Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are standardised documents that provide transparent, verified information about the environmental impact of a product across its lifecycle. For IT equipment, EPDs offer procurement teams and sustainability professionals the data they need to compare products on environmental criteria and make informed purchasing decisions. As sustainability reporting requirements expand, EPDs are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for quantifying your IT footprint.
What an EPD Contains
An EPD is based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted according to international standards, primarily ISO 14025 and ISO 14040/14044. A typical EPD for IT equipment includes the product description and functional unit (what the product does and over what period), the system boundary (which lifecycle stages are included), environmental impact data across multiple categories including global warming potential, resource depletion, water consumption, acidification, and eutrophication, and information about data sources and methodology.
EPDs are verified by an independent third party, which gives them significantly more credibility than self-declared environmental claims. They are registered with programme operators like the International EPD System, UL Environment, or EPD Australasia.
EPDs for IT Equipment
Major IT equipment manufacturers increasingly publish EPDs for their products. Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple, and other leading manufacturers have produced EPDs for various product lines. The scope and detail vary, but well-structured EPDs provide specific environmental impact data that allows comparison between different products and manufacturers.
Common data points in IT equipment EPDs include embodied carbon (total CO2e from manufacturing), use-phase energy consumption and associated emissions, materials composition (types and quantities of materials used), recyclability and end-of-life management, water consumption in manufacturing, and hazardous substance content.
Using EPDs in Procurement
EPDs support sustainable IT procurement in several practical ways. Product comparison becomes possible because EPDs use standardised methodologies and impact categories, making direct environmental comparison between products possible. Without EPDs, you are relying on incomparable marketing claims.
Specification setting is improved because EPD data can be used to set environmental performance thresholds in your procurement specifications. For example, you might specify a maximum embodied carbon level or minimum recyclability percentage. Supplier evaluation benefits from requiring EPDs as part of your tender process, which demonstrates supplier commitment to transparency and provides the data needed for supply chain sustainability assessment.
Scope 3 reporting is supported because EPD data provides the most accurate emission factors for calculating the Scope 3 emissions from your IT procurement. Using product-specific EPD data rather than industry averages significantly improves the accuracy of your emissions reporting.
EPD Limitations
While EPDs are valuable, they have limitations that users should understand. Not all products have EPDs. Coverage is growing but is still far from comprehensive, particularly for specialised or lower-volume equipment. EPDs have a validity period and may not reflect the most current manufacturing processes. The system boundary can vary between EPDs, making direct comparison challenging if one EPD includes stages that another excludes. And EPDs focus on environmental impacts and do not cover social dimensions like labour practices or community impact.
Product Category Rules
EPDs for IT equipment are produced under Product Category Rules (PCRs), which define the methodology and scope for a specific product type. PCRs ensure consistency across EPDs for similar products, enabling meaningful comparison. The most relevant PCR for IT equipment is the one developed for “information and communication technology equipment,” which covers computers, monitors, servers, and networking devices.
When comparing EPDs, verify that they are based on the same or equivalent PCRs. EPDs produced under different PCRs may use different system boundaries, functional units, or calculation methods, which can make comparisons misleading.
EPDs and Green Building Certifications
EPDs are recognised by green building certification schemes including Green Star and LEED. While these certifications primarily apply to building materials, the principle of using verified environmental data for procurement decisions is extending to other categories including IT equipment. Organisations pursuing green building certifications may find that EPD-based IT procurement supports their broader sustainability goals.
The Future of EPDs in IT
Several trends suggest EPDs will become more important for IT procurement. Mandatory climate reporting increases the need for product-level emissions data to support Scope 3 calculations. The EU’s push for digital product passports may make lifecycle environmental data mandatory for products sold in Europe. Australian Government sustainable procurement policies are increasingly referencing EPDs. And corporate net zero targets require the granular emissions data that EPDs provide.
Organisations that start incorporating EPDs into their IT procurement processes now will be better positioned as these trends accelerate. For broader guidance on how environmental data supports your ESG reporting, see our guide on ESG reporting and e-waste for Australian businesses.
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