Manufacturers considering this process for the first time often ask where to even begin. It's a fair question, because the process involves more coordination than a single department can usually handle alone. Here's a realistic breakdown of what actually happens, step by step.
Step 1: Confirm the Applicable Product Category Rules
Before collecting any data, it's worth confirming whether an established product category rule already exists for your specific product type. This document defines exactly what needs to be measured and how, and starting without it often means redoing work later once the correct rules are identified.
Step 2: Define the System Boundary
Decide, or confirm with a consultant, whether the declaration will cover production only or extend through use and disposal. This decision shapes every subsequent step, including how much data needs to be gathered and from how many points in the supply chain.
Step 3: Collect Life Cycle Data
This is typically the longest phase. It involves gathering detailed information about raw materials, energy consumption, water use, and waste across the production process, often requiring input from multiple suppliers rather than just internal records.
A few practical tips make this step smoother:
- Start with your largest-volume raw material suppliers first, since they usually have the most significant impact on the final figures
- Use existing production records wherever possible instead of estimating from scratch
- Assign a single internal point of contact to coordinate supplier data requests, avoiding duplicated or conflicting outreach
Step 4: Model the Environmental Impact
Once the data is collected, it needs to be processed using life cycle assessment software and methodology, converting raw inputs into standardized impact figures across the required categories. This step usually falls to a specialist consultant or in-house life cycle assessment practitioner, since the modeling requires specific technical expertise.
Step 5: Draft the Declaration
The modeled results are then structured into the standardized report format, following both the general international standard and the specific product category rules that apply. This includes writing the descriptive sections explaining the product, its intended use, and the study's scope.
Step 6: Submit for Independent Verification
An independent third party reviews the study methodology, data quality, and final report before the declaration can be considered valid. This step often surfaces questions or requests for clarification, so it's worth building buffer time into the schedule rather than assuming verification will pass on the first submission.
Step 7: Publish and Distribute
Once verified, the declaration is published, often through a recognized program operator's registry, and made available to buyers, specifiers, and certification bodies who request it.
Common Pitfalls Along the Way
A few issues come up repeatedly during this process:
- Underestimating how long supplier data collection takes
- Choosing a consultant without direct experience in the relevant product category
- Skipping confirmation of the correct product category rules before starting data collection
- Failing to plan for renewal well before the declaration's validity period expires
Manufacturers who plan for these challenges upfront tend to move through the process with fewer delays than those tackling it reactively.
Teams preparing to start this process can review broader guidance on Environmental Product Declaration development to understand how each step connects before committing internal resources or engaging a consultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which step usually takes the longest?
Data collection, particularly when it requires coordinating with multiple suppliers who haven't previously tracked the relevant information.
Do I need a consultant for every step?
Most manufacturers work with a consultant for modeling and report drafting, though internal teams often lead data collection and supplier coordination.
What happens if verification identifies a problem?
The report typically needs revisions before it can be resubmitted, which adds time but ensures the final declaration meets the required standard.
Can this process be started without knowing the exact product category rules?
It's possible, but confirming the rules first usually saves time, since starting data collection without them can mean redoing work later.
How soon after starting can a manufacturer expect a published declaration?
Timelines vary by product complexity, but most manufacturers should expect the full process to take several months from start to publication.