SUSTAINABILITY
THE EPD QUESTION
What do Environmental Product Declarations mean for merchants and their customers? BMJ finds out.
W
orking towards a net-zero future is a priority for many industries, particularly the construction sector. A
step towards this is the introduction of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). But what are EPDs? How will they help businesses achieve their sustainability goals? And why should merchants care?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardised, transparent document that communicates the environmental impact of a product or material throughout its entire life cycle. It provides a comprehensive assessment of a product’s environmental footprint, allowing for informed decision-making and promoting sustainable practices. Dave Osborne, technical manager at Swish Building Products, says that, at its heart, an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which analyses the environmental effects of a product throughout its life cycle. “These assessments are defined by three options, which we categorise as: cradle to gate, cradle to gate with options, and cradle to grave,” he says.
Cradle to gate considers all aspects of a product from raw materials (including extraction, refinement, and delivery), and the energy and resources required to process the finished article before it’s despatched from the manufacturing plant.
Cradle to gate with options expands on the delivery and use of a product, including pre- processing, secondary energy and resource use during the installation phase, potential maintenance and replacement cycles, and final disposal where known.
Cradle to grave, meanwhile is a more holistic approach which considers the complete end to end process, including fully managed recycling options at the end of a product’s ‘service life’.
Osborne says that the key output is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) which defines the embodied CO² equivalent per kg of product.
“In the case of Swish, which holds EPDs for cellular profiles and rainwater products these are reported as: Cellular PVC = 2.26 kg CO²
eq/kg of product and rainwater = 1.71 kg CO² eq/kg of product,” he explains. EPDs are developed in accordance with International Standards (ISO 14025 and EN 15804) and are fully verified by an independent third party to ensure credibility of the data. This ensures they provide an impartial way to compare the environmental performance of different products within the same category. The point of EPDs is, Osborne adds, to help merchants and their customers understand the environmental impact of a product, from raw material extraction to end-of-life management. “Once created, EPDs impact multiple domains including building design and construction, product development and manufacturing, as well as public procurement and marketing strategies,” he says.
Carbon reduction
Merchants’ major housebuilder and developer customers are keen to align themselves with government requirements for carbon reduction and other quantitative sustainability initiatives. For example, Barratt Developments PLC states “A preference will be given to materials that: have a recycled content; have low embodied carbon as demonstrated via the BRE Green Guide to Specification or other appropriate method such as an EPD.” Likewise, Bellway has adopted the ‘Better with Bellway’ strategy which states “its supply chain must aim to include recycled content in products where possible; and to provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPD’s) for their products.”
Osborne says that this shift is likely to cascade into local housebuilders who also see value in specifying sustainable products. All
November 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
this means that merchants have a need to be mindful of the products they stock. “Ensuring they can supply customers with a product range that has tangible sustainable credentials means they will remain competitive both now and in the future. Researching manufacturers and their approach to sustainability is vital, particularly those with EPDs,” he says.
Why EPDs matter There is currently no obligation for manufacturers to provide EPDs. However, Osborne says that Swish believes it has a responsibility to provide customers with factual, independently verified information about the environmental impact of its products.
He explains: “Quite simply, an EPD signals to your stakeholders that your company is committed to transparency and environmental responsibility. This not only enhances your brand’s credibility but also sets you apart from competitors who may not have the same level of verified environmental data. As the market shifts towards greater environmental accountability, supplying EPD approved building components prepares your business for future regulatory changes and market demands. This proactive approach ensures long-term competitiveness and resilience.” As the first UK cellular manufacturer to hold an EPD, Osborne says that Swish is leading the way in terms of sustainability and environmental responsibility. “It demonstrates that we are listening to our customers, following government and industry developments, and supporting the industry with our innovative, industry-leading approach.
“We believe that EPDs, together with other initiatives such as increasing operational efficiency and the use of post-consumer waste – elements Swish has been working on for many years – will play an important role on our journey towards net-zero, and here at Swish we will continue to work hard to support the wider industry as we all strive towards a more sustainable future.” BMJ
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