An EPD provides relevant and verified environmental information which is used to meet a variety of business needs.
Information on how to use EPDs in different applications are described in the following sections:
- Business-to-Business (B2B) Communication
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Communication
- Green Building & Sustainable Infrastructure
Business-to-Business (B2B) Communication : Businesses use EPDs in marketing a product or services environmental performance. Government and business customers are increasingly asking for transparent and credible information on many environmental risk factors, covering all parts of the life cycle, for products they purchase. An EPD contains the environmental information needed for a product, in one place, and in a meaningful and credible manner. EPDs give stakeholders the confidence that EPD holders are telling the truth about the impact of their manufacturing and supply processes. EPDs summarise a products resource use and emissions to air, soil and water and the potential environmental impacts on climate change across the life cycle stages. The Indian EPD Programme provides an internationally recognised standard, open to all types of products and services and verified by a credentialed and approved third-party. Business partners know the information in an EPD is credible and comparable. As well, EPDs are modular, meaning that data in EPDs for raw materials or components can be used to develop EPDs for a product containing those materials or components.
Business-to-Consumer Communication EPDs were originally designed with B2B communication in mind. However, companies at the forefront of supply chain transparency are starting to use EPDs, and the information they contain, to communicate directly to consumers (B2C). In the age of consumer protection legislation, the key to making any environmental claims for B2C communication is to focus on being transparent and avoid making false or misleading statements. The environmental data in all Indian EPDs is independently verified to comply with International Standard ISO 14025, a relevant Product Category Rule (PCR) and the General Programme Instructions. All additional environmental information also has to be substantiated and verified before the EPD is registered and published with the Indian EPD Programme. This level of verification of their EPD, and the credibility of the Indianan EPD Programme, give business the confidence to communicate with consumers about the environmental impacts and benefits of their products.
Green Building & Sustainable Infrastructure For builders, developers and their corporate and government clients, the data and information in an EPD provide a framework for making informed product Comparisons to help make buildings and infrastructure more sustainable.