Environmental transparency has become a key consideration for manufacturers and suppliers, particularly within the construction and industrial sectors. As sustainability regulations evolve and environmental reporting frameworks expand, companies are increasingly expected to disclose the environmental impacts of their products. One widely used tool that supports this transparency is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized document that communicates verified information about the environmental performance of a product throughout its lifecycle. The data included in an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which evaluates environmental impacts from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, product installation, use, and end-of-life stages.
EPDs are developed according to international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring consistency, transparency, and comparability across products within the same category. These declarations are widely used across sectors such as construction materials, coatings, insulation products, metals, and building components.
In Portugal, the use of Environmental Product Declarations is gradually increasing as manufacturers seek to align their products with international sustainability standards. EPDs are also frequently used to support green building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM, which encourage the use of building materials with verified environmental data.
The preparation of an EPD involves several technical steps, including life cycle inventory data collection, environmental impact calculations, report preparation, and independent third-party verification. Because these steps require specialized expertise and analytical tools, many organizations collaborate with professional 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 established in 2007, with offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The firm provides consulting services related to product sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and green building certifications.
ERKE has completed numerous EPD certifications for manufacturers across different regions, supporting organizations ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The firm works with companies in industries such as construction materials, paints and coatings, insulation products, ceramics, and building systems.
ERKE has collaborated with several international manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
The ERKE team includes Life Cycle Assessment specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the full EPD preparation process. Their work includes life cycle data collection, environmental impact modeling, EPD documentation preparation, and coordination with verification bodies and program operators.
Through these services, ERKE supports manufacturers seeking to align their products with international environmental reporting standards and sustainability frameworks.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Within its sustainability advisory practice, Arup offers services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental impact evaluation, and product sustainability analysis, which support the development of Environmental Product Declarations.
Arup assists manufacturers in assessing the environmental impacts associated with their products and production processes through lifecycle modeling and environmental data analysis.
By integrating engineering expertise with sustainability consulting, Arup supports organizations seeking to improve environmental transparency and product sustainability reporting.
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 engineering, and sustainability advisory sectors.
WSP offers consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint analysis, and carbon impact evaluation, which can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
Through lifecycle analysis and environmental modeling, WSP helps manufacturers understand the environmental impacts associated with their products and manufacturing processes.
The firm collaborates with organizations in the construction and manufacturing sectors 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 firm operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, providing services in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting.
The company 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 performance evaluation, which are essential components of the Environmental Product Declaration process.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across multiple industries to incorporate environmental performance analysis and sustainability strategies into product and project 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, infrastructure, buildings, and energy.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint evaluation, and resource efficiency analysis.
These services 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 sustainability documentation.
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 development projects worldwide.
Although Linesight primarily focuses on construction project delivery, the firm frequently participates in projects where environmental documentation and sustainability reporting are required.
Through its involvement in construction projects, Linesight contributes to project coordination and documentation processes that support sustainability reporting and environmental performance monitoring.
The company collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants on projects incorporating sustainable construction strategies and environmental reporting frameworks.
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 including Life Cycle Assessment studies, environmental impact evaluations, carbon management strategies, and sustainability reporting.
These services help organizations evaluate the environmental performance of their products and operations. Lifecycle analysis results can support the development 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 framework for communicating the environmental performance of products using verified Life Cycle Assessment data. As sustainability reporting continues to expand within construction and manufacturing sectors, many organizations pursue EPD certification to improve transparency and align with environmental reporting standards.
Consultancy firms involved in EPD development typically provide services including life cycle assessment modeling, environmental impact analysis, documentation preparation, and coordination with third-party 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 mix of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting firms involved in environmental performance analysis.
The appropriate consultancy partner generally depends on product category, environmental reporting objectives, lifecycle data availability, and the level of technical expertise required for certification processes.