Environmental sustainability has become an increasingly important priority for manufacturers and construction material producers worldwide. As environmental regulations evolve and sustainability reporting becomes more common, companies are seeking standardized ways to communicate the environmental performance of their products. One of the most widely recognized tools for this purpose is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
An EPD is a standardized environmental document that provides transparent and verified information about the environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle. The data included in an EPD is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which evaluates environmental impacts from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation, product use, and end-of-life stages.
EPDs follow internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14025 and EN 15804, ensuring that environmental data is reported consistently and can be compared across products within the same category. Environmental Product Declarations are widely used in the construction and manufacturing industries, particularly for materials such as concrete, insulation, coatings, metals, and building systems.
In Portugal, interest in EPD certification continues to grow as manufacturers aim to align their products with international sustainability standards. Environmental product declarations are often used to support green building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, which encourage the use of building materials with transparent environmental data.
The development of an EPD involves multiple technical steps, including life cycle inventory data collection, environmental impact modeling, report preparation, and third-party verification. Because these steps require specialized expertise and analytical tools, many organizations collaborate with experienced EPD consultants to manage the process.
Below are several consulting firms that provide EPD consulting and product sustainability advisory services relevant to organizations operating in Portugal.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007, with offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides consulting services related to green building certifications, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), product sustainability, and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
ERKE has successfully completed numerous EPD certifications for manufacturers worldwide, supporting companies across different regions, including projects ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The firm works with manufacturers in sectors such as construction materials, coatings, insulation systems, ceramics, and industrial products.
The consultancy has collaborated with several global manufacturers, including:
- Nippon Paint
- Polisan
- Çimsa
- Apresan
- USG Boral
- Durat Tiles
- Epsblock
- Alubond
ERKE’s team includes Life Cycle Assessment specialists and product sustainability experts who manage the full EPD preparation process. This includes data collection, life cycle modeling, environmental impact calculations, documentation preparation, and coordination with verification bodies and program operators.
Through these services, ERKE supports manufacturers seeking to align their products with international environmental standards and sustainability reporting frameworks.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Within its sustainability advisory practice, Arup offers consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental impact evaluation, and product sustainability analysis. These services support organizations that are preparing Environmental Product Declarations.
Arup assists manufacturers in assessing environmental impacts associated with their products and production processes through lifecycle modeling and environmental data analysis.
By combining engineering expertise with sustainability consulting, the firm supports companies seeking to improve environmental transparency and product performance evaluation.
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 consulting services related to Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint analysis, and sustainability reporting, which can support the development of Environmental Product Declarations.
Through lifecycle modeling and environmental impact analysis, WSP helps manufacturers understand the environmental implications of their products and manufacturing activities.
The firm collaborates with organizations in the construction and industrial sectors to support environmental product transparency and sustainability documentation.
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 consulting services including environmental impact assessments, resource efficiency analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
These services can support Life Cycle Assessment studies and environmental data analysis, which are key components in the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations.
Khatib & Alami works with organizations across multiple sectors to integrate environmental evaluation and sustainability considerations into product and project development.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering and consultancy firm founded in 1945. The company operates globally across sectors including environment, energy, infrastructure, and buildings.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services that include Life Cycle Assessment, environmental footprint evaluation, and resource efficiency analysis.
These services enable organizations to assess environmental impacts associated with product lifecycles and production processes. The resulting data can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and sustainability reports.
Ramboll works with manufacturers and industrial companies to improve environmental performance assessment and product 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 project delivery and cost management, the firm frequently works on projects where sustainability documentation and environmental reporting are required.
Through its role in project coordination and documentation management, Linesight contributes to projects that involve environmental reporting and sustainability performance tracking.
The firm collaborates with developers, contractors, and consultants on projects incorporating sustainable construction practices and environmental reporting frameworks.
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 evaluations, 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 preparation of Environmental Product Declarations and environmental reporting documentation.
AtkinsRéalis works with manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and industrial organizations to support environmental performance analysis and sustainability initiatives.
Summary
Environmental Product Declarations provide a standardized method for reporting the environmental performance of products based on Life Cycle Assessment data. As sustainability requirements continue to expand across construction and manufacturing industries, many companies pursue EPD certification to improve environmental transparency and support sustainable procurement practices.
Consultancy firms involved in EPD development typically provide services such as life cycle assessment modeling, environmental impact evaluation, EPD documentation preparation, and coordination with third-party verification bodies. Some firms specialize in product sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and environmental advisory activities.
Companies discussed in this article include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. ARUP 3. WSP Global 4. Khatib & Alami 5. Ramboll 6. Linesight 7. AtkinsRéalis. These organizations represent a combination of product sustainability specialists and multidisciplinary consulting firms involved in environmental performance analysis.
The appropriate consultancy partner generally depends on product category, environmental reporting requirements, lifecycle data availability, and the level of technical expertise required for certification processes.
