As sustainability becomes an increasingly critical focus for architects and designers, the importance of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in guiding the selection of products cannot be overstated. In the bathroom and washroom sector, EPDs are gaining traction as essential tools to meet growing sustainability demands and regulatory requirements. However, the journey towards the widespread adoption and the effective use of EPDs is still faced with a range of challenges that need addressing to unlock their full potential.
The growing importance of EPDs in the bathroom and washroom sector
EPDs provide architects and designers with key metrics on bathroom and washroom products, such as embodied carbon, water consumption, and energy usage, which are vital for meeting sustainability targets and achieving environmental certifications like LEED and BREEAM.
As standards become more stringent, architects and designers are turning to EPDs to make informed decisions about bathroom and washroom products.
For manufacturers, this change is driven by stricter regulations, such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the UK’s net-zero emissions goal. These regulations push companies to adopt EPDs to track and reduce carbon emissions and meet growing sustainability requirements.
How is EPD data being used on building projects?
EPDs are increasingly essential tools for architects and designers committed to sustainability in building projects. Traditionally this has been seen as more of a tick-box activity, however as EPDs become more standardised and interlinked with digital processes, this is changing.
Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are a powerful tool for integrating EPD data early in the planning process. By presenting critical metrics such as GWP and water depletion potential in clear, easily digestible tables, they streamline the comparison process for architects and designers. This clarity empowers them to make more informed choices, ensuring that they have all the knowledge needed to select the products with the least environmental impact.
EPDs also support the design of water-efficient systems, with many bathroom products now including water usage data. By selecting low-water-consumption fixtures, architects can reduce a building’s water demand, aiding in achieving sustainability certifications like LEED or BREEAM.
An EPD includes several key indicators that help assess a product’s environmental impact, such as GWP, Ozone Depletion Potential, Acidification Potential, and Eutrophication Potential. It also covers the depletion of Non-Fossil Resources, Fossil Resources, and the potential for Water Deprivation. We’re seeing these indicators integrated more and more frequently alongside BIM, which can further enhance the process, allowing professionals to make more sustainable choices in product selection.
The barriers to EPD adoption for manufacturers
While the advantages of EPDs are clear, the path to creating and utilising them is not without its hurdles. For many bathroom and washroom manufacturers, the cost of producing comprehensive EPDs can be prohibitive. These declarations require rigorous Life Cycle Assessments, third-party certifications, and considerable investment in data collection and analysis. As a result, many manufacturers find themselves unable to develop full EPDs for their products, which can limit architects’ and designers’ options when selecting the most suitable, sustainable products for their projects.
The lack of a standardised process for generating EPDs exacerbates the problem. When manufacturers do create EPDs, there is often no consistent methodology for the analysis of products. This inconsistency means that when EPDs are available, they can vary widely in terms of accuracy, scope, and comparability. For example, Ideal Standard produces ‘cradle-to-grave’ EPDs, meaning they cover the entire life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to its disposal, offering a comprehensive view of a product’s environmental impact. Meanwhile, some manufacturers may opt for cradle-to-gate EPDs, which only cover the manufacturing process and the harvesting of raw materials. In comparison, Ideal Standard’s EPDs include additional metrics like water consumption, providing a more holistic understanding of sustainability. This helps consumers and professionals make informed, eco-conscious choices by comparing various environmental factors across products.
Addressing the challenges in EPD adoption
To overcome these challenges, collaboration and innovation within the industry are essential. Firstly, there is a need for a more standardised framework for creating EPDs that ensures consistency in the data presented. This would enable architects and designers to compare products more easily, making it simpler to choose the best products for a sustainable building project. A unified approach to data presentation could also help streamline the process of accessing and interpreting EPDs, making them more user-friendly.
Moreover, manufacturers must take the leap and invest in sustainability projects and certifications, including EPDs. For smaller manufacturers, partnering with larger, more resourceful players in the sector could provide the necessary support to navigate the complexities of EPD creation. Manufacturers in the UK can also access sustainability support from the Government. Initiatives such as the Climate Change Levy (CCL) and Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) provide financial incentives for businesses investing in sustainability projects, encouraging the adoption of EPDs as proof points of progress. There’s scope for the expansion of these programmes to encourage more manufacturers to adopt sustainable practices and make the process more financially viable.
The future of EPDs: a more sustainable path forward
The future of EPDs is closely tied to the ongoing push for sustainability in the construction industry. As regulations become stricter, manufacturers are, and should continue to, use EPDs to help meet the demands for transparency and accountability in emissions. These declarations not only enable companies to track their environmental impact but also provide decision makers with vital data that can be key to reducing carbon footprints across the industry and ensuring a more sustainable path forward.
Anil Madan, Non-Residential Marketing Manager at Ideal Standard UK and Armitage Shanks
To find out more about Ideal Standard’s sustainability offering, visit: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/about-us/sustainability