Kiwa-Ecobility Experts – EPD program operator according to ISO 14025
The Ecobility Experts of Kiwa GmbH act as program operator of a Type III environmental declaration programme in accordance with the requirements of DIN EN ISO 14025. The task of the integrated programme operator is to verify Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in accordance with ISO 14025 and subsequently publish them. The verified environmental information can refer to a specific or a representative product or system.
What you need to know
As a programme operator for EPDs, Kiwa-Ecobility Experts (Kiwa-EE) support companies, associations or organisations in communicating quantifiable environmental information for products and services on a European harmonised, scientific basis. Through external verification and subsequent publication of the EPD in recognised databases, such as Ökobaudat, the EPDs provide decision-makers in industry, governmental and non-governmental organisations and end users with a data basis for comparing products and services with regard to their environmental impacts.
The publication of an EPD in life cycle assessment and building material databases, such as Ökobaudat, requires external verification of the environmental data. In this context, the verified and published climate and environmental indicators primarily serve business-to-business or business-to-consumer communication as a credible marketing instrument with reliable environmental statements.
Process steps
The programme operator, Kiwa-EE develops and publishes the necessary product category rules (PCRs) for publication in cooperation with an advisory board (SVA). The experts of Kiwa GmbH request the PCRs from the programme operator and then prepare a draft of the EPD. Kiwa GmbH commissions the programme operator to carry out an external verification of the EPD on behalf of the customer. The program operator orders an independent external verifier to verify the EPD. The independent external verifier checks the EPD data, consults the experts of Kiwa GmbH and prepares a verification report. The verification decision is positive if the EPD withstands the formal and substantive examination. The verification decision is negative if the EPD does not meet all the requirements for external verification. The verification report informs the programme operator about deviations and corrective measures. If the external verification is positive, the programme operator publishes the EPD in the Ökobaudat. After completion, the customer receives the verification report.
Programme operation of your EPD
Our standard service includes an external verification of the EPD by an independent verifier, the publication of the EPD on the homepage of the Ecobility Experts, if necessary the transfer and publication of the EPD into ÖKOBAUDAT, the EPD platform of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI).
Please contact us at DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com
Independent advisory board (SVA)
The independent expert committee of Ecobility Experts consists of three members. The members elected Prof. Frank Heimbecher from their ranks as chairman for a period of three years.
New members are convened by unanimous vote of the members of the SVA. Essential tasks of the SVA are
- the monitoring of the program operation,
- the examination and approval of PCR drafts,
- the appointment of independent verifiers,
- to pass on information to the programme operator on the latest findings, research results and activities in the field of sustainability in order to ensure that the programme is always up to date.
To contact the SVA of Ecobility Experts, send an e-mail to DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com.
Verification
Verification is a critical check that ensures the quality and consistency of the content of an EPD. For publication, the EPD must have completed a verification. A Verification is performed by a verifier, who is is appointed by the programme operator. The results of the verification are presented transparently and clearly in a verification report.
For further information on a verification please contact us at DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com.
Product category rules (term, process)
Since some product groups differ greatly in their environmental performance, specific rules must be developed for the individual product groups, so-called „Produkt Kategorie Regeln" (PCR). Together with the General Program Guide, the PCRs form the basis for EPDs. The PCR process is organized by the program operator. The program operator is also responsible for ensuring that the PCRs set up comply with the requirements of ISO 14025. Before release, the program is checked by the independent expert committee. It is open to interested parties to participate in the development of PCR. Examples of group specific PCR's from Kiwa-EE can be found in the download area.
If you are interested in participating in the development of the PCR provided for public consultation, please contact us at DE.Ecobility.Experts@kiwa.com. Please enter your contact details and the name of the PCR in which you would like to participate.
General program instructions
The General Programme Guide provides the basis for the general programme operations of Kiwa GmbH - Ecobility Experts - and regulates the administrative and operational processes for the preparation and publication of Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in accordance with ISO 14025. The General Programme Guides are updated every three years in order to continuously adapt the programme operations to current developments in the areas of standardisation, life cycle assessment methods, etc. The General Programme Guide is updated every three years.