An EPD primer.
What is an Environmental Product Declaration?
EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) are third-party reports that transparently document a product’s environmental impact during its lifetime. EPDs are used across industries to show regulatory compliance as well as progress toward voluntary climate goals. Manufacturing companies that pursue EPDs:
Attract new customers
Access new domestic and international markets
Boost to net revenue
EPDs don’t just demonstrate transparency—they transform how your products compete. By verifying your environmental impact, you make it easier for architects, contractors, and global buyers to choose you over less-documented alternatives. What starts as a compliance tool quickly becomes a growth driver: increasing your product’s visibility, qualifying you for high-value projects, and opening doors to ESG-aligned partnerships that reward climate-conscious suppliers.
EPDs for manufactured products across industries
Construction: The building industry contributes about 40% of the total carbon emissions toward global warming, with a large percentage of those coming from the lifecycle and embodied carbon of fabricated parts. In response, EPDs are now standard in construction projects and requirements of CALGreen and LEED v5.
A+D & Lighting Design: Architects are signing onto the AIA 2030 Commitment and relying on products with EPDs to quantify and reduce the total carbon value of their completed projects.
Healthcare: The supply chain and embodied carbon account for 70-80% of the healthcare sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. Through efforts like the Health Sector CARES Pledge and the Health Care Climate Challenge, hospitals are implementing procurement policies that reduce their carbon footprint and promote human health.
Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing: MEP contributions to embodied carbon can be as high as 50% in commercial building and retrofit projects. Structural Engineers and Mechanical Engineers are committing to reduce embodied carbon in their work by signing onto the SE 2050 and MEP 2040 pledges.
Packaging: Meet packaging mandates—earn EPDs that address SB regulations and global export needs. From plastics to compostables, we help packaging manufacturers develop EPDs that support compliance with California legislation, carbon disclosures, and international import/export programs like CBAM.
EPDs benefit manufacturers
EPDs maximize your bottom line
Save money by improving resource and waste management
Boost sales and marketing by aligning strategies across internal teams
Increase your visibility with a place on preferred supplier rosters
A competitive edge in domestic and international markets
Do business in “Buy Clean” states require or favor companies with EPDs
(CA, CO, MD, MN, NJ, NY, OR, and WA)Keep CBAM taxes low on goods imported to the European Union
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) don’t just meet compliance—they unlock operational value. By analyzing your product’s life cycle impacts, you uncover opportunities to reduce waste, optimize material inputs, and streamline production. Internally, EPDs give your teams—from product development to sales—the tools to speak a unified language around sustainability, making it easier to respond to RFPs, partner with ESG-driven clients, and differentiate in crowded markets. Externally, verified EPDs position you as a credible, transparent supplier—earning your place on preferred vendor lists and expanding access to mission-aligned buyers.
ZC Sustainability can help!
ZC Sustainability works with manufacturers to compile all the necessary data for the analysis—raw materials, energy, and waste in the manufacturing process. Working with a qualified Program Operator to ensure relevant standards for the analysis are followed, the EPD is efficiently verified and published. Your EPD includes:
A product life cycle analysis
Third-Party Certification (Type III)
Conformance with EPD requirements under ISO 21930 and EN 15804 standards with a minimum cradle to gate scope (Modules A1-A3, Product Stage)
Connect with us for more information.