DIN Media Standards Solutions

Developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) – with the DIN EPD programme

Companies are increasingly faced with the task of documenting the environmental impact of their products and services in a transparent, credible and comparable manner – for example for international tenders, due to regulatory requirements or supply‑chain requests.

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14025 is based on a standardized Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and provides reliable environmental information for a product.

The DIN EPD programme provides comprehensive support to manufacturers, producers and associations in the development, review and publication of verified EPDs and Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs).

Our aim is to increase the use and acceptance of EPDs and to make statements on environmental impacts more internationally comparable.

Why EPDs are becoming increasingly important for companies

Market access and ability to tender: EPDs make it easier to participate in national and international tenders (EU, USA, China).
Preparation for regulatory requirements: EPDs help companies to meet statutory, voluntary and contractual environmental requirements on national and international markets.
Transparency and credibility: EPDs document the environmental performance of your products in a manner that is comprehensible for customers, partners and the public sector. This makes purchasing and procurement decisions transparent and comparable.

Your benefits from the DIN EPD programme


Full-service approach From developing a DIN PCR to EPD development and verification	International acceptance EPDs in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 are recognized worldwide	EPDs for new industries Cross-sector, beyond traditional construction products	Independent verification EPDs in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 are recognized worldwide	Standards compliance Clear processes and up-to-date Programme instructions for reliable application

Parts of the DIN EPD programme: PCR, EPD and PCF

The DIN EPD programme comprises central building blocks for the development, verification and publication of standardized environmental information. This includes:

Product Category Rules (PCRs) as a methodological basis
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to document environmental impacts
Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) to assess greenhouse gas emissions

The individual components are systematically interlinked within the DIN EPD programme and support companies in developing comparable environmental information.

Product Category Rule (PCR)

A PCR defines the methodological requirements for the development of an Environmental Product Declaration within a product category. Among other things, it specifies system boundaries, calculation methods, data requirements and environmental indicators, and lays the foundations for a comparable and standardized EPD.

Within the DIN EPD programme, approved PCRs are used, and new DIN Product Category Rules (DIN PCRs) are developed and published as part of structured procedures:

DIN Product Category Rule (DIN PCR)

A DIN Product Category Rule (DIN PCR) is a PCR developed and approved within the DIN EPD programme. It sets out the methodological requirements for the development of Environmental Product Declarations within a product category and lays the foundations for comparable and standardized results.

Within the DIN EPD programme, DIN supports companies both in applying an existing approved PCR and in developing a new DIN PCR.

Start the DIN PCR process

Development and application

The development of a DIN PCR takes place as part of a structured process within the DIN EPD programme. In this process, the methodological requirements for a product category are agreed jointly and documented.

The scope of services includes, among other things:

initiation and coordination of the DIN PCR project
support during the consortium process involving at least three organizations
moderation of technical discussions and regular meetings
provision of the DIN PCR template
technical support during the drafting process

The aim is to establish a robust basis for the subsequent development and verification of an EPD.

Publication and quality assurance

Every DIN PCR is technically reviewed as part of a transparent review process. This ensures that the requirements set out in the Programme instructions and relevant standards are met.

The process includes, in particular:

open consultation with relevant stakeholders
technical verification by an independent panel of experts
assessment of methodological consistency and comparability
documentation and approval of the final DIN PCR

After successful verification, the DIN PCR is published in the DIN Media webshop and made permanently available within the DIN EPD programme.

Price range

DIN PCR from EUR 4,330 per organization (with three participating organizations)
Total project costs from EUR 12,990

A DIN PCR is developed via a consortium process involving at least three participating organizations. As the number of participating organizations increases, the share of the costs borne by each organization decreases accordingly.

The actual effort involved depends on the complexity and scope of the relevant product category.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

An EPD documents the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle in a standardized format. It is based on verified Life Cycle Assessment data and is developed in accordance with international standards such as DIN EN ISO 14025. Uniform methodological rules ensure that environmental information within a product category is presented in a comparable and transparent way.

Overview of EPDs

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

The DIN EPD programme supports companies in the development, verification and publication of an Environmental Product Declaration for products and services.

An EPD is developed on the basis of an approved PCR and verified in accordance with the requirements of relevant international standards.

Start the EPD process

Scope of Services

The services include the preparation, independent verification, and publication of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14025, based on a valid PCR and the DIN EPD Program Guidelines.

The scope of services includes, among other things:

Structured support in preparing the EPD documentation
Review of formal requirements and program criteria
Engagement of an independent verification body
Initial publication and hosting of the EPD in the DIN EPD Program for a period of one year
Provision of a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) based on your EPD (at no additional cost)

The specific scope of work depends primarily on product complexity and data availability.

Publication and Hosting

Following successful verification, the EPD is published in the DIN EPD Program and made available through the DIN Media Webshop and the DIN EPD Program collection.

The services include:

Hosting of the EPD within the program
Editorial updates without re-verification (e.g., formal adjustments)
Re-verification in the event of significant changes to the content
Re-publication following a successful update

The requirements for updates are based on the program-specific regulations and the underlying standards.

Price range

EPD starting at 3,890 EUR

The scope of services includes process management, independent verification, and publication in the DIN EPD program.

The actual cost depends, among other factors, on product complexity, data availability, and the existence of a PCR.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

A PCF describes the greenhouse gas emissions of a product throughout its entire life cycle. PCFs are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the context of ESG reporting, supply-chain requirements and regulatory developments.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

Within the DIN EPD programme, a verified PCF can be developed on request. The calculation is based on the available Life Cycle Assessment data in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14067.

The scope of services includes:

development of the PCF based on the EPD data
calculation in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14067
publication within the DIN EPD programme in conjunction with the EPD

The PCF is provided at no additional cost.

Your path to a verified EPD in the DIN EPD programme

The DIN EPD programme provides a standardized framework for the development and publication of EPDs for products and services across all sectors. It ensures transparent procedures, independent verification and alignment with international standardization.

Standards as the basis for comparability and verification

Development of an EPD is based on internationally recognized standards, including DIN EN ISO 14025, DIN EN ISO 14040 and 14044, as well as DIN EN ISO 14067. DIN EN 15804 also applies to construction products.

These standards define the methodological requirements for Life Cycle Assessment, environmental assessment and documentation, and ensure that the results are comparable and transparent.

All relevant standards are taken into account in the DIN EPD programme and are available in the “DIN EPD programme collection”.

How to develop your EPD

We provide you with structured support throughout the entire EPD process – from the development of a DIN PCR (if no approved PCR exists) and the EPD itself, right through to publication.

Illustration of a product process for a verified EPD in the DIN EPD Program

A clearly defined procedure ensures transparency, comparability and international compatibility. You, as the manufacturer, and we, as the programme operator, work closely together.

Process step	Content	Role in the process
1. Preparation & basics	You develop the Life Cycle Assessment for your product and check whether an appropriate PCR is available. If necessary, we can support you with the development of a new DIN PCR.	by the manufacturer/organization
2. Consultation & project launch	We clarify the requirements, assess the applicability of PCR and define the framework for verification and publication.	together with us
3. EPD documentation	You develop the EPD on the basis of your Life Cycle Assessment and our templates, in accordance with the normative requirements. The “DIN EPD programme collection” provides you with all the relevant information to help you navigate the process.	by the manufacturer/organization
4. Independent verification	We commission an independent verification body to verify your EPD and the underlying Life Cycle Assessment for standards compliance, traceability and plausibility.	by an external verification body
5. Publication & provision	After successful verification, your EPD is published and made available together with the PCF in the DIN Media webshop for download as a PDF in German and English.	by the DIN EPD programme

The time required to develop a EPD depends on the complexity of the product, the availability of data and whether a PCR already exists. In practice, the overall process typically takes several months.

Programme instructions as the basis for the process

The process is based on the Programme instructions of the DIN EPD programme, which was developed in an open consultation procedure.

Programm instructions DIN EPD

Independent verification of your EPD

Verifiers (approved verification bodies and independent verifiers) verify the EPD and the PCF for standards compliance, traceability and plausibility. This ensures that the requirements of the relevant PCR, general Life Cycle Assessment, DIN EN ISO 14025 and DIN EN ISO 14067 are met.

The DIN EPD programme defines the qualification requirements for verifiers and the verification process and specifies the conditions under which verifiers are approved. The DIN EPD programme is responsible for organizing and coordinating the verification process, meaning no additional effort for you in selecting suitable verifiers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

An EPD cannot be purchased directly from our webshop as a standard product. Contact our Programme secretariat for a no-obligation enquiry to obtain information on the requirements and procedures within the DIN EPD programme. Request consultation
The time required depends on the complexity of the product, the availability of data and whether a PCR already exists. As a rule, several months should be allowed for the process.
If no suitable Product Category Rule (PCR) exists for a product, one can be developed within the DIN EPD programme. Information on PCRs that have already been approved and the development process can be found here.
Our Programme secretariat will support you every step of the way, from your initial enquiry right through to the publication of your EPD. The Programme is organized and managed by DIN Media GmbH, the programme operator.
Contact partner: Anna Trawnitschek
Email: epd-geschaeftsstelle@dinmedia.de
Request consultation
The costs depend on the complexity of the product and the scope of services. Entry level prices can be found in the price ranges of the respective DIN PCR and EPD services. For an accurate price, we would be happy to provide you with an individual quotation .
Key terms relating to Environmental Product Declarations, Product Category Rules, Life Cycle Assessments and Product Carbon Footprints are explained in the Programme instructions.

Would you like to develop an EPD or develop a DIN PCR?

Our Programme secretariat will support you every step of the way, from your initial enquiry right through to the publication of your EPD. The Programme is organized and managed by DIN Media GmbH, the programme operator.

Contact partner: Anna Trawnitschek

Email: epd-geschaeftsstelle@dinmedia.de

Request consultation