The Manufacturer's Checklist: 7 Steps to Getting Your First EPD in the GCC
Your Practical Roadmap to EPD Certification
You've decided to pursue an Environmental Product Declaration for your products. Smart move—EPDs are becoming essential in the GCC construction market, opening doors to LEED projects, government tenders, and export opportunities.
But where do you actually start?
The EPD certification process can feel overwhelming, especially for manufacturers tackling it for the first time. Multiple standards, technical terminology, data requirements, consultant selection, verification procedures—it's a lot to navigate.
This practical checklist breaks the journey into seven manageable steps. Follow this roadmap, and you'll move from initial preparation to published EPD efficiently, avoiding common pitfalls that slow down first-time applicants.
Let's walk through exactly what you need to do.
Step 1: Assess Your Readiness (2-4 Weeks)
Before investing time and money, honestly evaluate whether your organization is ready for EPD certification.
Data Availability Check
EPD development requires detailed production data. Conduct an initial audit to determine what you have and what you're missing:
✅ Energy consumption records (electricity, gas, fuel) for at least 12 months ✅ Raw material quantities and sources ✅ Production volumes and process details ✅ Transportation distances and methods ✅ Waste generation and disposal records ✅ Water consumption data ✅ Packaging materials and amounts
If you're missing significant data, you'll need 2-4 months to collect it before engaging consultants. Many manufacturers underestimate this preparation phase, then face frustrating delays when consultants can't proceed without information.
Internal Stakeholder Alignment
EPD development touches multiple departments—production, finance, quality, marketing, and sales. Schedule a kickoff meeting where everyone understands:
Why you're pursuing EPD certification
What resources different departments need to provide
Timeline expectations and potential disruptions
How EPD will be leveraged once obtained
Without this alignment, you'll struggle to get timely cooperation when consultants request data or site access.
Budget Confirmation
Confirm that AED 30,000-90,000 is allocated and available for the full process. Nothing derails EPD projects faster than discovering halfway through that budget approval is stalled.
For context on what this investment delivers, our analysis of EPD certification costs in UAE breaks down where your money goes and what returns you can expect.
Product Selection
If you manufacture multiple products, choose strategically for your first EPD:
Good First Choices:
Products with simple, well-documented manufacturing processes
Items with strong sales in LEED or Estidama projects
Products targeting export markets requiring EPDs
Your flagship or highest-volume products
Challenging First Choices:
Products with complex, multi-stage manufacturing
Items using proprietary processes you're unwilling to share
Products with limited market demand
Experimental or frequently modified products
Start simple. Successful first EPDs build momentum for additional certifications.
Step 2: Define Your Scope and Boundaries (1-2 Weeks)
EPD scope decisions significantly impact complexity, cost, and usefulness.
System Boundary Selection
Choose which life cycle stages to include:
Cradle-to-Gate (Most Common) Covers raw material extraction through your factory gate. This boundary gives you maximum control over data quality since everything happens within your supply chain. Recommended for first EPDs, especially building materials.
Cradle-to-Grave Extends through product installation, use phase, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal. More comprehensive but requires assumptions about how customers use and dispose of products—assumptions that may not reflect reality. Generally more expensive and time-consuming.
Cradle-to-Cradle Includes recycling and material recovery loops. Ideal for products designed for circular economy but requires detailed end-of-life data that's often unavailable.
For most GCC manufacturers, cradle-to-gate makes sense initially. You can always expand scope in future EPD updates.
Geographical Scope
Decide whether your EPD represents:
A specific production facility (e.g., your Dubai plant only)
Multiple facilities producing identical products
Regional average across similar manufacturers
Specific facility EPDs provide most accuracy but limit applicability. Industry-average EPDs cost less but sacrifice competitive differentiation.
Declared Unit
Choose the functional unit that makes sense for your product:
1 cubic meter (concrete, insulation)
1 square meter (flooring, cladding, roofing)
1 kilogram (steel, aggregates)
1 piece (fixtures, equipment)
Use industry-standard units from relevant Product Category Rules (PCR) to ensure comparability.
Step 3: Find the Right Consultant Partner (3-4 Weeks)
Choosing your LCA consultant significantly impacts project success, timeline, and cost.
Essential Qualifications
Look for consultants with:
✅ Proven experience with your product category or similar materials ✅ Certification in LCA methodology (e.g., ISO 14040/14044 training) ✅ Relationships with EPD program operators and verifiers ✅ Understanding of relevant PCRs for your products ✅ Familiarity with GCC market requirements
Don't just hire the cheapest option. Inexperienced consultants cause delays, require extensive revisions, and may produce EPDs that fail verification.
Red Flags to Avoid
🚩 Consultants who promise unrealistically short timelines (under 3 months is suspicious) 🚩 Inability to provide references from similar projects 🚩 Unfamiliarity with your industry's PCRs 🚩 Vague contracts that don't specify deliverables 🚩 Resistance to fixed-price agreements
Questions to Ask
Before signing contracts, clarify:
What's included in the quoted price? (LCA, EPD compilation, verification coordination, program operator fees?)
How many revision rounds are included?
What happens if our data collection takes longer than expected?
Who handles communication with verifiers and program operators?
What's your typical timeline for projects like ours?
Can you provide 2-3 references from similar manufacturers?
Understanding the full certification process before engaging consultants helps set realistic expectations. Our comprehensive EPD guide for manufacturers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and GCC walks through what to expect at each stage.
Get Multiple Quotes
Request detailed proposals from 3-4 consultants. Compare not just price but also:
Scope clarity and completeness
Timeline realism
Consultant experience and qualifications
Communication style and responsiveness
Contract terms and payment structure
Step 4: Collect and Organize Data (4-12 Weeks)
This phase often takes longer than expected. Thorough preparation accelerates everything that follows.
Create a Data Collection Template
Work with your consultant to develop a structured template covering:
Energy Inputs:
Electricity consumption (kWh per production period)
Natural gas (cubic meters)
Fuel oils (liters)
Diesel/petrol for equipment (liters)
Material Inputs:
Primary raw materials (quantities, suppliers, origins)
Secondary materials and additives
Packaging materials
Water consumption
Outputs:
Product quantities produced
Waste streams (types, quantities, disposal methods)
Air emissions (if directly measured)
Wastewater discharge
Transportation:
Inbound material transport (distances, methods)
Internal material movement
Outbound product distribution (average distances)
Assign Data Ownership
Designate specific individuals responsible for providing each data category. "Someone in production will get that" doesn't work—you need names and deadlines.
Quality Over Speed
Accurate data beats fast data. Better to spend extra weeks verifying information than to discover errors during verification that require starting over.
Handle Data Gaps
Some data will be missing. Discuss with your consultant how to handle gaps:
Can you estimate based on similar periods?
Should you use industry-average data from databases?
Do gaps require additional measurement before proceeding?
Transparency about data limitations is better than filling gaps with guesses.
Step 5: Life Cycle Assessment Development (6-10 Weeks)
Your consultant uses collected data to model your product's environmental profile.
LCA Modeling
Consultants use specialized software (SimaPro, GaBi, OpenLCA) to create lifecycle models incorporating:
Your specific production data
Background data from databases (Ecoinvent, GaBi) for generic materials and processes
Transportation calculations based on distances and methods
Energy grid emission factors specific to UAE/GCC region
Waste treatment scenarios
This technical work happens mostly on the consultant's side, but expect requests for clarification or additional information.
Impact Assessment
The model calculates environmental impacts across categories required by EN 15804:
Global Warming Potential (GWP) – carbon footprint
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
Acidification Potential (AP)
Eutrophication Potential (EP)
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP)
Abiotic Depletion Potential – elements (ADP-elements)
Abiotic Depletion Potential – fossil fuels (ADP-fossil)
Review and Iterate
Your consultant should present preliminary results for review. This is your opportunity to:
Verify that inputs accurately reflect your processes
Identify any results that seem unusual or unexpected
Understand which lifecycle stages contribute most to impacts
Identify potential improvement opportunities
Expect 1-2 revision cycles as you refine data and modeling assumptions.
Step 6: EPD Compilation and Verification (8-12 Weeks)
With LCA complete, you're ready to create the actual EPD document and obtain third-party verification.
EPD Document Development
Your consultant compiles the EPD following standard templates that include:
Product identification and technical specifications
Manufacturing company information
Declared unit and reference service life (if applicable)
System boundary description
LCA results presented in standard format
Additional environmental information
References to applicable PCRs and standards
Select Program Operator
Choose where to register your EPD. Common options for GCC manufacturers:
International EPD System: Most globally recognized, widely accepted in Europe and Middle East
UL Environment: Strong recognition in North American markets, increasingly common in GCC
IBU (Institut Bauen und Umwelt): German program with excellent European recognition
GS1 EPD: Emerging program offering potential integration with product databases
Your consultant can recommend appropriate programs based on your target markets.
Third-Party Verification
An independent verifier reviews your EPD for:
✅ Compliance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards ✅ Correct application of relevant PCRs ✅ Accuracy of LCA methodology ✅ Data quality and documentation ✅ Proper calculation and presentation of results
Expect the verifier to ask questions, request clarifications, and potentially require revisions. This back-and-forth typically takes 4-6 weeks.
Respond Promptly to Verifier Questions
Verification delays usually stem from slow responses to verifier requests. Prioritize these communications—every day of delay extends your timeline.
For manufacturers pursuing LEED projects specifically, verified EPDs unlock valuable certification credits. Our guide on LEED EPD certification for builders in UAE and Saudi Arabia explains exactly how EPDs contribute to point achievement.
Step 7: Publication and Deployment (2-4 Weeks)
You're almost there! Final steps ensure your EPD delivers maximum business value.
Program Operator Registration
Once verification is complete, your consultant submits the EPD to your chosen program operator for registration. This involves:
Registration fees payment
Final document upload
Administrative review
Assignment of unique EPD number
Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks.
Public Database Publication
Your EPD appears in public databases where architects, engineers, and procurement managers can find it. Ensure listings include:
Correct company contact information
Appropriate product categorization
Accurate keyword tagging
Download availability
Internal Announcement and Training
Before external promotion, ensure internal teams understand:
Sales Team:
What EPDs are and why they matter
How to position EPD certification in conversations
Which projects benefit most from EPD documentation
How to access and share EPD documents
Marketing Team:
How to incorporate EPD into marketing materials
Approved messaging around environmental performance
Graphics and badges available for use
Compliance requirements for environmental claims
Technical Team:
How to explain LCA findings to specifiers
Answering technical questions about methodology
Understanding lifecycle stages and impact categories
External Launch Strategy
Don't just publish and hope people notice. Active promotion drives awareness and specification:
📧 Email announcement to key customers, architects, and specifiers 📱 Social media campaign highlighting certification 🌐 Website update with prominent EPD mention 📄 Updated marketing materials and technical data sheets 🎤 Presentations at industry events and trade shows 📞 Direct outreach to project teams pursuing LEED/BREEAM/Estidama
Tracking and Measurement
Monitor EPD impact on business outcomes:
Specification wins in green building projects
RFPs where EPD provided competitive advantage
Customer feedback and questions received
Website traffic to EPD information
Market perception changes
Common Mistakes That Slow First-Time EPD Projects
Learning from others' errors saves time and frustration.
Mistake 1: Starting Without Organized Data
The #1 cause of delays. Spend adequate time in Step 1 organizing information before engaging consultants.
Mistake 2: Choosing Overly Complex Scope
First EPD shouldn't be cradle-to-grave with multiple scenarios. Start simple, add complexity in future versions.
Mistake 3: Poor Communication with Consultants
Delayed responses to data requests extend timelines. Assign a dedicated project manager who responds promptly.
Mistake 4: Unrealistic Timeline Expectations
3-4 months is impossibly fast for most first EPDs. Plan for 6-9 months realistically.
Mistake 5: Neglecting Internal Stakeholder Buy-in
Without support from production, quality, and other departments, data collection becomes a battle.
Mistake 6: Ignoring Verification Feedback
Arguing with verifiers wastes time. Address their concerns constructively—they're ensuring EPD credibility.
Mistake 7: Publishing Without Deployment Plan
EPDs don't magically increase sales. Active promotion and strategic deployment drive results.
Timeline Summary: What to Expect
Month 1: Readiness assessment, scope definition, consultant selection
Months 2-3: Data collection and organization
Months 3-5: LCA modeling and development
Months 5-7: EPD compilation and verification
Month 7-8: Registration and publication
Total: 7-9 months for typical first EPD project
Experienced manufacturers with organized data can compress this to 4-6 months. Complex products or disorganized data can extend it to 12+ months.
Your Next Steps
You now have a clear roadmap from decision to published EPD. Here's how to begin:
This Week:
Conduct initial data availability audit
Schedule internal stakeholder meeting
Confirm budget allocation
This Month:
Complete readiness assessment
Define scope and boundaries
Request proposals from 3-4 consultants
Next 2-3 Months:
Select consultant and sign contract
Collect and organize all required data
Begin LCA development
The journey to your first EPD might seem daunting, but thousands of manufacturers have successfully navigated this path. Following this structured seven-step approach keeps you on track, avoiding common pitfalls that derail first-time projects.
The GCC construction market increasingly demands environmental transparency. Manufacturers with EPDs win specifications, access premium projects, and command respect as industry leaders.
Your competitors are likely considering EPDs too—if they haven't started already. The advantage goes to manufacturers who move decisively rather than those who wait for perfect conditions.
You have the checklist. You understand the process. Now it's time to take Step 1.
Quick Reference Timeline
Step 1 - Readiness Assessment: 2-4 weeks Step 2 - Scope Definition: 1-2 weeks Step 3 - Consultant Selection: 3-4 weeks Step 4 - Data Collection: 4-12 weeks Step 5 - LCA Development: 6-10 weeks Step 6 - Verification: 8-12 weeks Step 7 - Publication: 2-4 weeks
Total Timeline: 6-9 months (typical) Investment: AED 30,000-90,000 Validity: 5 years before renewal