What Are Dynamic EPDs And How Do They Differ From (Static) EPDs?

Dynamic Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) represent a significant innovation within the construction industry, offering a flexible and contemporary approach to assessing the environmental impact of building products. These differ markedly from traditional (static) EPDs in several fundamental aspects.

Traditional (Static) EPDs:

1. Fixed Data: Conventional EPDs provide a static set of data reflecting the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle at the time of the assessment. This data remains unchanged until the next update, which may occur several years later.
2. Infrequent Updates: Typically updated every three to five years, static EPDs may not capture recent improvements in production processes or supply chain alterations.
3. Standardised Format: These EPDs adhere to a standardised format and methodology, such as those outlined by ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring consistency and comparability across products, albeit at the expense of flexibility.
4. Regulatory Compliance: Static EPDs are designed to comply with established standards, providing a reliable framework for environmental impact reporting.

How a Product’s Environmental Impact Can Evolve:

The environmental impact of a product can evolve over time due to several factors:

1. Production Process Changes: Improvements or modifications in manufacturing processes, such as the adoption of cleaner technologies, more efficient machinery, or energy-saving measures, can reduce emissions and waste, supporting sustainability and net zero targets.
2. Material Sourcing: Shifts in the sources of raw materials, such as switching to more sustainable or locally sourced materials, can lower transportation emissions and decrease the overall environmental footprint, contributing to climate change mitigation.
3. Supply Chain Adjustments: Enhancements in supply chain logistics, including more efficient transportation routes, better inventory management, and reduced packaging, contribute to a lower environmental impact and support sustainability initiatives.
4. Recycling and Waste Management: Increased recycling rates and improved waste management practices during production can significantly reduce the environmental burden, aligning with net zero strategies.
5. Energy Mix Variations: Changes in the energy mix used in production, such as a higher proportion of renewable energy sources, can lead to a substantial decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, addressing climate change.
6. Product Design Innovations: Innovations in product design that lead to reduced material usage, longer product lifespan, or easier recyclability can have a positive impact on the overall environmental footprint, enhancing sustainability.
7. Regulatory and Market Pressures: Compliance with evolving environmental regulations and meeting market demand for more sustainable products can drive continuous improvements in environmental performance, essential for net zero commitments.

Dynamic EPDs:

1. Real-Time Data: Dynamic EPDs offer real-time or near-real-time updates on a product’s environmental impact, providing a more accurate and current reflection of the product’s footprint as it evolves.
2. Adaptability: These EPDs can adapt to changes in production processes, material sourcing, and other variables affecting environmental impact, ensuring a precise and up-to-date assessment.
3. Integration with Digital Tools: Often linked with advanced digital tools and platforms such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and various databases, dynamic EPDs facilitate seamless integration into the design and construction process.
4. Enhanced Decision-Making: By delivering timely and precise data, dynamic EPDs support improved decision-making during the design and construction phases, enabling better optimisation of environmental performance.
5. Customisation: Dynamic EPDs can be tailored to specific projects or conditions, offering bespoke environmental impact assessments based on real-time data and particular use scenarios.

How Dynamic EPDs Update in Real-Time:

Dynamic EPDs are updated in real-time through a combination of advanced technologies and integrated systems. Here’s how the process typically works:

1. IoT Sensors and Data Collection: Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are deployed throughout the production process to continuously collect data on various environmental metrics such as energy usage, emissions, water consumption, and waste generation. This real-time data is fed into the system, ensuring up-to-date information is available.
2. Cloud Computing: The collected data is transmitted to cloud-based platforms where it is processed and analysed. Cloud computing allows for the efficient handling of large volumes of data and supports real-time updates.
3. Advanced Analytics: Advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms are employed to interpret the data. These tools can identify patterns, predict trends, and provide insights into the environmental impact of production processes.
4. Integration with Supply Chain Systems: Digital EPDs are often integrated with supply chain management systems, ensuring that any changes in material sourcing or logistics are promptly reflected in the environmental impact data.
5. Automated Reporting: The system automatically updates the EPDs based on the latest data. This includes recalculating the environmental impact metrics and generating updated reports that can be accessed by stakeholders in real-time.
6. Blockchain Technology: In some cases, blockchain technology is used to ensure the transparency and integrity of the data. This technology provides a secure, immutable record of all data transactions, enhancing trust in the accuracy of the EPDs.

Key Differences:

• Frequency of Updates: Dynamic EPDs are continuously or frequently updated, whereas traditional EPDs are updated periodically.
• Data Accuracy: Dynamic EPDs provide more accurate and current data, reflecting the latest changes in production and supply chains.
• Integration Capabilities: Dynamic EPDs are often integrated with digital tools and platforms, enhancing their usability in construction projects.
• Flexibility: Dynamic EPDs offer greater flexibility, adapting to various scenarios and specific project requirements.

Benefits of Dynamic EPDs:

• Enhanced Sustainability: By providing more accurate and current data, dynamic EPDs contribute to achieving higher sustainability standards and net zero goals.
• Regulatory Compliance: They help construction projects remain compliant with evolving environmental regulations and standards, essential for climate change mitigation.
• Informed Decision-Making: Designers and builders can make more informed decisions regarding materials and methods, leading to environmentally optimised projects that support sustainability and net zero targets.

Dynamic EPDs represent a significant advancement over traditional EPDs by offering real-time, adaptable, and more precise environmental data. This progression enhances the sustainability and efficiency of construction projects, enabling stakeholders to make more informed and environmentally responsible decisions, essential for achieving net zero and addressing climate change.