental impact—showcasing our commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.
EPD certificates for Prysmian products
Prysmian is ready for EPD certificates – a selection of products is already EPD-certified, and the portfolio will expand over time. Contact your sales manager for more information.