CTEC EPD PO
CTEC EPD PO is a Bulgarian program operator with developed clear, consistent, and transparent rules for the preparation, verification, and registration of Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), in accordance with ISO 14025.
We support businesses in the construction sector in achieving sustainable development goals through the processes related to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
A successful business model requires new levels of environmental sustainability, driven by increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and the need to establish responsible environmental practices.
The services we provide are aimed at stakeholders who want to reduce adverse environmental impacts in the construction sector and need objective and transparent information on the sustainability of construction products.
We have many years of experience in testing, evaluating and certifying construction products, machinery, electrical equipment and devices.
Our team brings together highly qualified experts, verifiers and laboratory specialists.
Verifiers who have proven themselves in their field can join our team and participate in our program.
What is an environmental product declaration (EPD)?
Environmental protection is a key issue and is systematically considered in global policies. Environmental product declarations - EPDs which complement the technical characteristics of products, are voluntary, transparent and well-established way to present verified environmental information based on life cycle assessment (LCA) regarding the environmental impact of a product or product group. They are based on international standards in accordance with ISO 14040 and the applicable Product Category Rules (PCR). EPDs help building contractors, builders, architects and planners to assess the environmental performance of a building or other construction works.
The objectives of EPDs are to:
- Provide transparent, reliable, and comparable environmental information about products, based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA);
- Facilitate the comparison of products using real environmental performance indicators rather than marketing claims (while EPDs are not intended for direct comparative assertions);
- Support manufacturers, designers, and investors in making informed and sustainable decisions;
- Contribute to sustainable construction and compliance with the requirements of green building certification systems (LEED, BREEAM, etc.);
- Increase the environmental responsibility of manufacturers and encourage the implementation of measures to reduce environmental impact.
Why choose us to publish your EPDs?
With many years of experience and a well-established reputation, our organization is a notified body by the European Commission for the assessment of construction products - a recognition that testifies to the high level of technical competence of our team. Our scope includes a wide range of construction products, which allows us to offer a professional approach to each declaration.
As an active member of the International Association for Sustainability in Construction ECO Platform, we are part of a global network of organizations committed to promoting transparency, environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in the construction sector. This gives us access to the latest methodologies and good practices that we apply in the assessment and publication of EPDs.
Choosing a program operator is crucial to building trust in your environmental product declarations. By publishing your EPDs with us, you can be confident that they will be processed by a team with proven expertise, international recognition and a commitment to sustainable development.
Our services:
- Independent third-party EPD verification process according to ISO 14025, EN 15804+A2 and other relevant standards and methodology guidelines, developed for products incorporated into buildings and construction works;
- Registering and publishing an EPD in the CTEC EPD PO Programme.
Client obligations and steps in development of an EPD
- Get familiar with CTEC EPD GPI
- Select PCR
- Conduct LCA study based on PCR – The LCA may be performed by the applicant itself (in-house) or with the help of a consultant with expertise in LCA and EPDs, such as:
- Compile data in EPD reporting format
- Filled out an application form
CTEC EPD PO obligations:
- Review of the application form, offering and contracting the verification service – CTEC EPD PO carries out review of the application in a proportionate manner, avoiding unnecessary burdens on economic operators;
- Independent EPD verification of provided LCA and EPD information as well as tools used. Verification may be organised either as an ‘at desk’ or ‘on-site’ exercise, or as a mix of the two;
- Approving the verified EPD – the approving is valid for 5 years;
- Registration of the approved and verified EPD in the CTEC EPD PO Programme;
- Publication of the EPD at the website
CTEC EPD programme provides certainty to both the EPD Owner (Client) and the market that the declaration has been duly prepared and has been verified by an independent third party and published.
The main objective of the CTEC EPD Programme is to support organizations in improving their environmental performance by enabling them to transparently communicate quantified environmental information on the life cycle of their products in a credible, comparable, and understandable way.
