What is WEPD®?
A Worldwide Environmental Product declaration, Climate Declaration (EPD) is an independently verified and registered declaration document that communicates transparent and comparable data and other relevant environmental information on the universal environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. This declaration is prepared by the manufacturer and is verified by an independent and impartial notified body or verifier.
The Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration or Climate Declaration has multiple datasets specifically to meet the requirements specified in the relevant standards: Climate Conditions, resource consumption of energy, water and renewable resources, and emissions to air, water and soil data are collected and audited using multiple environmental impacts, including contributions to climate change (carbon footprint), air, water and soil pollution and resource depletion, evaluated and verified. These verified statements are recorded on the WEPD® portal for transparent and accurate publication to the public.
The relevant standard for Worldwide Environmental Product Declarations is the TS ISO 14025 standard, referred to as “Type III Environmental Declarations”. The Type III Environmental Declaration, WEPD® EPD, is created and recorded in different countries around the world and by practitioners within the framework of a program.
WEPD® records and declarations are gaining serious momentum in the globalizing world and trade networks, especially in response to programs to combat climate change, and are spreading day by day. Especially with different applications such as carbon footprint and water footprint, all traceability is provided within the framework of the entire life cycle of the products, and the production sector and all environmental impacts and other factors continue on their way with improvement and defining an environmentally friendly roadmap.
Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration (WEPD®) and WCD Climate Disclosure Certification
The Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration (WEPD®) and the WCD Climate Declaration are also recognized as Type III Environmental Declarations. ISO14025 “Environmental Labeling and Declaration – Type III Environmental Declaration” is an internationally accredited and recognized third-party verification based on Principles and Procedures and is a scientific, comparable and internationally recognized comprehensive declaration of the environmental impacts of products throughout their life cycle.
The purpose of the Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration is to promote the use of life cycle information, to design and manufacture environmentally friendly materials and products; it reflects the long-term commitment of enterprises to improve environmental quality, emphasizes the environmental protection and green characteristics of enterprise products, complies with the national sustainable development strategy, and is recognized as a declaration that voluntarily declares compliance with environmental legislation and standards, enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises within the scope of the commercial life cycle.
Features of the Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration
- Based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Comparability
- Transparency (disclosure of GPI, PCR, EPD files, etc.)
- Volunteer
- Independent verification
- Adaptability / Flexibility
- Stakeholder engagement
Worldwide Environmental Product Declaration WEPD® Requirements
- Improving environmental decision-making processes
- Quantify the environmental performance of businesses
- Encourage green consumption
- Emphasize corporate social responsibility
- Overcome international trade barriers
- Enhance corporate brand image
- ISO 14020 “General Principles of Environmental Labeling and Declaration”
- ISO 14025, Type III Environmental Declaration
- ISO 14040, Life Cycle Assessment – Principles and Procedures
- ISO 14044, Life Cycle Assessment – Requirements and Guidance
- Applicable product categories of the product
WEPD Application, Verification and Registration Process
- The business makes preparations for the infrastructure about its products and categories before the application
- Harmonizes the relevant product category rules with the consultancy process
- Performs LCA research and modeling by Product Categories
- The manufacturer prepares WEPD EPD or WCD declarations based on environmental information
- The notified verification body verifies the manufacturer’s EPD report according to the environmental information of the enterprise
- Phase I and II verification by accredited notified body
- The manufacturer or its consultant applies for WEPD Portal registration
- Registration is agreed for the registration process in which the manufacturer meets the appropriate conditions and published on the WEPD Platform
- Surveillance audits take place (2nd, 3rd and 4th years)
- Renewal of WEPD Declarations and Platform registrations (5th year) is carried out