Your challenge:

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are an essential means for companies to communicate and transparently present the environmental impacts of their products. In the creation and use of EPDs, companies face various external challenges. Here are some of the key ones:

Market and legal regulations: Increasingly, both customers and (in the future) legislators demand that companies make the environmental performance or impacts of their products more transparent. Manufacturers are not legally obligated to provide EPDs so far. However, the market is increasingly regulating the use of EPDs in various applications.

Environmental tenders and public procurement: EPDs are listed as a requirement in private sector public tenders as a mandatory component in the procurement process, especially in connection with Green Building systems.

Benchmarking: Your competitors present the ecological benefits of their products and may already have EPDs. You also want to determine your benchmark status quo to continuously optimize your products ecologically.

Standards and regulations: You operate internationally and receive EPD requests from various countries. In this context, you must ensure that your EPDs comply with applicable standards and regulations, which can vary depending on the region and product type.

Your benefits:

The overarching goal of an EPD is to provide relevant and verified information to meet various communication needs. The creation of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can offer various benefits for companies. Here are the key ones:

Improved transparency and credibility: By creating EPDs, companies can provide transparent and credible information about the environmental impacts of their products. This fosters trust among customers and stakeholders and strengthens the company's reputation for sustainability and environmental protection.

Market access: Some markets or customer requirements require EPDs as an entry barrier, which can facilitate market access.

Competitive advantage: Products with EPDs can stand out positively from the competition and be perceived as more environmentally friendly options, offering extended sales and marketing opportunities.

Promotion of innovation and eco-design: EPDs can contribute to developing innovative approaches to reducing the environmental impacts of products.

Circular economy: EPDs promote the integration of circular economy principles by encouraging a life cycle perspective on products.

In addition to the described benefits of EPDs, there are several others. We have described these in a comprehensive stakeholder analysis: 'Environmental Product Declarations - Benefits, Expectations, and Fulfillments - From the Perspective of Stakeholders,' 2019.

Our services (excerpt):

Our team of experienced life cycle assessment experts supports you with the following services:

EPD strategy: We assist you in developing an EPD strategy, considering questions such as:

• Which EPD type (average, worst-case, representative, or specific EPD) is the right one?

• Which program holders are the right ones in the context of different regional regulations, especially concerning the visibility of your products in key markets?

Life cycle assessment and EPD creation: We create professional life cycle assessments and EPDs using leading accounting software (LCA for Experts solution, formerly GaBi, or Umberto) and databases (Gabi, ecoinvent).

Data collection support: Procuring environmentally relevant data for EPDs can be challenging. We accompany you in the efficient data collection of all relevant influencing factors.

HOTSPOT analysis: The life cycle assessment can provide valuable starting points for ecological product optimization. For this, we offer our HOTSPOT analysis.

Benchmarking: Currently, creating a benchmark based on EPDs is very difficult. This can only succeed if comparability—usually not at the product but at the component or building level—is given. Many conditions must be met for this, which is hardly possible for non-experts. We assist you in enabling comparisons of the ecological advantages or disadvantages of different product systems. Our software solution www.epd-analyzer.com provides you with a first entry into the topic.

ECO-Efficiency analysis: Often, a purely ecological product alone is not enough to assert itself in the market. We support you in creating an ecological efficiency analysis with an additional cost analysis from your life cycle assessment to identify products and processes that are both ecologically and economically more favorable than comparative alternatives.

Thanks to years of cross-industry experience in creating life cycle assessments and EPDs, we can ensure a smooth publication of your EPD. Please contact us here or request a quote directly.

Your challenge:

In today's world, climate change poses one of the most prominent challenges for our society. The Carbon Footprint, serves as a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product or process. Capturing and managing the greenhouse gas emissions caused by companies and their products or services are becoming increasingly important:

• Customers expect detailed carbon footprints for their products and demand awareness and actions regarding "hot spots."

• Competitive pressure is increasing as more competitors assess their carbon footprint at the corporate level and communicate progress.

• The expectation to design products in the future as climate-neutral or even climate-positive is growing.

• The aspiration to contribute to climate goals and Sustainable Development Goals is rising.

These challenges require companies to adopt a strategic approach to reduce their carbon footprint, to remain competitive in the long term, and simultaneously contribute to combating climate change.

Your benefits:

Calculating the carbon footprint enables the quantification and understanding of the contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The Carbon Footprint...

• ...creates transparency about the environmental impacts of the company or individual products.

• ...inspires product innovations by driving the development of more environmentally friendly products and production processes.

• ...provides insights into the emissions of the supply chain, allowing companies to choose more sustainable suppliers and increase supply chain transparency.

• ...can help identify ecological and economic savings potentials by recognizing and improving inefficient processes.

• ...supports the development of an adequate climate strategy and the pursuit of suitable goals (e.g., Science Based Targets).

• ...can improve the competitive position, as products with a low carbon footprint stand out from the competition and represent a unique selling point.

• ...allows for sustainability communication based on facts and substance.

In summary, creating Product Carbon Footprints enables companies to understand their environmental impacts, enhance their sustainability efforts, and benefit from the advantages mentioned above.

Our services (excerpt):

Our experienced life cycle assessment experts support you in:

• Calculating the carbon footprint according to required standards such as GHG Product Protocol Standard or ISO 14067.

• Product analysis, especially in the Evaluation of the product and its components in terms of CO2 emissions.

• Identification of relevant life cycle phases, from raw material extraction to disposal.

• Data collection & inventory creation.

• PCF-tool solutions.

• Reporting and communication.

• Comparison and benchmarking.

• Certification and labeling.

• Training and training support.

• Continuous monitoring and updates.

• Integration into corporate strategies.

Our goal is to accompany companies on the path to environmentally friendly action while preserving their competitiveness. The PCF service we offer serves as a tool for seamlessly integrating sustainability into your business strategy and meeting the increasing requirements for environmentally friendly products.

Your challenge:

Green building systems and sustainable construction have gained significant importance in recent years, and this has implications for manufacturers of building products. Producers and distributors face the following challenges:

• Sustainable material sourcing and production: One of the central challenges for manufacturers of building products in the context of green building systems is the selection and procurement of sustainable materials. This pertains not only to the environmental impacts of the materials themselves but also to the entire life cycle, from production to disposal. Manufacturers must increasingly ensure that their materials are renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable. This often requires investments in research and development to find innovative solutions.

• Standards and certifications: The field of green building systems is shaped by a variety of standards and certifications that assess the ecological sustainability of building products. This can be a challenge for manufacturers as they must ensure that their products comply with various standards. Compliance with these standards often requires comprehensive testing and documentation, leading to additional costs and resources.

• Market transparency and customer requirements: With growing awareness of environmental issues, consumers and businesses increasingly expect transparent information about the sustainability of building products. Manufacturers face the challenge of ensuring this transparency while also meeting the rising demands of customers. This requires not only clear and understandable labels regarding environmental impacts but also proactive communication on the part of manufacturers.

• Costs and competitiveness: A common argument against sustainable building products is the perceived higher price compared to conventional materials. Manufacturers face the challenge of finding cost-effective methods to produce environmentally friendly materials while maintaining the competitiveness of their products.

Your benefits:

Sustainability consulting can offer diverse support for producers of building products in the green building systems sector, bringing both ecological and economic benefits. Here are some ways in which such consulting can be beneficial for building product producers:

• Compliance with standards and certifications

• Promotion of innovation and research

• Market transparency and communication

• Access to funding and incentives

Sustainability consulting supports building product producers not only in meeting the requirements of green building systems but also in achieving long-term competitive advantages through their environmentally conscious approach. This creates a positive dynamic where both the environment and the companies benefit.

Our services (excerpt):

Our team of experienced sustainability experts supports you with the following services:

• Creation of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs): By providing detailed information about the environmental impacts of their products, EPDs enable transparent communication, facilitating compliance with green building requirements. This expedites the certification process and eases access to green building projects.

• Creation of Green Building Fact-Sheets for BNB, DGNB, and LEED: Our Green Building Fact-Sheets provide product-relevant information for each assessment system and help position your products for green building systems.

• Support for DGNB Navigator / DGNB Navigator Labels: We assist you in registering your products in the DGNB Navigator and obtaining the DGNB Navigator Label.

Please contact us here or request a quote directly.

Your Challenge:

The environmental performance of products is gaining in importance. Competitors distinguish themselves with the environmental benefits of their products. Due to enquiries from your customers and increasing competitive pressure, you are looking for:

• reliable product-specific environmental information, e.g. an ecological footprint or a comprehensive life cycle assessment

• more transparency on the ecological impacts ("hot spots") of your production processes as well as upstream and downstream activities (energy supply, raw materials and intermediate products as well as waste disposal and recycling processes)

• Opportunities for innovation and optimisation from an ecological perspective

Your Benefit:

The creation of a process- or product-based life cycle assessment assists you to...

• identify the ecological hot spots and your environmental impacts in the value chain

• drive forward your product optimisation from an ecological point of view (eco-design)

• meet the requirements of a life cycle assessment for certification purposes (e.g. CSC Concrete Sustainability Council certificate)

• comply with regulatory standards that include a life cycle analysis (ISO 14001 on environmental management systems, ISO 14025 on environmental product declarations)

• improve your competitive advantage and market positioning

Our Services (excerpt):

Our experienced life cycle assessment experts...

• prepare life cycle assessments of products or processes in line with DIN EN ISO 14040 and 14044

• examine with you potential approaches for the ecological optimisation of material and energy flows

• assist you in the efficient data collection of all relevant factors

• develop life cycle assessments together with you, enabling you to compare ecological advantages and disadvantages of different product systems

• support you in the preparation of environmental product declarations (EPD)

• add an additional cost dimension to your LCA in order to identify products and processes that are both ecologically and economically more favourable than comparative alternatives (eco-efficiency analysis)

Your challenge:

The environmental assessment of your own or competing products is a complex challenge that involves a variety of aspects. Here are some of the main issues and difficulties that need to be considered when comparing products from an environmental perspective:

• Complexity of EPD content: EPDs often contain a wide range of environmental data. The ability of companies to interpret this data and convert it into understandable information for customers and internal decision-makers is crucial. Companies often lack the specialist personnel to do this.

• EPD interpretation and integration: Companies must not only understand the EPDs of their own products, but also be able to interpret the information in their suppliers' EPDs. Integrating this data into internal decision-making processes requires specific expertise.

• Training and awareness raising: Companies must ensure that their employees have the necessary knowledge and skills to understand and use environmental information, especially that contained in EPDs.

• Communication of EPD results: Communicating EPD results both internally and externally requires the ability to present complex environmental information in an understandable and credible manner.

Your benefits:

A digital EPD tool can play a crucial role in overcoming the challenges associated with environmental product assessment and EPDs in particular. Here are some of the benefits that such a tool can offer:

• Visualisation of environmental data: By using visualisations such as graphs, charts and interactive dashboards, a digital EPD tool can present complex environmental data in an easily understandable way. This makes it easier to understand the environmental impact of the various stages of the product life cycle.

• Competence building within the company: The tool can provide training materials and resources to strengthen environmental awareness and competence within the company.

• Comparison of EPDs: A digital EPD tool enables companies to compare the EPDs of different products. This helps to determine the status quo of a product in comparison to alternatives and thus helps to initiate environmental benchmarking.

• Interactive collaboration: The ability to collaborate and interact between different departments and stakeholders within the company, but also with suppliers, promotes a holistic approach to ecological product assessment. This facilitates the exchange of information and helps to ensure that environmentally relevant decisions are based on sound data.

Our tool solution:

Our epd-analyzer is primarily a direct result of our EPD stakeholder survey EPDs: Benefits, expectations and fulfilment – from the perspective of stakeholders a few years ago. In summary, it can be said that the majority of stakeholders in the EPD system are satisfied, but expectations were not (over)fulfilled in any of the benefit dimensions surveyed. The reason for this is that EPD owners (i.e. the companies themselves) in particular have problems understanding the results of the EPD. Our epd-analyzer addresses this problem of understanding and helps to build competence within the company. We believe that the degree of fulfilment of the analysed benefit dimensions will increase significantly if the EPD owner has a better understanding of the EPDs and the issues associated with them.

The epd-analyser supports:

• primarily manufacturers in
  

  • product management

  • sales

  • purchasing

• but also architects and planners

Overview of functions Areas of application (excerpt)

• Managing (own) EPDs

• Calculating with EPDs (generating new components and projects)

• Ecological product and project evaluation

• Comparing EPDs & projects (benchmark)

• Interface to ÖKOBAUDAT (downloads)

• Importing digital EPDs (uploads)

• Monitoring EPDs

• Interactive visualisation of indicators and evaluations

• Learning platform on the topic of EPDs