Overview
EN ISO 14025:2026 - Environmental statements and programmes for products – Environmental product declarations (EPDs) is an internationally recognized standard published by CEN and ISO. This standard defines the principles, requirements, and guidance for the development and communication of environmental product declarations (EPDs) and EPD programmes. EPDs are transparent, independently verified documents providing quantified information on the environmental impacts of products throughout their life cycles, supporting decision-making for organizations, consumers, and stakeholders focused on sustainable development.
EN ISO 14025:2026 closely aligns with related standards, including ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, which establish foundational methodologies for life cycle assessment (LCA). The standard aims to harmonize EPD frameworks globally, fostering credibility, consistency, and comparability in environmental claims for products and materials across markets, sectors, and geographies.
Key Topics
- EPD Programme Structure: Outlines roles, responsibilities, and procedures regarding programme operators, general programme instructions, interested party involvement, and EPD publication.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Specifies the application of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 to collect and interpret data on inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts through a product’s life cycle.
- Product Category Rules (PCRs): Provides direction for developing and maintaining PCRs, which standardize how EPDs are created within specific product groups.
- EPD Content and Communication: Details requirements for data quality, reporting, format, and clear communication of EPDs to the intended audience. Emphasizes transparency, clarity, and accuracy.
- Verification and Review: Establishes requirements for independent verification of EPD data and procedures to ensure the integrity and reliability of published declarations, including third-party review for business-to-consumer EPDs.
- Harmonization and Mutual Recognition: Encourages alignment across EPD programmes and PCRs to promote comparability and mutual recognition, referencing ISO/TS 14027 and ISO/TS 14029.
- Sustainability-Related Information: Allows for reporting additional social and economic information relevant to sustainable development while clarifying that the standard does not address social or economic indicators as core LCA components.
Applications
EN ISO 14025:2026 is a valuable tool for a wide range of sectors and stakeholders:
- Manufacturers and Product Suppliers: Enables the creation and publication of EPDs for their products, building trust and credibility through independent verification and transparent reporting.
- Green Procurement and Supply Chains: Assists procurement professionals, buyers, and sustainability managers in assessing and comparing the environmental performance of products and suppliers, supporting environmentally responsible purchasing.
- Regulatory and Voluntary Market Access: Helps organizations meet eco-labelling, regulatory, or voluntary scheme requirements related to product environmental claims and declarations.
- Sustainable Construction and Manufacturing: Supports project planners, architects, and engineers in selecting materials or components aligned with environmental targets and certifications, such as LEED or BREEAM.
- Brand Values and Market Differentiation: Demonstrates commitment to sustainability, attracting eco-conscious buyers and supporting organizational environmental strategies.
- Sector Associations and EPD Operators: Provides a harmonized framework for developing broad or sector-specific EPD schemes and product category rules, ensuring consistency and comparability across diverse product groups.
Related Standards
EN ISO 14025:2026 is part of the wider ISO 14020 family – the international framework for environmental statements and labeling. Key related standards include:
- ISO 14020: Principles and general requirements for all forms of environmental statements.
- ISO 14021: Self-declared environmental claims.
- ISO 14024: Environmental labels (ecolabels, type I).
- ISO 14026: Environmental footprint communications.
- ISO 14040 & ISO 14044: Life cycle assessment principles, framework, and guidelines.
- ISO/TS 14027: Guidance for developing product category rules (PCRs).
- ISO/TS 14029: Guidance for mutual recognition of EPDs and communication programmes.
EN ISO 14025:2026 serves as a cornerstone for credible, harmonized communication of product environmental performance, benefiting manufacturers, regulators, and purchasers worldwide aiming for sustainability and transparency in the marketplace.