The question of why is it different brings one major answer to mind: LCA. Most certifications programs out there use attributes that are selected based on values or some documentation that there is an identified issue within a given product category. They can be singular in focus or cover so much that it becomes confusing. Some are “lowest common denominator” in approach and others are the so high that only the best of the best can achieve them.

Where the EPD is different is that, at its core, it doesn’t utilize someone’s or a group’s values or process to determine which criteria form the standard. The EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment, which takes into account the full range of impacts from cradle-to-grave/cradle. This eliminates the “did I miss an impact or attribute” type of question. The impacts are there. It also includes “additional environmental aspects” as are identified within the PCR in order to address issues such as Toxicity or Human Health that may not be covered by the LCA.

Bottom line, if your looking to move out of an age where there are hidden agendas and a complete lack of information, EPDs are going to help. The one caution I would note here is that an EPD doesn’t itself designate a product as “good”. It provides the information for the user to make that determination based off of the situation, preferences or values of the purchasing organization.

In the interests of full disclosure, The Green Standard is the program operator of the only US EPD program. We are also working on a collaborative effort with a formal Type I ecolabel to combine it with our Type III to provide the best of both worlds… :)

stay tuned…

Is the EPD certification the answer we’ve been looking for? The basis of the certification looks promising, but I’d love to see more details, such as if a company (or product) is judged only compared to others in its class or to its potential. (I.e. what has more value, an industry leader in sustainability that in fact isn’t doing all that much or a mid-range one that is actually doing more?)

So the question becomes: what makes EPD’s different than the countless other certifications out there? I’m not even talking about the details of the certification here, but assuming it is has a better methodology, what is it doing differently to come to the fore and become the standard, something that every certification body was and is intending to do?

I’m looking forward to hearing more about this, keep us posted!