Environmental transparency has become an important requirement in the global construction and manufacturing industries. As sustainability regulations and environmental reporting frameworks continue to evolve, many companies are adopting tools that allow them to communicate the environmental impact of their products in a standardized way. One of the most widely recognized tools for this purpose is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An EPD is a standardized document that reports the environmental performance of a product based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It provides verified and transparent data about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life stages. EPDs follow international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring consistency and comparability across different product categories.
In Portugal, interest in EPD certification is increasing, particularly among construction material manufacturers, building product suppliers, and industrial producers. As green building certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and other sustainability frameworks place greater emphasis on product transparency, manufacturers are increasingly seeking EPDs to support environmental reporting and sustainable product development.
The preparation of an EPD involves several technical steps, including Life Cycle Assessment studies, environmental impact calculations, documentation preparation, and third-party verification. Because these processes require specialized expertise, companies often work with experienced EPD consultants to guide them through the certification process.
Below are several consulting firms that provide EPD consulting and product sustainability services relevant to manufacturers and 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. In addition to green building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, the firm provides specialized consulting services related to product sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
ERKE has completed numerous EPD certifications across different countries, supporting manufacturers from regions ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The company works with producers in sectors such as construction materials, coatings, insulation, tiles, and industrial products.
The firm has collaborated with a variety of international manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
ERKE’s team includes LCA specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the full EPD development process. This includes life cycle inventory data collection, environmental impact calculations, preparation of EPD documentation, and coordination with program operators and verification bodies.
By providing comprehensive product sustainability consulting 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 a wide range of services in engineering, architecture, urban planning, and sustainability consulting.
Within its sustainability advisory services, Arup supports organizations with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental product analysis, and environmental reporting frameworks, including EPD development.
The firm assists manufacturers and construction product companies in evaluating the environmental performance of their products through life cycle analysis and environmental impact assessments. These studies form the basis for the preparation of EPD documentation.
Arup’s multidisciplinary expertise allows the company to combine engineering knowledge with environmental analysis, supporting organizations seeking to improve product transparency and environmental performance.
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, environmental impact evaluation, and sustainability reporting, which can support the development of Environmental Product Declarations.
These services help manufacturers understand the environmental impacts associated with their products and production processes. By analyzing lifecycle data, organizations can prepare documentation required for EPD certification.
WSP collaborates with manufacturers, developers, and infrastructure organizations to support environmental product transparency and sustainability reporting initiatives.
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 engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services that include environmental impact analysis, resource efficiency assessments, and sustainability strategy development.
Within product sustainability projects, these services can support Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental documentation, which are key steps in the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across different sectors to integrate environmental performance evaluation and sustainability strategies into their projects and product development processes.
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, energy, infrastructure, and buildings.
Ramboll offers sustainability advisory services related to Life Cycle Assessment, carbon footprint evaluation, environmental product analysis, and resource efficiency studies.
These services allow organizations to assess the environmental impacts of products and manufacturing processes across their lifecycle. The results of these analyses can support the development of Environmental Product Declarations and other sustainability reporting tools.
Ramboll works with manufacturers and industrial companies to improve environmental transparency and product sustainability performance.
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 development projects around the world.
While Linesight’s core expertise focuses on construction project delivery, the firm frequently works on projects where environmental reporting and sustainability documentation are required.
Through its involvement in construction and infrastructure developments, Linesight contributes to project coordination and documentation management that may be relevant for sustainability certification processes.
The company collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants on projects that incorporate environmental reporting and sustainable construction practices.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, is a global engineering and consulting organization headquartered in Canada. The firm provides services across engineering design, infrastructure development, and environmental consulting.
The company offers sustainability advisory services that include environmental assessments, lifecycle analysis, carbon management strategies, and sustainability reporting.
These services help organizations evaluate the environmental performance of their products and operations. Lifecycle data generated through these studies can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental reporting documentation.
AtkinsRéalis works with manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and industrial organizations to support environmental performance evaluation and sustainability initiatives.
Summary
Environmental Product Declarations provide a standardized method for communicating the environmental performance of products, based on detailed Life Cycle Assessment studies and verified environmental data. As sustainability reporting requirements continue to expand, many manufacturers pursue EPD certification to improve product transparency and align with international environmental standards.
Consulting firms involved in EPD development typically provide services such as life cycle assessment analysis, environmental impact calculations, documentation preparation, and coordination with verification bodies. Some firms 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. AtkinsRéalis. These organizations represent a combination of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting firms involved in environmental performance evaluation.
The most appropriate consultancy partner typically depends on product type, environmental reporting requirements, project scope, and the technical expertise required for lifecycle analysis and certification processes.