EPD Danmark publishes new programme instruktions

As part of the continued development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), EPD Danmark is now publishing a new version of its General Programme Instructions (GPI) as well as brand new Technical Rules and Guidelines. These documents will ensure that Danish companies and stakeholders in the construction industry have the best framework for developing, verifying, and using EPDs in accordance with international standards and requirements.

Why New Documents?

The new documents are the result of a thorough review and update of EPD Danmark's program to strengthen the structures that ensure the quality assurance of EPDs, clarify the division of roles in the work, and create transparency for all stakeholders in the process.

In addition, the new 'Technical Rules and Guidelines' are published, reflecting the latest requirements from the major harmonization efforts we see in the industry, e.g., through international standards, ECO Platform, and dialogue with other EPD programmes. In this way, we can ensure that consultants, verifiers, and manufacturers have a common starting point when they step into their respective roles in EPD development.

The aim is to make working with EPDs even more transparent, efficient, and harmonized across European EPD programmes.

"We have listened to the industry and created an updated system that both makes it easier to create EPDs and ensures that they meet the latest requirements. The new technical rules also provide a clear overview of how to handle calculations and data to ensure that EPDs are robust and credible, while following the latest harmonization initiatives," says Andrea Agerbo Hermansen, EPD Danmark.

Who Should Use the Documents?

The new documents are relevant for everyone working with environmental product declarations in the construction industry, with a focus on the stakeholders involved in the design of EPDs. This means manufacturers and LCA consultants, as well as verifiers affiliated with EPD Danmark.

For manufacturers and LCA consultants, the new guidelines provide a better basis for documenting the environmental footprint of products and achieving competitive advantages in a market where documentation requirements are constantly increasing.

For verifiers, the updated rules and templates ensure that working with EPDs becomes more consistent and efficient, and that they can more easily point to the 'paragraph' they believe has not been complied with when they reject a calculation.

When do the new rules take effect?

The new documents take effect on April 1, 2025. There is a transition period of 6 months where the Technical Rules and Guidelines coexist with previous guidance material. From October 1, 2025, it will be mandatory to follow the new guidelines.

Read More and Get Started

The new program instructions and technical rules can be found here. If you have questions or need help getting started, please contact the EPD Denmark secretariat at epd-dk@dti.dk or phone +45 7220 2023.