New Guide Helps Businesses Use Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

2 hours ago

Leading sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental has launched its latest guide, "A Guide to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)", designed to help organisations understand, develop and apply EPDs to support compliance and gain a competitive edge.

Many businesses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of their products across the full lifecycle.


Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are pivotal in meeting these expectations, enabling organisations to provide verified data aligned with frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), BREEAM and LEED.


Tunley Environmental's new guide provides a structured overview of how EPDs work, how they are developed and how organisations can use them. It is designed for commercial stakeholders looking to move beyond high-level sustainability commitments and apply robust data to procurement, reporting and product positioning.


The guide covers:


  • What Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are and how they differ from LCAs and Product Carbon Footprints
  • How to interpret EPD data, including lifecycle stages, system boundaries and environmental indicators
  • The role of international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804 in ensuring consistency and comparability
  • How EPDs can support compliance with frameworks including CSRD, LEED and BREEAM
  • The process of developing an EPD, from data collection through to third-party verification
  • How organisations can use EPDs to improve tender success, strengthen ESG reporting and differentiate products in competitive markets



The guide is now available to download from the Tunley Environmental website here.

Technical Context

Data from the International EPD System shows that more than 9,000 EPDs were published in 2025 alone, highlighting the growing importance of verified product environmental data across sectors including manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.

"EPDs are quickly becoming an important part of how organisations demonstrate transparency, meet regulatory expectations and compete among competition. This guide is designed to help businesses understand what EPDs are, how to use them effectively and how to support both compliance and commercial results."

— Dr Gareth Davies at Tunley Environmental

About Tunley Environmental

Tunley Environmental empowers organisations like yours around the world to lead in environmental sustainability through tailored, science-based strategies. Our team of PhD-level scientists deliver corporate sustainability solutions that align with regulatory frameworks, scientific best practices, and your organisation's unique needs.

→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 4 hours ago



Urban development is entering a transformation defined by measurable sustainability metrics rather than aspirational targets. Cities are adopting climate‑sensitive planning and sustainable building design that minimise energy use through form, materials and orientation. This shift aligns with environmental sustainability in construction and growing regulation around the carbon footprint of construction. Green infrastructure, vegetation and renewable building materials are being treated as core components of modern planning, establishing a foundation for eco‑friendly construction that directly contributes to net zero carbon goals.

Developers are implementing Whole Life Carbon Assessment frameworks to evaluate emissions across every project stage, from material sourcing to end‑of‑life reuse in construction. This marks a decisive move toward Whole Life Carbon accountability and Life Cycle Cost transparency. Attention to embodied carbon in materials has intensified as research converts into practice, prompting low carbon design strategies and renewable material substitution across supply chains. Lifecycle assessment and life cycle thinking in construction are no longer academic exercises but commercial tools for carbon footprint reduction and improved building lifecycle performance.

Digital innovation in procurement is enabling Circular Economy in construction models that support resource efficiency, circular construction strategies and low embodied carbon materials. Firms integrating BREEAM and forthcoming BREEAM v7 standards demonstrate how measurable sustainable building practices create long‑term value while decarbonising the built environment. Policy frameworks targeting net zero whole life carbon and carbon neutral construction now influence investment decisions across both private and public sectors.

The convergence of regulation, consumer demand and corporate responsibility signals that sustainable construction has become an operational standard. The sector’s competitive advantage increasingly depends on measurable sustainability credentials, from eco‑design for buildings to verified environmental product declarations (EPDs). As the industry redefines its purpose around durability, efficiency and circular economy principles, sustainable urban development emerges as the benchmark for global growth.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?