EPDs earn credits in both LEED and BREEAM, but the systems use them differently. LEED counts individual products meeting specific criteria. BREEAM incorporates EPDs into whole building life cycle assessment. Understanding these differences helps you maximise credit achievement while actually improving your building’s environmental performance.
LEED: Product-Based Credits
LEED treats EPDs as product disclosure documents. The system rewards projects for specifying products with transparent environmental data, focusing on Materials & Resources credits.
LEED v4.1 Requirements (Current Version)
MRc2 Option 1: Environmental Product Declaration (1 point)
You need at least 20 permanently installed products from five different manufacturers. Products count differently based on their documentation type:
Product-specific Type III EPD with third-party verification: 1 product Product-specific Type III EPD with third-party verification and critical review: 1.5 products Industry-wide (generic) EPD: 0.5 product Publicly available LCA conforming to ISO 14044 (cradle-to-gate minimum): 0.25 product
The verification requirement caused confusion when v4.1 first launched. Earlier drafts appeared to invalidate most existing EPDs, but corrections clarified that standard ISO 14025 verification counts. Every properly verified EPD meets the requirement.
MRc2 Option 2: Multi-Attribute Optimisation (1 point)
This option rewards products demonstrating environmental improvements compared to industry averages. You need five products from three manufacturers, with products valued based on their impact reductions:
20% reduction in Global Warming Potential plus 5% reduction in two other categories: 2 products 20% reduction in GWP: 1.5 products 10% reduction in GWP: 1 product Lifecycle impact reduction action plan: 0.5 product
The impact categories include GWP, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, smog formation, and non-renewable energy depletion. The EPD must follow EN 15804 or ISO 21930.
This credit became achievable in v4.1. LEED v4 required 50% of building materials by cost to show improvements. That threshold killed the credit because few projects could meet it. The v4.1 threshold of five products from three manufacturers is realistic.
Verification Requirements
All EPDs must include:
Third-party verification by qualified verifier Programme operator clearly identified (EPD International, IBU, BRE, etc.) Manufacturer explicitly named Conformance to ISO 14025, EN 15804, or ISO 21930 Minimum cradle-to-gate scope (A1-A3)
The programme operator manages the EPD scheme and oversees verifiers. Every compliant EPD includes programme operator details in the header.
What Counts as ‘Permanently Installed’
LEED only counts products that remain in the building. Temporary formwork doesn’t count. Consumables don’t count. The product must be part of the finished building fabric.
This includes structural elements, envelope, finishes, MEP systems, fixtures, and furnishings. Exclude construction site equipment, temporary works, and removable furniture.
Practical LEED Strategy
The easiest approach targets specific product categories where EPDs are common:
Insulation (mineral wool, rigid foam, spray foam) Gypsum board and ceiling tiles Paint and coatings Flooring (carpet tile, resilient flooring, raised access flooring) Doors and door hardware Concrete and cement Steel (structural and reinforcing)
Six manufacturers dominate Multi-Attribute Optimisation documentation. If you spec their products early, you secure most of the credit. Check manufacturer websites for current EPD availability before specification.
Don’t wait until construction to collect EPDs. Set requirements in specifications. Make EPD submission a submittal requirement. Review EPDs when they arrive to confirm they meet LEED criteria before accepting them.
The product diversity requirement prevents gaming the system. You can’t submit 20 paint colours from one manufacturer. Products must differ in function, not just appearance.
BREEAM: Building-Level Assessment
BREEAM integrates EPDs into comprehensive building life cycle assessment rather than counting individual products. EPDs contribute to Mat 01 (Life Cycle Impacts) and Mat 02 (Environmental Impact from Construction Products).
Mat 01: Life Cycle Impacts (Up to 6 credits plus exemplary)
Mat 01 requires whole building LCA using BREEAM-recognised tools. You can’t skip this by just collecting EPDs. The assessment models the entire building using LCA data for materials, calculates environmental impacts across multiple categories, and scores against benchmarks.
BREEAM recognises specific LCA software tools. One Click LCA, eTool, and other IMPACT-compliant tools work for most schemes. Each BREEAM version lists approved tools. Using unapproved software invalidates your assessment.
Timing Matters Critically
First submission: RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design), before planning application Updated submission: RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design)
Missing the Stage 2 deadline loses most credits. BREEAM enforces this strictly. If you submit planning without the LCA, you cannot recover those credits later.
The early timing creates challenges. Stage 2 design lacks detailed specifications. You model the building using best available data, then update at Stage 4 when specifications are finalised. Both submissions must use BREEAM-recognised tools.
Mandatory Elements
Certain building elements must be included:
External walls (structure, envelope, finishes) Roof (structure, envelope, finishes) Upper floors Internal walls and partitions (depending on scheme)
Additional elements increase your percentage of the building assessed, therefore improving your score. Including more elements requires more data, but yields more credits.
How EPDs Contribute
When you use products with verified EPDs in your LCA, the assessment treats this data differently. Generic database values carry uncertainty. Product-specific EPDs provide verified manufacturer data, therefore improving data quality scores.
The Mat 01 calculator includes tool quality evaluation. Using EPD data rather than generic data increases this quality score. Higher quality scores improve credit achievement at the same performance level.
EPDs must be:
Verified Type III following ISO 14025, EN 15804, or ISO 21930 Valid at specification time (not necessarily at submission) Produced by recognised programme operator
Expired EPDs cannot contribute. If an EPD expires between specification and submission, this causes problems. Consider expiry dates when selecting products early in the design process.
Mat 02: Construction Products EPDs (Up to 1.5 credits)
Mat 02 specifically rewards product-specific EPDs. Use at least 20 permanently installed products with verified EPDs to earn credits. Products must come from different product categories to encourage diversity.
Unlike LEED, BREEAM bases this on building elements, not cost or product count. The percentage of each element type using EPD products contributes to the credit calculation.
For example: if 60% of external wall area uses products with EPDs, you get credit for 60% of that element type. Aggregate across all element types for total credit.
This makes Mat 02 easier to plan. Identify major building elements early. Find products with EPDs for those elements. Specify them and submit the EPDs.
IMPACT Compliance
Some BREEAM schemes require IMPACT-compliant LCA tools. IMPACT is BRE’s database and tool certification system. It sets stricter data quality requirements than basic BREEAM recognition.
IMPACT applies to UK offices, industrial, and retail buildings. International schemes typically don’t require it, but may accept it. Check your specific scheme requirements.
IMPACT-compliant tools use BRE’s environmental profiles and product data. This standardises the data quality but limits product selection to those in the BRE database.
Practical BREEAM Strategy
Start at RIBA Stage 1 or early Stage 2. Identify your LCA consultant and agree the Mat 01 approach. Decide which elements to include based on data availability and credit targets.
Set EPD requirements in early specifications. Unlike LEED, you need this data for the Stage 2 submission, therefore before detailed design. This requires estimating material quantities from concept design.
Work with suppliers early. Ask which products have EPDs. If key products lack EPDs, either change products or accept lower Mat 01 quality scores.
Update the assessment at Stage 4 with actual specified products and refined quantities. The Stage 4 submission determines final credit achievement, but Stage 2 establishes your baseline.
For Mat 02, focus on high-volume elements. Getting EPDs for 20 different structural products is less effective than getting EPDs for products covering large areas of envelope or finishes.
Key Differences Between LEED and BREEAM
Assessment approach: LEED counts products. BREEAM models whole buildings.
Timing: LEED allows EPD collection during construction. BREEAM needs data before planning.
Product weighting: LEED weights by documentation type. BREEAM weights by mass and area.
Benchmarking: LEED has fixed thresholds. BREEAM compares against building typology benchmarks.
Data sources: LEED accepts any conforming EPD. BREEAM requires tool-compatible data.
Credit structure: LEED offers discrete product credits. BREEAM integrates EPDs into broader LCA credits.
Which System Drives Better Outcomes?
BREEAM’s whole building approach arguably encourages better environmental performance. You can’t game the system by collecting EPDs for minor products. The assessment captures total building impact.
LEED’s product approach makes credits more accessible. You don’t need sophisticated LCA modelling. Collect 20 EPDs and you’re done. This lowers barriers for smaller projects.
Both systems achieve the goal of increasing EPD adoption. Manufacturers create EPDs because projects demand them. Projects demand them because certification systems reward them. This positive cycle improves market transparency.
Practical Advice for Both Systems
Set requirements early. Don’t wait until construction to think about EPDs. Include requirements in outline specifications at concept design stage.
Engage suppliers. Ask manufacturers about EPDs during product selection. If critical products lack EPDs, this affects your credit strategy.
Verify EPD validity. Check publication dates and expiry dates. Expired EPDs don’t count. EPDs pending verification don’t count.
Confirm programme operator. LEED and BREEAM accept EPDs from recognised programme operators. EPD International, IBU, BRE, and similar established programmes all work. Avoid unverified documents claiming to be EPDs.
Read the full EPD. Don’t just check it exists. Verify it covers the right product, includes required life cycle stages, and uses appropriate PCR. One-page summaries aren’t sufficient for LEED or BREEAM submission.
Document everything. For LEED, maintain a tracking spreadsheet showing each product, manufacturer, EPD programme operator, and documentation type. For BREEAM, keep records linking EPDs to assessment model inputs.
Work with your certification consultant. Both systems have nuances. LEED v4.1 language changes caused confusion. BREEAM scheme versions vary. Your BREEAM AP or LEED AP understands current requirements.
Beyond Compliance
Using EPDs to earn certification credits is fine. Using EPDs to actually improve building performance is better.
Compare products using EPD data. Not just to earn credits, but to select lower-impact options. This requires valid comparison following the rules in our companion article.
Challenge design decisions. If your LCA shows massive impacts from a particular building element, investigate alternatives. Could different materials reduce impacts? Could design changes reduce quantities?
Set reduction targets beyond certification requirements. LEED and BREEAM establish minimum thresholds. Your project can do better. Use EPDs and LCA to measure progress against meaningful goals.
This transforms EPDs from paperwork into decision-making tools. That’s their intended purpose. Certification credits just incentivise their use.
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