ISO 14025

ISO 14025 sets out the principles and procedures for developing Type III environmental declarations, commonly known as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

These declarations are based on verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data and provide quantitative, objective and comparable information about the environmental impacts of products or services. The current edition is ISO 14025:2006 (reaffirmed in 2022); a revision is under development but has not yet been published.

Position within the ISO 14020 family

• Type I (ISO 14024): eco-labels based on multiple criteria and third-party certification.
• Type II (ISO 14021): self-declared environmental claims made by manufacturers.
• Type III (ISO 14025): quantified environmental data verified by independent third parties.

Core elements

• EPD programme operators: organisations that manage the development, verification and registration of EPDs (for example The International EPD System or ECO Platform).
• Product Category Rules (PCR): define how the LCA must be carried out and which impact indicators must be reported for a given product group.
• Independent verification: ensures accuracy and comparability through internal review or third-party auditing.

Typical environmental indicators

• Global Warming Potential (GWP).
• Eutrophication, acidification and photochemical ozone (smog) formation potential.
• Ozone depletion potential.
• Resource use: primary energy, water and raw materials.

Benefits of ISO 14025

• Comparability: uniform rules allow meaningful comparison between products in the same category.
• Credibility: external verification reduces the risk of greenwashing.
• Market access: increasingly required in green public procurement and sustainable building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM.
• Innovation driver: identifying environmental hotspots helps improve product design and process efficiency.

The process in summary

1. Define the scope and select the applicable PCR.
2. Conduct the LCA following ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
3. Prepare the EPD with quantified, verifiable results.
4. Undergo verification and register the declaration under an approved programme.

ISO 14025 is the cornerstone of science-based environmental declarations, building transparency and trust in global markets. By standardising how environmental data are reported and verified, it accelerates the shift towards more sustainable production and consumption. At Manglai we help companies measure their carbon footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting. Discover how Manglai can help you.