Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are comprehensive, third-party verified documents that present transparent data on the environmental impacts of products across their lifecycle. Among the various stages in a product’s life, certain phases have particularly significant effects on the EPD outcomes. Understanding which lifecycle stage most influences the results can help manufacturers and stakeholders make more informed decisions regarding sustainability and environmental performance.
Lifecycle Stages Overview
EPDs follow a standardized lifecycle approach, typically based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards, to provide a consistent and comparable framework. The lifecycle of a product is divided into several stages:
- Raw Material Extraction: Includes the sourcing of raw materials, mining, harvesting, and processing.
- Manufacturing and Production: Covers all industrial processes to turn raw materials into finished products.
- Transportation and Distribution: Accounts for the movement of materials and products through the supply chain.
- Use Phase: Involves the product’s performance, maintenance, and energy consumption during its functional lifetime.
- End-of-Life: Encompasses disposal, recycling, and waste treatment.
Among these, the manufacturing stage often has the most substantial impact on an EPD’s results, followed closely by raw material extraction and end-of-life processes. However, the specific stage that most affects the EPD depends on the type of product and the environmental impact category being considered.
Manufacturing Stage
The manufacturing phase frequently emerges as the most significant contributor to an EPD. During this stage, energy-intensive processes such as machining, molding, casting, and finishing consume large amounts of electricity and fossil fuels. Additionally, emissions from production lines, chemical treatments, and other industrial activities contribute heavily to global warming potential (GWP), acidification, and photochemical ozone creation. For many products, the environmental performance of this stage sets the baseline for overall EPD outcomes.
Raw Material Extraction
The extraction and processing of raw materials can also play a dominant role in shaping an EPD. This stage often involves high energy consumption and significant land and water use. For products that rely on scarce or heavily processed materials, the raw material stage may even surpass manufacturing in terms of environmental impact. For instance, products that use metals or rare minerals often have high GWP and resource depletion values stemming from mining activities, refining, and initial transport.
End-of-Life
The end-of-life stage can substantially influence EPD results as well. Depending on how a product is disposed of landfilled, incinerated, or recycled the associated impacts vary. Recycling processes often reduce the overall lifecycle impact by reintroducing materials into production loops, while landfill and incineration can contribute to emissions and leachates. For some materials, especially those with high recyclability rates, the end-of-life stage can offset impacts from earlier phases, thus altering the overall EPD outcome.
Use Phase
While the use phase is generally more relevant to products with operational energy requirements such as electronics or HVAC systemsit can also be a notable contributor for certain building materials, such as insulation. If a product’s function during its use phase leads to significant energy savings or improved environmental performance, this can positively influence the overall EPD results. For example, an insulation product that drastically reduces a building’s heating and cooling demands may have a longer-lasting impact compared to the manufacturing emissions, making the use phase a critical consideration.
Conclusion
In the context of Environmental Product Declarations, the lifecycle stage that most affects the results varies by product type, material composition, and intended use. While manufacturing is often the largest contributor, raw material extraction, end-of-life processing, and use phase performance can also be highly influential. By identifying which stage dominates the environmental profile, stakeholders can target improvements in design, material sourcing, production efficiency, and recycling strategies, ultimately leading to a more sustainable lifecycle and a better EPD performance.