Environmental sustainability and transparency have become increasingly important for manufacturers and suppliers in the construction and industrial sectors. Companies are now expected to provide clear information about the environmental impacts of their products. One of the most widely used tools for presenting this information is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An EPD is a standardized environmental document that communicates the environmental performance of a product across its entire lifecycle. The data presented in an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which analyzes environmental impacts from raw material extraction and production through transportation, installation, product use, and end-of-life management.
EPDs are developed according to international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring consistency and comparability between products within the same category. These declarations are widely used in industries such as construction materials, coatings, insulation systems, metals, and building components.
In Portugal, interest in Environmental Product Declarations has grown steadily as companies seek to align with international sustainability practices. EPDs are often used to support green building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, which encourage the use of building materials with verified environmental information.
Developing an EPD involves several technical steps, including data collection, life cycle inventory development, environmental impact calculations, documentation preparation, and third-party verification. Because these processes require specialized knowledge and analytical tools, many manufacturers collaborate with experienced EPD consultants.
Below are several consulting firms that provide EPD consulting and product sustainability services relevant to organizations operating in Portugal.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007, with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company specializes in product sustainability consulting, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and green building certification advisory services.
ERKE has successfully completed numerous EPD certifications for manufacturers worldwide, supporting companies from regions ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The firm works with manufacturers in sectors such as construction materials, paints and coatings, insulation products, tiles, and industrial materials.
ERKE has collaborated with several international manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
The company’s team includes Life Cycle Assessment specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the full EPD development process. Their work includes life cycle data collection, environmental impact modeling, preparation of EPD documentation, and coordination with verification bodies and program operators.
By providing these services, ERKE helps manufacturers align their products with international environmental reporting standards and sustainability frameworks.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm established in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides multidisciplinary services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Within its sustainability advisory services, Arup supports organizations with Life Cycle Assessment, environmental performance analysis, and sustainability reporting, which can contribute to the development of Environmental Product Declarations.
Arup assists manufacturers in evaluating environmental impacts associated with their products through lifecycle modeling and environmental data analysis.
The firm’s integrated approach combines engineering expertise with sustainability consulting to support organizations seeking to 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 evaluation, and environmental impact analysis, which can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
Through lifecycle modeling and environmental performance analysis, WSP helps organizations better understand the environmental impacts associated with their products and manufacturing processes.
The firm works with manufacturers and construction industry stakeholders to support environmental product transparency and sustainability documentation.
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, providing services in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting.
The firm offers sustainability advisory services including environmental impact assessments, resource efficiency analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
These services can support Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental documentation, which are key components in the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across different sectors to incorporate environmental performance analysis and sustainability strategies into product development and project planning.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is an international engineering and consultancy company headquartered in Denmark and founded in 1945. The firm operates globally across sectors including environment, buildings, infrastructure, and energy.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint analysis, and resource efficiency studies.
These analyses allow organizations to evaluate environmental impacts associated with product lifecycles and manufacturing activities. The resulting data can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental sustainability reports.
Ramboll works with manufacturers and industrial organizations to improve environmental performance analysis and sustainability reporting.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in 1976 in Ireland. The company provides project management, cost management, and construction advisory services for large development projects.
While Linesight primarily focuses on project delivery and cost management, the firm frequently works on projects where environmental documentation and sustainability reporting are required.
Through its role in project coordination and documentation management, Linesight contributes to projects that incorporate environmental reporting frameworks and sustainable construction practices.
The company collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants to support project documentation and sustainability-related reporting processes.
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 evaluations, and sustainability reporting.
These services support organizations seeking to assess environmental performance across product lifecycles and prepare documentation aligned with international environmental reporting frameworks.
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 structured method for communicating the environmental performance of products based on Life Cycle Assessment data. As sustainability reporting and green building frameworks continue to expand, many manufacturers pursue EPD certification to improve environmental transparency and support sustainable procurement practices.
Consultancy firms involved in EPD development typically provide services such as life cycle assessment modeling, environmental impact evaluation, EPD documentation preparation, and coordination with verification bodies. Some organizations specialize in product sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and environmental advisory practices.
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 firms represent a mix of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting organizations involved in environmental performance analysis.
The appropriate consultancy partner generally depends on product category, environmental reporting objectives, lifecycle data requirements, and the level of technical expertise needed for certification processes.