The IBU (Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V.) and the North American EPD program holder Smart EPD agreed to a mutual recognition and opening the way for building product manufacturers to bring their EPDs to the American market. 

Smart EPD is a fully digital EPD program that operates in the North American market. Through the mutual recognition of EPDs between IBU and Smart EPD, building product manufacturers will be able to gain new market access in the future by listing their EPDs as PDFs parallel with Smart EPD on the US market. In the next stage, the exchange of digital formats is also being considered. Mutual recognition of verified EPDs published by Smart EPD and IBU means that they are mutually accepted without further verification, even if the verification programs are carried out independently.

Like the IBU, CEO Anna Lasso and her team of experts at Smart EPD focus on the continuous development of innovative ways to disclose the environmental impact of products consistently and credibly in a data-oriented manner. Stefan Zwerenz, Head of the Verification Body at IBU, in cooperation with Matthias Schulz, the independent verifier appointed by the German Council of Experts, has brought about the contractual agreement with Smart EPD regarding the respective verification practice in addition to the technical work. “We are the first EPD program to achieve mutual recognition with this up-and-coming North American program holder,” emphasizes Zwerenz. “Smart EPD and the IBU harmonized the principles and functionality of their EPD programs. We were able to achieve mutual recognition based on ISO 21930 and EN 15804 – an absolute milestone for international verification practice!” continues Stefan Zwerenz.

The differences between the standardized core PCRs (EN15804+A2 and ISO21930) have been worked out by both parties and can now be directly included and verified in the background report to be prepared for an EPD.

For IBU declaration holders:

  • Mutual recognition applies to new EPDs to be verified.
  • Some additional information is required in the EPD due to the differences between EN 15804 and ISO 21930, but this can be easily verified.
  • If you plan to use this recognition, please contact the verification body in time to find out the additional requirements.
  • The documents are currently only exchanged as PDF files.
  • An order form (Declaration of Consent) for Smart EPD must be completed for commissioning.
  • The cost is 540.00 $ and is payable to Smart EPD.
  • Mutually recognized EPDs receive a new title page in the layout of the receiving program and an additional declaration number. In addition, the respective requirements of the other program must be integrated.
  • For the transfer of IBU EPDs to Smart EPDs, the requirements from ISO 21930 and the results table using the TRACI2.1 methodology must be integrated.
  • This mutual recognition applies exclusively to product-specific EPDs, product-average EPDs, sector/industry-specific EPDs and sector/industry-average EPDs. EPDs created with a verified tool are also recognized, provided that the requirements are integrated at the same time.
  • Mutual recognition is expressed by a joint publication of the EPDs (according to EN 15804+A2:2019 and ISO 21930) on the website of the respective scheme operator at the request of the declaration holder.
  • Any EPD to be transferred must be in English.
  • Information outside an EPD (e.g. annexes) is not part of the mutual recognition process.

Through mutual recognition, the partners agree to mutual conformity for both the EPDs and the PCRs. The so-called MonPan (Monitoring Panel) checks the calculation rules of IBU and Smart EPD once a year regarding dimensional changes. “Our two organizations are collaboratively advancing the understanding and us of EPDs, while developing an offer that is highly recognized in the construction industry. This initiative extends significant market visibility to both Smart EPD customers and IBU customers,” concludes Anna Lasso, CEO of Smart EPD.

Mutual recognition has been in place at the IBU for almost 10 years. It is currently possible to transfer EPDs to the following eight programs:

  • Smart EPD (North America)
  • UL Solutions (USA)
  • BRE (UK)
  • ICMQ (Italy)
  • EPD Norge (Norway)
  • The International EPD System (Sweden)
  • AENOR (Spain)
  • EPD Danmark (Denmark)