Why EPDs will become non-negotiable in EU construction
Between now and 2030, Life-cycle GWP calculation and disclosure become mandatory for large new buildings in the EU. While the practical implementation still depends on the local context of each member state, building professionals all over the continent will have to make their search for valuable data a number one priority. And it puts Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) at the centre of every serious project. The Reynaers Aluminium EPD Builder is designed to answer this shift.
A quick recap: what the EPD Builder does
The Reynaers Aluminium EPD Builder provides EPDs in two forms:
- Product EPDs for the early design phase, when the bill of materials is not yet fixed. Useful to assess the environmental impact of different standard Reynaers Aluminium systems.
- Project-specific EPDs for tender stage, based on actual volumes and sourcing of a project-specific building elements.
Both help to make an honest assessment of the environmental impact of the Reynaers Aluminium systems of your choice. With EPDs, you build for a better future.
The legislation you need to know about
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2024/1275 is the EU's legislative framework for improving the energy and carbon performance of buildings. It covers both operational and embodied carbon by requiring Life-cycle GWP assessments and setting minimum energy performance standards.
What that means in practice
Under the EPBD, from 2028 onward, the life-cycle Global Warming Potential (GWP) will have to be calculated and disclosed in energy performance certificates for all new buildings with a floor area larger than 1,000 m². The obligation extends across the EU to all new buildings from 1 January 2030.
For buildings larger than 5,000 m², the EU Taxonomy already requires GWP to be calculated and made available to investors on request. Both the EPBD and the Construction Products Regulation are pushing EPDs from voluntary to mandatory. The direction is clear.
Why this matters for you
Clearly, the shift is already happening today. For architects, Life-cycle GWP is no longer a nice-to-have. It is part of the energy performance certificate. Material choices, including façades, windows and doors, now visibly influence a building's score.
For investors, embodied carbon becomes a crucial selling point. A building with weak carbon documentation implies a lower asset value and higher regulatory risk.
But here is the catch: where a product lacks an EPD, EU Member States can apply default values. Those defaults are usually quite conservative, which can negatively influence a bid when a competitor supplies verified data. Therefore, for Reynaers Aluminium fabricators, verified, product-specific EPDs are the only way forward.
How the EPD Builder fits in
Both the Product and Project-specific EPDs generated by the EPD Builder neatly align with EU requirements and the prescribed LCA method. The output is ready for the calculation any architect, LCA consultant or investor is about to run, without rework. The Reynaers Aluminium EPD Builder helps professionals create a better future, with data they can trust.
Want to see how the EPD Builder can support your next project? Contact your local Reynaers Aluminium representative for more information, or visit the EPD Builder website.
Frequently asked questions
What is an EPD?
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a third-party verified, internationally recognized disclosure of a product's environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. EPDs are voluntarily developed and their overall goal is to provide relevant, verified and clear information regarding the environmental performance of products. The basis of the EPD is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the product, in accordance to ISO 14025 and EN 15804+A2.
What is the difference between a Product EPD and Project EPD from the Reynaers Aluminium EPD Builder?
A Product EPD covers a specific aluminium system or product variant and is designed for the early design phase, when the bill of materials and quantities are not yet fixed. It helps architects assess the environmental impact of different Reynaers Aluminium system solutions. All our Product EPDs are available in our download section.
A Project-specific EPD is generated at tender stage, based on the actual volumes and sourcing of a specific project, and reflects the real carbon footprint of that finalised design. The EPD Builder, the generating process behind it and the generated EPDs are third-party verified by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU), which adds credibility to all stakeholders who use them, and the decisions they make.
