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european-product-declaration-making-sustainability-visible
Basically, any manufacturer can call their own products environmentally friendly. In contrast to supposed environmental seals and certificates, which are used here and there to cheat, the disclosure of all sustainability figures and a balanced comparison with the competition create facts. In Europe, EPDs are to take on this role and enable a transparent comparison of goods through equal measurements and conditions.
What is an EPD?
EPD stands for Environmental Product Declarations and is also known as an environmental product declaration. These are standardised data sets that contain information on the environmental impact of building materials, building components or other products. The declarations play a particularly important role for the construction industry. Emissions in this sector are enormous and should be reduced through comparable indicators, stronger regulation and competition - this requires a level playing field for everyone. Accordingly, the data is based on international standards and is clearly summarised on a few pages. Many companies are still put off EPDs by the effort and costs involved, as they are not yet mandatory. The corresponding building directive is still being negotiated in the EU. However, it will be several years before it becomes mandatory. Nevertheless, EPDs are already playing an important role in the economy.
Why are EPDs so important?
Even before the introduction of the legal obligation, EPDs create a common standard for the construction industry. Instead of voluntary information, building materials or products with an environmental declaration offer precise and comparable data for architects, construction planners and house builders. They are a reliable basis for obtaining fact-based and objective information about the sustainability of products.
Some manufacturers misrepresent the environmental impact of their products by omitting certain areas. For example, a floor covering is presented very positively by not mentioning the C02 emissions caused by disposal or the problematic conditions in the production of the raw materials. EPDs always consider the entire life cycle of a product from the point of manufacture to disposal. A comparison with the data from other EPDs is what makes statements such as "particularly sustainable" or "environmentally friendly" possible in the first place.
In public tenders, EPDs are already helping to make different products comparable in terms of their sustainability, albeit on a voluntary basis. However, looking to the future, the awarding of contracts, subsidies or loans will be increasingly characterised by EPDs. The industry is still in a transitional phase without any obligation. Nevertheless, manufacturers are well advised to address the issue at an early stage and collect the data for a declaration now. Companies that are open and transparent before the obligation arises are in a pioneering position and can credibly talk about their own sustainability and provide evidence of it. Companies that do without EPDs and refuse to provide information are all the more untrustworthy and will have to deal with the task in a few years' time at the latest.
Environmentally friendly declared floor coverings
One of the pioneers in the industry is the material CERAMIN® and the CERAMIN® floor coverings, all of which EPD have received. Our products fulfil the highest environmental standards and have been developed as an alternative to environmentally harmful and unhealthy PVC flooring. The Certifications by the Blue Angel, the Eco-Institute and numerous awards for sustainable design are proof of the seriousness of our commitment to the environment. CERAMIN® is 100 per cent recyclable, as the material is already made from recycled material. For healthy living, we do not use chlorine, PVC or plasticisers in the production process.
Curious now?
We offer a wide range of high-quality, PVC-free floor coverings that are not only guaranteed to last for up to 20 years, but are also low in harmful substances and can be installed without gluing. These floor coverings are an excellent choice if you value sustainability, quality and ease of installation. Discover the diverse collections from CERAMIN® now.
