EPDs are crucial for understanding the environmental impact of building materials, much like nutrition labels for food. However, the landscape of EPD standards is complex and it confuses users with the various standards. Below we briefly summarise their characteristics and nuances.
EPD+ILCD
EPD+ILCD integrates the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook which was developed by the European Commission. It underscores the quality and rigour of LCA on which the EPDs are based. While primarily used in Europe, its methodology is applicable across various regions construction industry.
OpenEPD
OpenEPD is a relatively new approach designed to provide an open and transparent system for EPD. It focuses on simplifying the accessibility and comparability of EPDs to help people understand it better. Its features include easier integration into digital tools and real-time sustainability assessments.
ISO 22057:2022
ISO 22057:2022 is focused on buildings and civil engineering works and specialises in creating EPD data templates within BIM. On top of carbon footprint, it incorporates a broad range of environmental impacts for use in BIM which enables a more comprehensive environmental assessment of construction projects.
Despite the existing various standards, the emergence of generative AI makes it possible to extract environmental impact data with a unified model. At Low Carbon Materials Hub, we use custom-trained AI to streamline the digitisation of EPD data for hundreds of thousands of construction materials. By providing Australia's first interactive EPD data platform, we aim to facilitate more informed decisions by designers and engineers and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.