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Abstract
Transparent and credible environmental labeling of products is vital for a sustainable future. Ecolabeling shows information on the environmental performance of products, processes, and services. This article focuses on one type of ecolabeling referred to as environmental product declarations (EPDs) that provide environmental impact information based on life cycle assessment (LCA) data. Businesses and consumers who are not familiar with life cycle analysis can use LCA-based EPDs for comparison between competing products, much like using nutritional labels. In addition, this article describes the process of developing EPDs from LCA data in conjunction with product category rules and the status and future needs of EPDs in the U.S. forest products industry.
Keywords
EPD,
environmental product declaration,
environmental labeling,
ISO,
LCA,
life cycle assessment,
transparency,
green-washing,
product life cycle,
environmental aspects,
forest products,
environmental impact analysis,
sustainable forestry,
renewable natural resources,
energy consumption,
green products,
renewable energy sources,
green technology,
forest products industry,
environmental indicators,
United States,
wood products,
greenhouse effect,
greenhouse gas mitigation,
sustainability,
eco-labeling,
product testing
Citation
Bergman, Richard; Taylor, Adam. 2011. EPD--environmental product declarations for wood products: An application of life cycle information about forest products. Forest Products Journal 61(3): 192-201.
