Can I use EPD results based on EF 3.0 as input to my current EPD project based on EF 3.1?

Created by Manuel Mammen Parayil, Modified on Wed, 4 Dec, 2024 at 8:47 AM by Manuel Mammen Parayil

The following guidance has been developed for using results based on EF 3.0 as a data source when developing an EPD based on EF 3.1:

Results based on EF3.0 can be assumed to be identical or conservative compared to EF3.1 results for all EN 15804 indicators except for (i) toxicity indicators, and (ii) climate change indicators in the case of incineration processes [1]. As such, these EF3.0 results can be used in an EPD based on EF3.1, without classifying them as proxy data.

Toxicity results and climate change results for incineration processes based on EF3.0, can be used in an EPD based on EF3.1 if they are classified as proxy data.

If results based on an EF3.0 have been used as input to an EPD based on EF3.1, we encourage a statement on this to be included in the EPD. This statement should make it clear that an EPD based on an old EF version has been used as a data source, and that this was assessed to yield identical or conservative results compared to fully using the EF3.1.

This guidance is aligned with the general principle for using old EF versions outlined in this article.

More guidance on this topic will soon to be added to https://www.environdec.com/methodology

For further questions please contact the secretariat.

[1] The exception relates to EF3.0 EPDs of incineration processes only, as the process emissions of incineration processes are dominant and have been shown to under-estimate the toxicity effect compared to EF3.1. If the EF3.0 EPD results represent a product system, which happens to include an incineration process (e.g., for disposal of production waste), these results can still be considered identical or conservative and be used as an input to an EPD based on EF3.1.