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Tue March 19 2024

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BRE and UL agree mutual recognition

25 Feb 15 The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and US-based certification body UL Environment have agreed to recognise each other’s environmental product declarations

The two organisations said that the agreement would “support transparency between certification bodies and promote comparability of EPD in the worldwide marketplace”.

Environmental product declarations, or EPD, are a standardised way of independently measuring the environmental impact of a product or system over its lifetime and are used to help manufacturers target impact reductions throughout their supply chain.

Manufacturers who develop a life cycle assessment for a product using core aspects of European standard EN 15804 and an agreed product category rule (PCR) can then undergo an independent and globally recognised EPD certification by either BRE Global or UL Environment. The expected benefits are increased market visibility and the ability to qualify for green building system credits worldwide, including both the BRE’s BREEAM sustainability standard and US-based standard LEED.

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UL began life in the 19th Century as Underwriters Laboratories, a scientific testing house for the insurance industry.

David Richardson, director of BRE’s Centre for Sustainable Products, said: “This collaboration is an important development for the UK and US based construction sectors. As well as working together for the benefit of manufacturers we will encourage other similar providers to follow suit and adopt a unified approach to global recognition of a product’s life time environmental credentials.”

UL Environment vice president and general manager Lisa Meier added: “As the demand for product transparency grows, we are always seeking to enhance comparability of products and simplify purchasing and specification decisions. Mutual recognition EPD accomplish this, while also making it easier for manufacturers to go to market globally.”

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