The Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS) has partnered with the Life Cycle Association of New Zealand (LCANZ) to launch the Australasian EPD Programme.

The Australasian EPD Programme, the landmark scheme for benchmarking environmental credentials, will officially launch as part of the DesignBUILD expo in Sydney on 29 April 2015.

Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs are summary life cycle assessment reports, complemented by environmental information on the specific product. EPD uses accepted standards and rules, developed by LCA professionals with direct input from industry to present a key pathway for manufacturers and developers to generate credits in Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star rating tools.

ALCAS president Rob Rouwette explains that the Australasian EPD Programme provides a single EPD programme for the Australasian region and one clear route for the creation of EPDs recognised in Australia and New Zealand.

ALCAS, LCANZ and the Board of the Australasian EPD Programme have also committed to a single EPD scheme fully aligned with international EPD programmes in overseas markets. Towards this, a strategic partnership with the International EPD System has been established, aligning the Australasian EPD Programme with EPDs in more than 20 countries worldwide.

According to Rob, international best practice standards in EDP development make it imperative for the Australian system to be harmonised with the wider International EPD System, adding that the harmonised approach ensures LCA-based, credible and comparable information is available on the environmental performance of goods and services.

An international process allows manufacturers exporting to Europe to hold EPDs recognised in the EU. Australasian EPDs also meet the requirements of LEEDv4, the green building rating tool developed in the USA, with participants in nearly 150 countries.

The Australasian EPD Programme will be presented in detail at ‘Life Cycle Design – A solid foundation for sustainable buildings’ during the DesignBUILD expo at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park on April 29 2015.

Architecture & Design Team

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