Independent verification is the core element of every Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in the IBU programme. It ensures that EPDs meet high quality and transparency requirements.

We have been able to keep verification fees constant since 2016. However, external verification costs have increased by approximately 40% in recent years, while the number of EPDs to be verified has been growing rapidly. Furthermore, there is a limited number of qualified verifiers, which further tightens the situation in the market. As a result, an amended schedule of fees for EPDs from the IBU programme will take effect on 1 September 2025, reflecting these price adjustments. However, the trademark fees remain unchanged.

Necessary adjustment of verification fees

With the previous fees for verification and processing of an EPD of €2,000, verification for IBU currently no longer covers costs. In order to continue to ensure reliable, high-quality, independent verification, the verification fee will be adjusted to €2,700 as of 1 September 2025. These new fees will apply to all EPDs submitted as of 1 September 2025. The currently valid fee schedule will remain in effect for EPDs submitted up to and including 31 August 2025.

Further changes to the fee schedule as of 01.09.2025

  • Clearer wording and more precise regulations
  • Fee adjustments to cover costs (except for trademark fees)
  • Retention of existing trademark fees, but new trademark fee regulation for EPD tools
  • Clear designation and pricing for additional EPD-related services

Cost optimisation opportunities for declaration holders

We know that fee adjustments are challenging and we have not taken this decision lightly. At the same time, we have created mechanisms to optimise costs for declaration holders:

  • Submitting multiple EPDs at the same time: For products from the same production line with an identical background report, the fees for the second and subsequent EPDs are significantly reduced if they are submitted for verification at the same time.
  • Use software tools: Using an LCA tool results in low-cost verification for the EPDs developed from it. EPD tools are also a good way to create a large number of EPDs at a low cost.

Increasing numbers of EPDs and long-term strategy

The EU Commission has confirmed that the EN 15804+A2 standard is the binding basis for all environmental sustainability data in the construction industry. This means that in the future, significantly more construction products will have to have their environmental data verified under the new Construction Products Regulation. This will further increase the demand for verification services.

IBU is continuously working to optimise the verification process and is expanding its capacities in a systematic manner. This currently includes the recruitment and training of additional external verifiers to meet the increasing demand. We have also founded a verification company (IBU Verify GmbH) to be able to meet future verification requirements and to achieve an improvement in service quality.