Sustainability considerations are becoming increasingly central to Iceland’s construction and manufacturing industries. As environmental regulations tighten and green building certifications gain importance, companies are focusing on ways to measure and communicate the environmental impact of their products. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are a key tool in this process, offering standardized, transparent data on a product’s life-cycle environmental performance.
EPDs are based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and provide quantified information on indicators such as global warming potential, energy demand, water consumption, and resource use. In Iceland, EPDs are often used to support compliance with international certification systems like LEED and BREEAM, as well as regional sustainability frameworks.
Developing an EPD requires technical expertise in data collection, environmental modeling, impact calculation, and third-party verification. For this reason, manufacturers and developers typically engage specialized consultancies that can manage the entire process efficiently and in line with international standards.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability firm established in 2007, with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides services in EPD development, life-cycle assessment, sustainability strategy, and product environmental performance.
ERKE has supported manufacturers across multiple regions in preparing EPDs aligned with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards. Its team of LCA experts and product sustainability professionals assists clients throughout the entire process, including data collection, modeling, documentation, and verification.
The firm has worked on a wide range of materials such as coatings, cement-based products, insulation materials, and interior finishes, making it relevant for Icelandic manufacturers seeking internationally accepted EPDs.
2. Ramboll
Ramboll, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Denmark, is a global engineering and consulting firm with strong expertise in environmental services, LCA, and EPD preparation.
Ramboll supports companies in quantifying environmental impacts, producing verified EPDs, and integrating product data into sustainable building projects. The firm has experience in construction materials, infrastructure components, and industrial products, aligning with Iceland’s construction sector requirements.
3. Sweco
Sweco is a European engineering consultancy active across the Nordic region, providing services in life-cycle assessment, EPD development, and sustainability advisory.
The firm assists clients with data gathering, environmental modeling, and impact calculations, ensuring that EPDs comply with relevant standards. Sweco has worked on residential, commercial, and infrastructure-related materials, supporting projects that require transparent environmental product data.
4. Bionova
Bionova, based in Finland, offers LCA software solutions and EPD consulting services. The company supports manufacturers in creating EPDs through data modeling, environmental impact calculations, and structured reporting tools.
Bionova’s platform is widely used in the Nordic region, helping companies align with ISO 14025, EN 15804, and Product Category Rules (PCRs). For Icelandic manufacturers, this approach enables efficient and consistent EPD development.
5. thinkstep / Sphera
thinkstep, now part of Sphera, is a global consultancy specializing in life-cycle assessment, product sustainability, and environmental reporting.
The firm works with manufacturers to calculate environmental impacts, prepare verified EPDs, and integrate sustainability data into product and building certification processes. Its experience includes construction materials, chemicals, and industrial goods, making it suitable for Icelandic applications.
6. Quantis
Quantis is a Switzerland-based sustainability consultancy offering services in LCA, EPD development, and environmental strategy.
Quantis supports organizations in collecting environmental data, performing impact assessments, and producing EPDs that comply with international standards. Their work helps Icelandic companies improve transparency and align with global environmental requirements.
7. Ecochain
Ecochain is a sustainability consultancy focused on digital LCA tools and EPD solutions. The firm helps manufacturers generate verified EPDs, analyze supply chains, and improve product environmental performance.
Ecochain’s data-driven approach supports companies in integrating environmental metrics into decision-making and ensuring that EPDs reflect accurate and up-to-date information.
Summary
EPDs provide a structured way to measure and communicate the environmental impact of construction materials, supporting sustainable development in Iceland. The process involves life-cycle assessment, environmental data analysis, and third-party verification, typically managed by specialized consultancies.
The firms discussed include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. Ramboll 3. Sweco 4. Bionova 5. thinkstep / Sphera 6. Quantis 7. Ecochain, each offering services in EPD preparation, LCA modeling, and environmental performance reporting.
Selecting the appropriate consultancy depends on product type, certification requirements, project complexity, and available resources. The final decision should be based on consultancy needs, project requirements, team size, and budget.