Step one:
A forum of experts and manufacturers for a specific product group is set up and a draft document for the PCR (Product Category Rules) is prepared. The product is defined and the typical environmental impacts expected are identified. Simultaneously, the public and any other interested parties will be informed and asked for input which will be incorporated into the initial draft. This will be checked for consistency between the experts and manufacturers to ensure it meets all requirements. If there is already a PCR document for the relevant product group, this stage will not be necessary.

Step two:
At this point, the manufacturer provides all the information required for the PCR document together with evidence of the tests completed. The PCR also acts to regulate the test procedures and LCA methodology. Once this is completed and checked, the EPD is created.

Step three:
The EPD is examined by an ‘Expert Committee’ and then each individual EPD is verified by an independent third party to ensure that the information is objective and accurate. The programme holder, IBU (Institut für Bauen und Umwelt e.V.), does not have any influence over the EPD results, but only publishes the declarations that have been accepted from the expert committee. All currently valid EPDs (published by IBU) can be found on the IBU website and in the EPD-Online Tool after you have registered there free of charge.