To encourage availability of robust and comparable data on the impacts of construction products through the provision of EPD.

• Improve the accuracy of building life cycle assessment (LCA).
• Improve the availability if robust and comparable data for designers and specifiers to aid construction product selection and specification.
• Increase the consistency in the information requested from manufacturers.
• Increase the uptake of EPD by construction product manufacturers.
• Increase the accuracy and comparability of building level LCA so helping to reduce the overall life cycle impacts arising from the building.

A variety of construction product environmental claims are offered by manufacturers, other industry sources and in guidance, but the results presented are often inconsistent and therefore not suitable for making comparisons. In addition, even comparable information is difficult for a non-specialist to understand. Such information will often be biased towards presenting the benefits of a construction product and avoid or reduce the emphasis on negative impacts. This risks designers, clients and constructors being misled by the information provided, leading to incorrect decisions being taken that could result in increased environmental impacts. As a result, available information can often be misleading to designers and specifiers.

Specifiers can make better informed decisions using comparable EPD and generic LCA data in a recognised building LCA tool (see Mat 01 Environmental impacts from construction products - Building life cycle assessment (LCA)), that presents results at the building level and over the life cycle of the building.

Increasing numbers of EPD are being produced by construction product manufacturers. However, many construction products do not have an EPD, meaning generic LCA data must be used when carrying out a building LCA. While helpful in making basic construction product choices at the early design stage, this does not assist in specifying lower impact construction products during detailed design and construction stages. Further accuracy can be gained when carrying out LCA or specifying construction products by using EPD specific to a manufacturer’s product range or, better still, the specific construction product.