How to include circular aspects in an EPD for furniture
A Type III Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, contains verified information on the environmental impact of the product, which can be used as a basis in evaluation processes or to ensure requirements. At present, circular aspects are rarely highlighted in an EPD, but some aspects can be identified.
The following guidance aims to help EPD owners highlight the circular aspects of their product, as well as to help buyers identify and interpret the circular information that can be expected in a furniture EPD.
Terminology Clarifications
Please note that terms and expressions may vary between different program operators. The terms used in this text are from the largest program operators.
EPD | An EPD is a standardized form of environmental impact reporting that is third-party verified and published with a program operator. |
Program Operator | For an EPD to be valid, it must be published by a program operator. Their role is to establish rules and guidelines for EPDs in their system at a product-specific level and to ensure the EPD process is correctly followed. |
GPI | General Programme Instruction. A program-specific instruction manual that is required for EPD programs to be recognized as an EPD program operator. |
PCR | Product Category Rules. Product-specific rules established by the program operator that must be followed when creating an EPD. |
c-PCR/PCR part B | Supplementary PCR used in conjunction with a “main PCR” or “PCR part A.” |
Module | Refers to different phases in the life cycle, such as raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use phase, or when the product at the end of its life is disposed of or recycled. |
RSL | Reference Service Life. Note that this term is used differently by various program operators. In some cases, RSL refers to the reference service life of a specific product and is used when an EPD uses a so-called functional unit defined by the PCR. In other cases, RSL refers to the actual lifespan of a product, as determined by the manufacturer. The relationship between these two types of lifespan is described in the following example. |
If a PCR has set the reference service life for a chair at 5 years, a manufacturer could create an EPD for a chair with an actual lifespan of 10 years. Since the chair's lifespan is twice as long as the reference service life, only half of the manufacturer's chair is needed to meet the reference service life for the functional unit. This can result in reduced LCA outcomes due to the longer lifespan. |