{"id":24666,"date":"2015-11-19T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/retrofitmagazine.com\/?p=24666"},"modified":"2022-10-17T12:54:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-17T16:54:50","slug":"the-importance-of-transparency-with-environmental-and-health-product-declarations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/retrofitmagazine.com\/the-importance-of-transparency-with-environmental-and-health-product-declarations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Transparency with Environmental and Health Product Declarations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The age of transparency is here, and it\u2019s a major focus of green building standards and codes, says Aaron Smith, director of sustainable building solutions for ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions<\/a>. Smith, LEED AP BD+C, gave a presentation called “Opening the Door to Transparency \u2014 LEED v4, EPDs and HPDs” at the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)<\/a> 2015 Fall Conference.<\/p>\n

Product transparency has become the new standard for green building rating systems, according to Smith. Customers want to know how a product is made, where it is made and what is in it. LEED is promoting this in the marketplace through Environmental and Health Product Declarations.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnvironmental Product Declarations, or EPDs, are being codified in many places, like California, Europe and more,\u201d says Smith.<\/p>\n

He compared an EPD to any label one might find on a food product at the grocery store. Not only can EPDs contribute to a positive environmental impact, but there is incentive for manufacturers to participate. New credits reward openness about a product’s ingredients and environmental footprint, Smith states.<\/p>\n

Smith broke down the life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product, which \u201cidentifies the environmental impacts of a product, process or activity over its lifespan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The life cycle of a product from cradle to grave includes five stages:<\/p>\n