Environmental performance disclosure has become increasingly important for manufacturers and construction product suppliers. As sustainability frameworks and environmental regulations continue to evolve globally, companies are expected to provide transparent and verifiable information about the environmental impacts of their products. One widely recognized method for providing this information is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An EPD is a standardized environmental report that communicates the environmental performance of a product across its entire lifecycle. The information presented in an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which analyzes environmental impacts from raw material extraction and manufacturing through transportation, product use, and end-of-life management.
EPDs follow international standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring that environmental information is reported in a consistent and comparable format. These declarations are widely used across sectors such as construction materials, coatings, insulation products, metals, and industrial manufacturing.
In Portugal, the use of Environmental Product Declarations is gradually expanding as manufacturers and suppliers seek to meet international sustainability requirements. EPDs are frequently used to support green building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, which encourage the use of building materials with transparent environmental performance data.
Preparing an EPD requires several technical steps, including life cycle inventory data collection, environmental impact modeling, report preparation, and third-party verification. Because these tasks involve specialized analytical tools and environmental expertise, many companies collaborate with professional EPD consultants to guide the process.
Below are several consulting firms that provide EPD consulting and product sustainability advisory services relevant to companies operating in Portugal.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm established in 2007, with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), green building certifications, and product sustainability strategies.
ERKE has completed numerous EPD certifications for manufacturers across different countries, supporting organizations ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The firm works with manufacturers across industries such as construction materials, insulation systems, coatings, ceramic products, and industrial components.
ERKE has collaborated with several international manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
The ERKE team includes Life Cycle Assessment specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the entire EPD preparation process. Their work includes life cycle data collection, environmental impact modeling, preparation of EPD documentation, and coordination with program operators and verification bodies.
Through these services, ERKE supports manufacturers seeking to align their products with international environmental reporting frameworks and sustainability standards.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in London. The firm operates internationally and provides services in engineering design, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup offers sustainability advisory services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental performance analysis, and product sustainability evaluation, which can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
The company assists manufacturers in assessing the environmental impacts associated with their products and production processes through lifecycle modeling and environmental data analysis.
Arup’s multidisciplinary expertise allows the firm to integrate engineering knowledge with environmental evaluation, supporting organizations seeking to improve product sustainability reporting and transparency.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Canada, with operations in more than 50 countries. The company provides consulting services across infrastructure, environmental engineering, and sustainability advisory sectors.
WSP offers services related to Life Cycle Assessment, carbon footprint evaluation, and environmental impact analysis, which can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
These analyses help manufacturers understand the environmental impacts associated with their products and manufacturing processes. The resulting data can be used to develop EPD documentation and environmental reporting.
WSP works with organizations in the construction and manufacturing sectors to support environmental product transparency and sustainability reporting initiatives.
4. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The firm operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, providing services in architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting.
The company offers sustainability advisory services that include environmental impact assessment, resource efficiency analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
These services can support Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental performance evaluation, which are key components of the Environmental Product Declaration process.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across various sectors to incorporate environmental performance analysis and sustainability considerations into product and project development.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is an international engineering and consultancy company headquartered in Denmark and founded in 1945. The firm operates globally across sectors including environment, infrastructure, buildings, and energy.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services that include Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint evaluation, and resource efficiency analysis.
These services enable organizations to evaluate environmental impacts associated with product lifecycles and manufacturing activities. The results of these studies can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental reporting documentation.
Ramboll works with manufacturers and industrial companies to improve environmental performance analysis and sustainability reporting.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in 1976 in Ireland. The company specializes in project management, cost management, and construction advisory services for development projects worldwide.
Although Linesight’s primary expertise focuses on construction project delivery, the firm frequently works on projects where environmental documentation and sustainability reporting are required.
Through its role in project coordination and documentation management, Linesight contributes to projects involving environmental reporting frameworks and sustainable construction practices.
The firm collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants on projects incorporating environmental performance monitoring and sustainability strategies.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, is a global engineering and consulting organization headquartered in Canada. The company provides services across engineering design, infrastructure development, and environmental consulting.
The firm offers sustainability advisory services including Life Cycle Assessment studies, environmental impact evaluation, carbon management strategies, and sustainability reporting.
These services help organizations analyze the environmental performance of their products and operations. Lifecycle analysis results can support the development of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental documentation.
AtkinsRéalis works with manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and industrial organizations to support environmental performance evaluation and sustainability initiatives.
Summary
Environmental Product Declarations provide a standardized framework for reporting the environmental performance of products using Life Cycle Assessment data. As sustainability expectations continue to expand within the construction and manufacturing sectors, many organizations pursue EPD certification to improve product transparency and support environmental reporting.
Consultancy firms involved in EPD development typically provide services including life cycle assessment modeling, environmental impact analysis, EPD documentation preparation, and coordination with verification bodies. Some firms specialize in product sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and environmental advisory practices.
Companies discussed in this article include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. ARUP 3. WSP Global 4. Khatib & Alami 5. Ramboll 6. Linesight 7. AtkinsRéalis. These firms represent a mix of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting organizations involved in environmental performance analysis.
The appropriate consultancy partner generally depends on product type, environmental reporting requirements, lifecycle data availability, and the technical expertise required for certification processes.