Environmental performance reporting has become an important part of sustainability strategies in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Companies are increasingly required to provide transparent information about the environmental impacts of their products, particularly as sustainability regulations and green procurement policies continue to expand. One of the most widely used tools for communicating this information is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An EPD is a standardized document that reports the environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle. The information presented in an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which evaluates environmental impacts from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, use, and end-of-life stages.
Environmental Product Declarations follow international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring that environmental data is reported in a consistent and transparent manner. These declarations are widely used in sectors such as construction materials, building components, coatings, insulation products, and industrial materials.
In Portugal, interest in EPD certification has been growing as manufacturers and suppliers seek to align their products with international sustainability standards. Environmental Product Declarations are also frequently used to support green building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM, which emphasize the use of materials with verified environmental information.
Preparing an EPD involves several technical stages, including data collection, life cycle inventory analysis, environmental impact calculations, and documentation preparation, followed by independent third-party verification. Because these steps require specialized expertise, many manufacturers collaborate with experienced EPD consultants to guide them through the process.
Below are several consulting firms that provide EPD consulting and product sustainability advisory services relevant to organizations operating in Portugal.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007, with offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides consulting services related to green building certifications, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), product sustainability analysis, and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
ERKE has successfully completed numerous EPD certifications across multiple countries, supporting manufacturers from regions ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The company works with producers in sectors such as construction materials, coatings, insulation systems, ceramic products, and building components.
ERKE has collaborated with several international manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
The ERKE team includes Life Cycle Assessment specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the entire EPD development process. This includes life cycle data collection, environmental impact modeling, preparation of EPD reports, and coordination with program operators and verification bodies.
Through these services, ERKE assists manufacturers in aligning their products with international environmental reporting standards and sustainability frameworks.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides services in engineering design, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Within its sustainability advisory practice, Arup offers services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental impact evaluation, and product sustainability analysis, which support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
The firm assists manufacturers in assessing the environmental impacts associated with their products through lifecycle modeling and environmental data analysis.
By integrating engineering expertise with sustainability consulting, Arup helps organizations improve environmental transparency and product performance evaluation.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Canada, operating in more than 50 countries. The company provides services across infrastructure, environmental consulting, and sustainability advisory sectors.
WSP offers consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, carbon footprint analysis, and environmental impact modeling, which can support the development of Environmental Product Declarations.
Through lifecycle modeling and environmental performance analysis, WSP helps manufacturers understand the environmental implications of their products and production processes.
The firm collaborates with organizations in the construction and industrial sectors to support environmental product transparency and sustainability reporting.
4. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The company operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, delivering services in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services including environmental impact assessments, resource efficiency studies, and sustainability strategy development.
These services can support Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental performance evaluation, which are key steps in preparing Environmental Product Declarations.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across different industries to integrate environmental performance analysis into product and project development.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is an international engineering and consultancy company headquartered in Denmark and founded in 1945. The company operates globally across sectors including environment, infrastructure, buildings, and energy.
Ramboll offers sustainability consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint evaluation, and resource efficiency analysis.
These services allow organizations to evaluate environmental impacts associated with product lifecycles and manufacturing processes. The results of these analyses can be used in the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and sustainability reports.
Ramboll works with manufacturers and industrial companies to improve environmental performance analysis and product sustainability reporting.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in 1976 in Ireland. The firm provides project management, cost management, and construction advisory services for development projects worldwide.
Although Linesight primarily focuses on project delivery and cost management, the company frequently works on projects where environmental documentation and sustainability reporting are required.
Through its role in project coordination and documentation processes, Linesight contributes to projects that incorporate environmental reporting and sustainable construction practices.
The firm collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants on projects involving sustainability reporting frameworks and environmental performance monitoring.
7. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a UK-headquartered engineering, management, and development consultancy founded in 1902. The company operates globally across sectors including infrastructure, transportation, water, energy, and buildings.
The firm provides environmental and sustainability consulting services that include Life Cycle Assessment studies, environmental impact analysis, and sustainability reporting.
These services support organizations seeking to evaluate the environmental performance of their products and operations. Lifecycle analysis results can contribute to the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental documentation.
Mott MacDonald works with manufacturers and industrial organizations to integrate environmental performance evaluation into product development and sustainability strategies.
Summary
Environmental Product Declarations provide a standardized method for communicating the environmental performance of products based on Life Cycle Assessment data. As sustainability reporting requirements expand, many manufacturers pursue EPD certification to improve environmental transparency and support sustainable construction practices.
Consultancy firms involved in EPD development typically provide services such as life cycle assessment modeling, environmental impact calculations, documentation preparation, and coordination with third-party verification bodies. Some firms specialize in product sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and environmental advisory services.
Companies discussed in this article include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. ARUP 3. WSP Global 4. Khatib & Alami 5. Ramboll 6. Linesight 7. Mott MacDonald. These organizations represent a combination of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting firms involved in environmental performance evaluation.
The most suitable consultancy partner generally depends on product type, environmental reporting objectives, lifecycle data availability, and the level of technical expertise required for certification processes.