The differences between DPP, EPD, and LCA become particularly important for manufacturers during Digital Product Passport preparation. These three tools are interconnected but do not have the same purpose or output.
LCA calculates environmental impacts. An EPD publishes these results through a verified environmental declaration. A DPP digitally manages the product’s environmental, technical, and regulatory information.
When the differences between DPP, EPD, and LCA are not properly understood, existing environmental studies may be considered sufficient to meet the entire DPP requirement. However, LCA and EPD contribute only to the environmental data section of the Digital Product Passport.
|
Concept |
Primary purpose |
Main output |
|
LCA |
Calculate environmental impacts throughout the life cycle |
Technical environmental impact results |
|
EPD |
Disclose LCA results in a standardized and verified format |
Environmental Product Declaration |
|
DPP |
Digitally manage product data throughout the life cycle |
Updatable digital product record |
This distinction is important. An LCA report or EPD owned by the manufacturer may cover a specific part of DPP preparation but does not contain all of the product’s technical and regulatory data.
Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, calculates the environmental impacts of a product from raw materials and production to use, recycling, or disposal.
Depending on the scope of the study, climate change, energy and water use, resource consumption, waste generation, and different environmental impact categories may be assessed.
When the appropriate scope and data quality are ensured, LCA results can be transferred to the DPP. Product carbon footprint, energy use, water consumption, and end-of-life scenarios are examples of such results.
However, the study must:
.
Manufacturers can use Life Cycle Assessment studies not only for reporting but also for product development and environmental improvement decisions.
An Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, is an environmental document that publishes LCA results in accordance with specific standards and product category rules.
During EPD preparation, the product scope is defined, production data is collected, the life cycle model is created, and the results are submitted for independent verification.
The differences between DPP, EPD, and LCA become more apparent at this point. The focus of an EPD is environmental performance. A DPP, in addition to environmental results, may contain the following information:
Therefore, an Environmental Product Declaration may support the environmental data section of a DPP but does not replace the entire passport.
A Digital Product Passport is a product identity record in which information about a product, component, or material is stored in a structured digital environment.
A QR code, NFC tag, or another data carrier on the product establishes the link between the physical product and the digital record. However, a QR code alone is not a DPP. The actual requirement is for the data behind the code to be accurate, up to date, and accessible.
The primary legal framework for the DPP has been established under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The exact data fields and implementation conditions will be determined through product group-specific regulations. The official text of the regulation can be accessed through EUR-Lex.
No. An EPD does not replace a DPP.
An existing EPD may contribute to DPP preparation under the following conditions:
If the EPD is outdated, the product formulation has changed, or the required data level is different, an update or a new environmental study may be required.
A product carbon footprint presents greenhouse gas emissions within defined life cycle boundaries as carbon dioxide equivalent.
This result may be presented in the DPP as a numerical indicator, a link to a verified report, or an EPD result.
However, a single carbon value may not be sufficient. The system boundary, data year, production facility, electricity emission factor, recycled content approach, and end-of-life scenario should also be explained.
In addition, the corporate carbon footprint should not be confused with the product carbon footprint. While a corporate calculation covers company activities, a DPP requires data that can be associated with a specific product.
The most appropriate method is to manage environmental data in structured and machine-readable fields rather than storing it only as a PDF.
EPD data may be transferred to a DPP through the following methods:
This allows the data to be shared and updated more easily across different digital systems.
Conducting DPP, EPD, and LCA studies as separate data silos may result in repetitive work and inconsistent outcomes.
The product name, product code, formulation, production facility, and supplier information should be consistent across all studies. When the product formulation changes, not only the technical data sheet but also the LCA model, EPD validity, and DPP record should be reviewed.
When this process is managed together with a circular economy approach, product design, material selection, repair, and recycling decisions can be supported by the same data infrastructure.
The differences between DPP, EPD, and LCA primarily arise from their purpose, scope, and method of updating.
LCA is the technical method used to calculate environmental impacts. An EPD is an environmental declaration in which LCA results are published in a standardized and verified format. A DPP is a dynamic digital record that manages the product’s environmental, technical, and regulatory data.
An EPD does not fulfil the entire DPP requirement. However, manufacturers with current and verified LCA or EPD data gain a significant advantage in Digital Product Passport preparation.
The first step is to assess existing environmental data in terms of product identity, scope, currency, and digital usability.
LCA calculates environmental impacts, an EPD publishes these results in a verified format, and a DPP digitally manages broader product data.
No. An EPD can only provide data for the environmental performance section of the DPP.
There is no general EPD requirement applicable to every product. The requirement depends on product group-specific legislation.
If environmental impact results are required in the DPP, an LCA or another appropriate calculation method may be necessary.
Yes. However, the calculation method, system boundary, data year, and represented product should be clearly stated.
Generally, no. Since a DPP is product-based, the environmental data must be attributable to a specific product.
There is currently no general third-party verification requirement for all DPP data. Product group-specific regulations may require verification for certain data.