If you make or supply construction products, you have probably noticed two sets of letters appearing in tenders, supplier questionnaires and industry updates: Environmental Product Disclosure (EPD) and Digital Product Passports (DPP)
They sound similar, but they do very different jobs. Understanding the difference now will save you time and effort later.
What is an EPD?
An EPD is a published document on the environmental impact of a product across its life cycle. That includes the raw materials, the manufacturing process, how the product is used and what happens when it is no longer needed (at the end-of-life).
An independent expert checks every EPD, and it follows an agreed standard. That means a customer can compare your product with another on a like-for-like basis.
For many manufacturers, EPDs have become part of winning work. Architects, contractors and developers often ask for them when they are choosing materials or working towards carbon targets for other frameworks.
Why is a DPP?
A DPP, is a digital record that travels with a product. You access it through something simple, like a QR code on the product or its packaging.
Think of it as a product’s ID card. It can hold information about what the product is made from, how it performs environmentally, and how it can be repaired or recycled.
The idea comes from new EU regulations. They are being introduced in stages, starting with some product types and moving on to others, including construction products.
What is the difference?
An EPD answers one question in depth: what is the environmental impact of this product? It is usually a document or a database entry.
A DPP covers a wider range of information and is designed to be read by systems as well as people. It brings together details that are often scattered across spreadsheets, certificates and emails.
Here is an example. A contractor scans the code on a delivery of steel. The passport shows what it is made from, where it came from and its carbon footprint, with the EPD data sitting inside it. Later on, a recycler can use the same record to see what can be recovered.
How do they fit together?
The simplest way to picture it is that the EPD is the proof and the DPP is the place it lives.
The EU is not planning to replace EPDs with passports. Instead, verified EPD data is expected to feed into them. For construction products, the new rules point to the same standard that EPDs already follow.
This is encouraging if you already have EPDs. The work you’ve done is a solid base to build on, and you will not be starting from scratch.
Why does this matter if you are based in the UK?
If you sell products into the EU, these rules are likely to affect you, wherever you are based. Your customers may start asking for passport data as the rules take hold.
The UK government is also looking at its own approach, so this direction of travel looks set to continue.
Many businesses are still getting ready, but there is a knowledge gap here – only 16% of surveyed UK managers and retail executives feel fully prepared for the upcoming requirements. Starting early puts you in a strong position.
The details are still taking shape
The exact requirements for construction products have not been finalised. Some of the finer points may change over the coming months.
That is a reason to prepare steadily rather than wait. The basics are already clear, and they are things you can start on today.
Four steps you can take now
- Check your EPDs. Make sure your main products have one, and that it follows the current standard.
- Gather your product information. Bring details on materials, suppliers and recycling together
- Talk to your suppliers. Your passport will only be as strong as the information they give you.
- Keep an eye on updates. Watch for news on the rules for your product type, and check which ones apply to you.
The takeaway
EPDs and DPPs overlap in certain aspects. The EPD gives you verified evidence, and the DPP helps you share it with the people who need it.
If you already have strong EPDs, you are well placed for what comes next. If you are not sure where to start, we are running a free-to-attend webinar on the 11th November, on DPPs. We will be explaining everything you need to know to get a head start.
Register here! Can’t make the webinar? Get in touch.