EPD: the competitive advantage for sustainable construction

Sustainability has now become a central theme in the construction sector. This is demonstrated not only by the growing use of environmental indicators to assess the impact of products, but also by a broader shift among consumers toward more conscious and responsible choices regarding the types of materials they use.

In this industry, attention is not limited to energy efficiency; it also focuses on the quality and sustainability of the materials employed during the construction phase.

From this perspective, the EPD has become a key tool for ensuring a concrete and measurable assessment of product sustainability. In this article, we will explore how this certification is applied within the construction sector and examine the main benefits it offers to companies that optain it.

The EPD, or Environmental Product Declaration, provides transparent and measurable information about a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle – from production and use to disposal and end of life. This type of declaration is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which follows the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards and makes it possible to evaluate a product’s environmental effects, such as resource extraction, emissions and releases into the environment.

Thanks to the evolution of related regulations, the use of life-cycle indicators has now become standard practice in the construction sector. These indicators are essential both for assessing the environmental performance of an entire building and for evaluating the individual materials used – assessments that are reported directly within the EPD.

Moreover, EPDs enable companies to participate in green public procurement (GPP) and earn credits for sustainability certifications such as LEED. In addition, the EPD enhances a company’s competitiveness by providing an advantage in market bids and highlighting the environmental sustainability of its products.

All of this allows for objective, transparent, accessible and comparable evaluation criteria – a crucial requirement for designers and builders, as it serves as a reliable reference point for identifying the true environmental qualities of products.

As mentioned earlier, the Environmental Product Declaration represents a significant advantage for accessing public procurement opportunities, such as GPP. The Green Public Procurement is an environmental policy tool that became mandatory under the new Public Procurement Code (Legislative Decree 50/2016) and its amendment (Legislative Decree 56/2017). It promotes the development of a market for products and services with reduced environmental impact by leveraging public demand.

Another advantage that the EPD can offer companies is the ability to earn credits under sustainability certification systems, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). These credits can contribute points based on the value established by the rating system.

The correlation between EPDs and CAM is another important aspect not to be underestimated. CAM, or Minimun Environmental Criteria, are a set of technical requirements established by the Italian Ministry of the Environment to promote the use of more sustainable building materials and practices.

CAM often require the use of products with an environmental certification such as an EPD, in order to ensure transparent information. They also require that materials be assessed based on their environmental performance and the EPD is the appropriate tool for carrying out this type of evaluation.

CAM encourage the adoption of materials and products that have an EPD as a guarantee of their reduced environmental impact and their compliance with sustainability criteria.

In an industry as important as construction, choosing sustainable materials becomes a fundamental prerequisite for establishing one’s own sustainability.

Integrating corporate sustainability principles into the construction of new buildings or renovation projects makes it possible to obtain internationally recognized building certifications.

The EPD offers an additional advantage in the sector, as it:

• provides transparent, verified information on a product’s environmental impacts throughout its entire life cycle
• helps ensure that the materials and products used meet CAM requirements
• improves the identification and management of risks related to the environmental impact of products
• enables alignment with European regulations on environmental sustainability

Moreover, most environmental sustainability rating systems for buildings and infrastructure reward the presence of an EPD, as it allows the project team to make informed decisions geared toward sustainable products.

Therefore, adopting an EPD in the construction sector is a winning strategy for companies seeking responsible resource management and reduced environmental impact. It is also a strategic investment for businesses looking to meet growing sustainability demands and gain market recognition.