1. 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 Technical Guideline

2. Environmental Product Declarations Type III
The system consists of
A general methodology based on LCA and ISO , 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

3. 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

4. Status internationally for EPD development
ISO Technical Guideline 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

5. 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