As awareness grows about the environmental impact of building products and materials, the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) community are seeking solutions that prioritize sustainability, health, and safety. This has led to the increased adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) in the AEC industry. But what exactly are these documents, and why are they important for building product manufacturers?
EPDs and HPDs provide design and construction firms with clear, industry-standard information on the sustainability and health aspects of your products. They are standardized, verified documents that enable AEC professionals to select products that meet the specific sustainability and health criteria of their projects.
In this blog, we’ll break down what EPDs and HPDs are, why they matter, and how manufacturers like you can benefit from incorporating them into your business practices.
How to Create EPDs & HPDs for Your Products
Photo by Torehan Sharman on Unsplash
An EPD is a standardized, third-party verified report that communicates the environmental impact of a building product throughout its lifecycle. It typically covers various eco-focused metrics such as carbon footprint, energy consumption, and waste production. It evaluates the environmental impacts of the product throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to production, transportation, use, and disposal.
Demonstrate Sustainability: An EPD allows manufacturers to show their commitment to sustainability by providing transparent, data-backed evidence of their product’s environmental impact.
Meet Green Building Standards: Many green building certification systems, like LEED, BREEAM, and others, require or reward EPDs as part of their sustainability criteria.
Attract Eco-Conscious AEC Firms: Having an EPD can make your product more attractive to key AEC decision-makers who are looking for sustainable products to specify.
An HPD provides information about the health and safety characteristics of a building product. It discloses the chemical content of the product and evaluates any potential health risks posed by these substances to both building occupants and workers involved in its production, installation, and disposal.
According to Elixir Environmental, leading AEC firms such as Perkins + Will, SmithGroup JJR, HKS, and ZGF urge building product manufacturers to provide HPDs in order to be considered when design decisions are being made.
Support Health & Safety Goals: An HPD helps manufacturers address concerns about the health and safety of their products, particularly in terms of indoor air quality and worker exposure to harmful substances.
Meet Evolving Regulatory & Market Demands: Some regions and markets require HPDs for certain products, particularly in commercial and public buildings. HPDs also align with growing regulations around chemical transparency and product safety.
Build Trust with Specifiers: Providing a clear, honest account of the chemicals in your products fosters trust among AEC professionals who are increasingly concerned about health and wellness in the built environment.
While EPDs address the environmental impacts of products, HPDs focus on human health and safety. Both are part of a broader trend toward sustainability and transparency in the building materials industry. Together, they provide a complete picture of a product’s overall impact—from its ecological footprint to its potential risks to human health.
Here's an example of how you can use both to your advantage for the same product, in this case, a sliding door:
Your EPDs and HPDs should always work in tandem to position your product as the ideal choice for AEC projects.
Boost Market Visibility: With the increasing demand for green and healthy building products, offering EPDs and HPDs can make your product stand out in a crowded market. AEC professionals are actively seeking products that contribute to green building certifications.
Align with Regulatory Trends: Governments and industry standards are becoming stricter when it comes to environmental and health considerations. By proactively implementing EPDs and HPDs, manufacturers can stay ahead of regulations and avoid compliance issues down the line.
Gain Access to New Markets: Many government and private sector projects now require EPDs and HPDs as part of their procurement process. Having these documents available can open doors to lucrative project opportunities.
Enhance Corporate Responsibility: Adopting EPDs and HPDs aligns with broader corporate sustainability goals and demonstrates that your company is committed to minimizing environmental impacts and prioritizing public health.
Creating EPDs and HPDs involves gathering data on your product's environmental impact or chemical composition, followed by third-party verification to ensure accuracy and credibility.
For EPDs, check out Ecochain's 8-step guide for a full breakdown of the creation process:
Source: Ecochain
For HPDs, you have two main options:
Use HPD Builder, a web-based tool that simplifies the process of creating and managing HPDs for your products, providing step-by-step guidance and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Hire a third-party consultant like Elixir Environmental, who can expertly guide you through the process, offering tailored support and ensuring that your HPDs meet all necessary requirements for accuracy and transparency.
Incorporating EPDs and HPDs into your offerings is essential to meet the growing demand for sustainable and health-conscious building products. By providing credible, third-party verified documentation about both the environmental and health impacts of your products, you’ll not only enhance your brand’s reputation but also contribute to the broader movement toward greener, healthier buildings.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to start working on your EPDs and HPDs. They’ll help future-proof your business and put your products at the forefront of an increasingly eco-aware and health-conscious market.
Want to make your EPDs and HPDs more accessible to AEC professionals? At CADdetails, we specialize in connecting your product information with North American specifiers, ensuring maximum visibility and reach.
Cover image by Fahroni on Canva