Kiwa-Ecobility Experts FAQ
Sustainability efforts are becoming increasingly important. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 are used as an effective tool for this purpose.
Especially at the beginning there are a lot of open questions. We have summarized the most important points for you here.
Our sustainability experts will also be happy to assist you personally.
What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) provides quantitative, environmentally related data on products under consideration of defined indicators. EPDs are prepared following ISO 14025 (Environmental labels and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures) and EN 15804 (Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Basic rules for the product category construction products).
What is Kiwa- Ecobility-Experts (Kiwa-EE)?
Kiwa-Ecobility-Experts is an EPD program operator. Kiwa-EE supports companies, associations and organizations in communicating quantifiable environmental information for products on a European harmonized, scientific basis.
What is an EPD program operator?
An EPD program operator is a body that operates a Type III environmental declaration program following ISO 14025. All tasks of the EPD program operator are defined in ISO 14025. The administration includes, but are not limited to, the following tasks:
- Definition and maintenance of general program guidance
- Transparency regarding involved stakeholders
- Ensuring respectively the fulfillment of the requirements of the EPDs according to relevant standards and PCRs
- Ensuring data consistency
- Public access to relevant EPD program documents such as PCR documents and program guidance, and publication of EPDs
- Ensuring a transparent and independent process for the preparation and review of PCRs
- Coordination and assurance of an independent verification process
What is a Product Category Rule (PCR)?
Since some product groups differ greatly in their environmental performance, specific rules ( the so-called „Product Category Rules" (PCR)) must be developed for certain product groups. Together with the standard EN 15804 and the General Program Instructions from the program operator, the PCRs form the basis for EPDs. A PCR is created when there is no valid PCR for this product category yet and if there is a demand (e.g., an EPD should be created for a new product). In addition, PCRs must be regularly updated or reviewed, at least every three years.
Important content of the PCR is for example the definition of the product category and declared unit, the selection of technical specifications or the determination of end-of-life scenarios.
How is the PCR developing process and how can I contribute?
Our EPD program Kiwa-EE announces via our “LCA Expertgroup platform” when a new PCR is created or needs to be updated. You can either actively participate in the creation of the new draft PCR or, once the draft PCR has been published, comment on it within three months. The comments will be considered by the SVA (Committee of Experts) and will be included in the final version.
If you are interested in participating in the development of the PCR provided for public consultation, please contact us at DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com. Please enter your contact details and the name of the PCR in which you would like to participate.
Do I have to comment on all PCR drafts?
No, you do not have to. You can only comment on those PCRs for which you have appropriate expertise.
Do I have to have a good knowledge of LCAs and EPDs when I want to participate in the PCR development?
Not necessarily. What is also important is your expert knowledge for the relevant product categories.
What does the committee of experts (SVA) do?
The committee of experts consists of Life Cycle Assessment experts and is responsible for monitoring program operations. Together with a panel of experts, they are involved in the creation as well as approval of the Product Category Rules (PCR). After approval through the SVA, the PCRs can be published on the Kiwa-EE website. The SVA is also responsible for appointing independent verifiers and keeping the program operation up to date by providing information to the program operator on the latest news in the field of EPDs.
What is an EPD verification?
Verification is a confirmation by providing objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled. Verification of an EPD involves a critical review as per specified requirements following ISO 14025 and EN 15804. A verification must be conducted before publishing the EPD. Among further requirements, it is checked for consistency, completeness and compliance with the relevant standards, the PCR and the verification requirements of Kiwa-EE. The result is recorded in a verification report. If the EPD meets the formal and content requirements, the verification decision is positive.
Who are the verifiers? How is the competence and independence of the verifiers ensured?
Verification is carried out by independent verifiers. The verifiers are contracted by the program owner Kiwa-EE. Verifiers must meet the qualification requirements of ISO 14025 as well as the competence requirements of Kiwa-EE for recognition. The verification of the qualification and recognition decision of the independent verifiers is made by the expert committee (SVA) of the EPD program Kiwa-EE. The appointed verifier then becomes part of the verified pool of verifiers. Before the beginning of each verification, the verifier must confirm that there is no conflict of interest.
What is the Kiwa LCA Expertgroup?
Together with the committee of experts, the Kiwa LCA Expertgroup is involved in the creation and approval of the Product Category Rules (PCR). The LCA Expertgroup consists of interested parties such as users, associations, manufacturers, and scientific institutions.
How can I participate in the Kiwa LCA Expertgroup?
If interested in contributing to the development of the PCR provided for public consultation, contact us at DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com. Please include your contact information and area of expertise/industry. Members can also contribute to individual PCRs only.
How to create an EPD and verify it?
EPDs are being created with so-called LCA software and databases. The Kiwa-EE EPD program is independent of LCA software. Different LCA software can be used for the calculation of EPDs within the Kiwa-EE program. It is essential that the background databases are used to fulfil the requirements of ISO 14025 and EN 15804. The data calculated with LCA software must also meet the requirements of ISO 14025, EN 15804 and the applied PCR. The procedure and the basis of the calculation must be comprehensibly documented and made available in an EPD project report for the verification process. During the verification, the EPD project report and the EPD are checked according to the Kiwa-EE requirements. All Kiwa-EE requirements are stated in the Kiwa-EE verification checklist.
What costs can be expected for the verification and publication of an EPD via Kiwa-EE?
The verification and publication costs of an EPD The costs depend on various parameters. Relevant parameters for determining the costs are the complexity of the product, the product group as well as the number of EPDs to be verified. Please contact us via DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com for more information about the verification and publication of your EPDs.