Environmental Communication and Marketing Three types of Environmental Product Declarations Type I: Ecolabels (EU Flower) Type II: Self declarations by companies Type III: Independent declarations Type III regulated through ISO 14025 Technical Guideline

Environmental Product Declarations Type III The system consists of A general methodology based on LCA and ISO 14040-43, but with less options for Product Specific Rules for each type of applications A certification system with independent review of the LCA and EPD A communication format Registration and distribution on internet

Important principles The system should be additive along the value chain The EPD Type III should be easily recognised in the market and easy to compare between products (common format/product specific rules) An EPD approved in one country should automatically be valid in all other countries

Status internationally for EPD development ISO Technical Guideline 14025 approved in July 1999 Most developed systems in Sweden and the Nordic countries, Canada, Japan and Korea Global Network initiated in 1999 Nordic project for development of a common system initiated in 1999 System available for certification in the Nordic countries

Misuse of EPD systems ? Presentation of EPD by third party institution with low involvement from producers Comparisons of competing solutions without external independent review Misinterpreting the value of EPDs High uncertainty in non-qualified data Important life cycle stages are not included