Construction industry / Sustainability and circular economy / UNE-EN ISO 14025:2010 Type III environmental declarations

UNE-EN ISO 14025:2010 Type III environmental declarations

Type III environmental declarations inform stakeholders of all notable ecological aspects of products and services and quantify the leading environmental factors in a verifiable, comparable, accurate and non-misleading manner.

declaracion ambiental de producto tipo iii une en iso 14025 2010

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a type III ecolabel (UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010) internationally recognised and applicable to all types of products/services.

An EPD communicates in a verifiable, comparable, accurate and non-misleading way the environmental information of your product or service and its applications, thus supporting a fair and scientifically based decision making.

Its overall goal is to provide verified information (by an EDP certification program) to meet various communication needs.

An essential aspect of the EPD is to provide the basis for a fair and objective comparison of products and services for their environmental performance.

Likewise, EPDs reflect the continuous environmental improvement of products and services over time and can communicate and add relevant ecological information throughout the supply chain.

The EPD, therefore, take into account the most significant environmental aspects of the product/service life cycle and show objective and verifiable information.

Thus, an EPD does not establish minimum or enforceable requirements; they only inform.

What makes EPD different from other eco-labelling systems?

An environmental label is a distinction that has the purpose of identifying the products or services that meet specific criteria of “environmental goodness” in the process of manufacture, use, marketing or end of their useful life.

According to ISO standards, there are three eco-labelling systems:

Type I environmental labelling (UNE-EN ISO 14024: 2018) – Ecolabels,
Type II environmental labelling (UNE-EN ISO 14021: 2017) – Self-declared environmental claims,
Type III environmental declarations (UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010) – Principles and procedures. They are the EDP. For construction products, there is also the UNE-EN 15804: 2012 + A2: 2020/AC:2021.

declaración ambiental de producto dap

Type I environmental labels are a voluntary environmental qualification system that officially identifies and certifies that certain products or services have less impact on the environment, taking into account their entire life cycle. Eco-labelled products and services meet strict environmental criteria established.

Type I eco-labels are granted by an independent third party, which acts as a certifying entity. As examples, we have the environmental quality guarantee label (Catalonia) and the European Union ecological label.

Type II environmental labels are environmental self-declarations, therefore endorsed by the same manufacturer or packer, usually referring to a phase of the life cycle or a specific aspect of the product (e.g. “biodegradable”, “recyclable”). In this system, there is no independent third-party certification.

etiquetas ecologicas tipo i tipo ii y tipo iii

Type III environmental declarations (EDP) quantify the leading environmental aspects of the product/service (according to PCR, product category rules). Unlike type I labels, as they are based on PCR, they allow comparison between products. Besides, they are verified or audited (difference with type II label).

Unlike type I environmental labels, environmental declarations (type III) do not define criteria on the ecological preference of products or establish minimum criteria to be met (specified in the product standards for type I labelling).

So why an EPD (UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010)?

Among the many reasons for developing Type III environmental declarations, we can indeed highlight:

The purchasing policies of the Administration and large construction companies (and, over time, small ones) are directed towards the products that generate less impact.
Follows a rigorous scientific approach, including standardised calculations and software for data collection and processing.
It is the most exhaustive environmental assessment methodology, thanks to multi-stage and multi-criteria analysis throughout all stages.
They are verified by an independent third party.
The results are publicly available.
Therefore, it provides clear and useful information on the environment to interested parties.
Allows interested parties to carry out their LCAs at the product or construction level.
Provides credibility to interested parties and support in certifying their construction with eco-labels.

What rule governs EDPs?

EDPs are based on UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010 or UNE-EN 15804: 2012 + A2: 2020/AC:2021 (only for construction products). In other environments (e.g. USA), there is also ISO 21930: 2017 “Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services” for the construction sector. Besides, some countries have their standards (for example, in France, NF P010).

What products and companies have EPD?

International EPD System (Environdec), main certification scheme for type III ecolabels UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010 and UNE-EN 15804: 2012 + A2: 2020/AC:2021 has Product Category Rules (PCR) in the following sectors:

Construction products,
Food and drinks,
Paper and derivatives,
Furniture,
Textile, sportswear and clothing,
Equipment, components, parts and accessories for the automotive and transport sector,
Electricity and energy,
Machinery and components,
Metals, minerals, plastic and glass products,
Chemical products,
Infrastructures and building,
Services.

declaracion ambiental de producto tipo iii une en iso 14025 2010

We can find EPDs in leading brands in their sector such as the Italian Barilla (power generation company), the Japanese Ricoh, the railway Bombardier, the Swedish power company Vattenfall and the Swiss Axpo, the Danish Vestas (wind power) or ABB (equipment manufacturer).

Despite its international relevance in other countries, the use of EPDs among Spanish companies is still in the process of expansion. That is why its potential as a marketing tool is significant.

declaración ambiental de producto dap

Now, currently leading national companies such as Porcelanosa, Cosentino, Financiera Maderera S.A. (FINSA), Gamesa, Iberdrola, Acciona Infrarastructures S.A., Saint Gobain Isover Ibérica S.L., Grupo BASF, Sika S.A., S.A.U., Henkel Iberica S.A., Asociación Sostenibilidad Siderúrgica (Celsa, ArcelorMittal, AG Siderúrgica Balboa…), Gres de Aragón or IECA (Spanish Institute of Cement and its Applications -Cementos Lemona S.A., Cementos Portland Valderrivas S.A., Cementos Tudela Veguín S.A., CEMEX Spain Operations, S.L.U., Holcim Spain S.A. and Sociedad Financiera y Minera S.A.-) have DAPs.

Among medium-sized companies that have EPD we find Egoin S.A., Asfaltia S.L. (Grupo Campezo), Construcciones y Obras Llorente S.A., Borges (Borges oil), Fallera Nutricio S.L. (rice SOS), Suministros Técnicos Galicia S.L. and Alcubilla 2000, S.L. (Luque ecológico, S.L.).

We add value with our consulting services

Our consulting services combine our knowledge regarding the standardisation of construction products with our experience in environmental management projects. Our EDP projects are aimed at preparing and supporting external verification:

– Definition of EDP’s objective and scope,
– Analysis of the product/service and processes and activities,
– Determination of the Product Category Rules (PCR),
– Life cycle inventory analysis (LCI),
– Impact assessment (LCIA),
– Project report,
– EPD,
– External verification (support).

Our consulting projects have only one purpose: To provide the best possible solution, the most viable, to our clients.

This solution is aimed at

Manufacturers of products/services that want to enter into green purchasing programs, certification schemes or improvement of their environmental management systems (UNE-EN ISO 14001: 2015, EMAS).

Organisations that want to delve into the concept of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of their products,”

Companies included in ecodesign projects, or in the improvement of Business to Business or Business to Consumer environmental communication.

What our customers get

Product Environmental Declaration (EPD) validated and integrated in a verification program: International EPD System (environdec), GlobalEPD (AENOR) or DAPcons (Col.legi d’Aparelladors, Arquitectes Tècnics i Enginyers d’Edificació (CAATEEB)).

Synergies

The UNE-EN ISO 14025: 2010 type III environmental declarations can be combined entirely with any sustainability project (ISO 14000, EMAS, corporate environmental footprint…).

Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF) and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

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