EPD Tools for Scalable and Quality-Assured EPD Production
When the need shifts from individual Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to covering numerous products, variants and recurring updates, a different approach is required. Miljögiraff develops customised, pre-verified EPD tools that enable the reuse of quality-assured data, LCA models and methodologies across a wider range of products.
The result is a scalable EPD process that enables you to generate product-specific environmental data faster, without compromising on quality or needing to build your own in-house team of LCA specialists.
From Individual EPDs to a Scalable Approach
Developing your first EPD is one thing. Managing tens or hundreds of products and variants is another. A traditional EPD generator often relies on a predefined process for entering data and generating results. Our approach starts from a different perspective: your products, your production processes and the data you already have. We then build the LCA logic and structure needed to reuse data, models and methodologies as your EPD work scales up.
Hear Mats from Elitfönster explain the value of using an EPD tool.
An EPD Tool Built Around Your Data and Operations
Product data, materials, processes, supplier data and production data are structured and linked to a quality-assured LCA model. Data can, for example, be sourced from bills of materials (BOMs), ERP/PIM systems, production systems or structured files.
Once the structure is in place, the same model can be reused for new products and variants.
This reduces the workload for each new EPD, improves traceability, simplifies updates and makes environmental data available for use across more areas of your organisation.
Från produktionsdata till produktspecifika EPD:er – så skalar Ovako upp med Miljögiraffs expertis
Together with Ovako and digitalisation partner Astrada, Miljögiraff has contributed to the development of a tailored EPD tool that can generate product-specific environmental data in just a few minutes.
We Scale LCA Expertise, Not Just Calculations
Technology is only part of the solution. Miljögiraff identifies what matters from a methodological perspective, develops the right model structure and ensures that calculations, data and documentation meet the required quality standards. We combine LCA expertise, data structuring and technology.
You don’t need to become LCA experts yourselves. Instead, you can take greater ownership of your environmental data while our LCA specialists remain responsible for methodology, quality assurance and ongoing maintenance.
Technology scales expert work – it does not replace experience or expert judgement.
Here’s how Suzana Pilipovic at Elitfönster describes what it’s like to work with a fully pre-verified EPD tool in practice:
All our core data is stored in the allocation file. We feed that data into the tool, which then performs the calculations. Once the calculations are complete, the results are sent to the International EPD System for publication. […] We’ve also made it possible for our sales and purchasing teams to use the tool as part of their day-to-day processes.”
When Is a Pre-Verified EPD Tool the Right Solution?
A pre-verified EPD tool is particularly relevant when you have:
- Many products or configurable product variants
- Recurring materials and processes
- A need to update EPDs regularly
- Customers requesting product-specific climate data
The same climate data can also be used for product development, procurement, customer communication and sustainability reporting.
If you only need one or a few EPDs, a traditional EPD project may be a simpler solution.
From EPDs to a Reusable Environmental Data Structure
We don’t see EPDs as the end goal. The data and models developed can become valuable long-term assets, supporting more products, future EPDs, product development, procurement, customer communication and reporting.
Products, materials, background data and Product Category Rules (PCRs) change over time. That’s why Miljögiraff can continue to maintain and update the LCA model, data logic and methodology after the tool has been implemented.
You get more than just a tool. You get a way of working that can evolve and scale alongside your organisation.
Want to Move from a Few EPDs to a Scalable EPD Process?
We start by understanding your product portfolio, product data and what you need to achieve. Together, we then determine whether the next step is a traditional EPD, an improved data structure, a pre-verified EPD tool or a more automated solution.
Get in touch with Henrik directly at henrikpalokangas@miljogiraff.se, or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you!
