In the evolving landscape of UK construction, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming more than just a nice-to-have—they’re increasingly a non-negotiable part of doing business. Speaking with a sustainability contact at a mid-tier architectural practice recently, it became clear just how embedded EPDs have become in modern construction workflows. They estimated that roughly 60% of the materials they would consider specifying on a project today have EPDs.

In some cases, the adoption of EPDs is being driven by client mandates. If a client requires that all materials used on their project come with a traceable EPD, the onus is on the supplier to provide one. If they can’t, they may be excluded from the procurement process altogether. For suppliers, this presents a clear incentive: produce an EPD or risk being shut out of potential contracts. Given that the EPD creation process can take anywhere from three to six months, a lack of foresight can cost valuable time and revenue.

Why Architects Need EPDs

The primary reason architects request EPDs is to evaluate the embodied carbon impact of materials. With increasing pressure to design low-carbon buildings, particularly in light of net zero targets and client sustainability goals, architects need reliable, standardised data to make informed decisions. EPDs allow them to compare materials on a like-for-like basis in terms of their environmental performance.

This makes the presence of an EPD not just a green credential, but a critical component in the decision-making matrix that determines which products make it into a final design.

The Business Case for Manufacturers

From the manufacturer’s perspective, the value of having an EPD is becoming more apparent. Possessing a verified EPD gives them a competitive edge, especially when bidding for work on projects where sustainability is a core requirement. More and more, companies without EPDs are finding themselves locked out of preferred supplier lists. The writing is on the wall: if you’re not in the EPD club, you’re not getting invited to the table.

And this isn’t just happening in pockets of the industry. As the regulatory environment tightens and companies edge closer to their Net Zero deadlines, the need for high-quality, accessible, and verifiable environmental data will become ubiquitous.

A Growing Footprint Beyond Construction

EPDs may have started their journey in the realm of building products like insulation, flooring, and roofing materials, but their use is rapidly expanding. Today, they are being used across a wide variety of products and services, even in sectors as seemingly distant as electric vehicles. This expansion highlights their utility as a cross-sectoral tool for proving environmental performance in a structured, scientifically credible way.

One of the key strengths of the EPD framework is its consistency. All EPDs follow the same format and underlying rules, including standardised breakdowns of a product’s life cycle stages. This makes them ideal for feeding into larger life cycle assessments (LCAs) of entire buildings or infrastructure projects. The interoperability of EPD data ensures it can be easily integrated into digital models, aiding both regulatory compliance and voluntary reporting.

Regulatory Momentum in Europe

The regulatory landscape is also pushing in one direction: towards greater transparency and accountability. Dr. Jane Anderson, co-author of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment professional standard and a leading expert at ConstructionLCA, offers a glimpse into what’s coming.

“In Europe, it will become mandatory to produce verified, digitised EPD data for products covered by either the Construction Products Regulations or the Eco Design Regulations,” she says. “This will start in the next couple of years with steel and concrete, and then continue through to around 2040.”

The prioritisation of high-impact materials like steel and concrete makes sense. These materials have some of the highest embodied carbon profiles in construction. By focusing on them first, regulators hope to make the biggest dent in overall emissions. But the roadmap doesn’t stop there. According to Anderson, sectors can also fast-track EPD requirements based on their own industry goals or regulatory pressures.

Moreover, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is set to further accelerate EPD uptake. By 2028, all large buildings in EU member states will be required to assess embodied carbon. By 2030, this will extend to all new buildings. This shift will create a “massive pull for EPD data,” Anderson predicts.

The UK Context: Alignment or Divergence?

While the UK is no longer an EU member state, it often mirrors EU policy, especially in areas like sustainability where industry alignment is beneficial. For UK manufacturers and suppliers wanting to do business in Europe, compliance with these upcoming regulations will be non-negotiable. Therefore, investing in EPDs now is not just future-proofing against UK policy—it’s also securing market access in the EU.

In the UK, voluntary frameworks like the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment and LETI’s embodied carbon benchmarks are becoming more widely adopted. These initiatives frequently cite EPDs as the preferred data source for product-level carbon information. So while the regulatory hammer may not yet have dropped, the direction of travel is unmistakable.

Final Thoughts: A Strategic Necessity

The increasing use of EPDs in UK construction is both a symptom and a cause of deeper shifts in how the industry operates. No longer seen as just another checkbox, EPDs are becoming essential tools for reducing emissions, winning work, and staying compliant.

For architects, EPDs are enabling more precise and impactful design decisions. For manufacturers, they are an increasingly vital ticket into the procurement conversation. And for the industry at large, they represent a practical way to quantify, communicate, and ultimately reduce environmental impact.

As Net Zero targets draw closer and regulation becomes more ambitious, the question is no longer whether you can afford to produce EPDs, but whether you can afford not to.

If you would like to learn about EPDs further or get a quote from our expert sustainability consultants then get in touch here.