Climate Declarations are transparent and comparable statements that clearly specify the greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product throughout its lifecycle.
A Climate Declaration is an environmental assessment report that calculates and transparently presents the greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product or service throughout its lifecycle in a comparable way.
A Climate Declaration is a document that measures and reports the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from a product, service, or process. This declaration is based on the carbon footprint and other environmental indicators determined through a lifecycle assessment (LCA Analysis). By covering all stages from production to recycling, it transparently presents the product's total impact on the climate. Climate Declarations are especially important for tracking and reducing carbon emissions in sectors like construction. They can be prepared under the EPD Document in accordance with the ISO 14025 standard and are subject to third-party verification.
The main purpose of Climate Declarations is to transparently report the greenhouse gas emissions a product or service generates throughout its lifecycle, especially in terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalents. These declarations are used to identify the environmental impacts of products and to make comparisons according to sustainability criteria. Additionally, they promote environmental sustainability in building and product design, supporting efforts to reduce carbon footprints. Climate Declarations play an essential role in sustainable public procurement, green building certifications, and eco-friendly marketing strategies, thus contributing to more conscious and sustainable purchasing decisions.
Climate Declarations are primarily based on the ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards. ISO 14025 requires third-party verification of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and provides detailed environmental information for B2B (business-to-business) communication. The EN 15804 standard, meanwhile, specifies rules for preparing environmental product declarations for construction products in particular. These standards provide a methodological framework for assessing environmental impacts over a product’s lifecycle and calculating its climate impacts. Thus, Climate Declarations transparently report essential environmental impacts such as the carbon footprint of products.
The types of data used in Climate Declarations include information for all phases of a product’s lifecycle. These include raw material extraction, production processes, energy consumption, transportation, usage phase, and recycling or waste management. Specific emission data for greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) are also included.
A Climate Declaration measures and reports the greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts a product or service generates throughout its lifecycle. This declaration includes carbon emissions across all stages, from raw material sourcing through production, usage, maintenance, and final disposal. Calculations are generally expressed in CO₂ equivalents and follow standards such as EN 15804. Third-party verification enhances the reliability and comparability of data, enabling a transparent assessment of sustainability efforts.
The data collection process for Climate Declarations generally consists of four main stages:
Raw Material and Production: Emission data from raw material extraction, processing, and production stages are collected.
Transportation and Distribution: Emissions generated during transportation and distribution are recorded.
Usage: Energy consumption and related emissions occurring during the product's lifecycle are calculated.
Waste Management and Recycling: Emissions from waste management, recycling, or disposal at the end of the product’s lifecycle are taken into account.
Climate Declarations use the LCA (Lifecycle Assessment) methodology to calculate a product or service’s climate impact throughout its entire lifecycle. LCA analyzes all stages from raw material extraction to production, usage, and disposal. In this process, carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions are calculated. Climate Declarations summarize LCA results, presenting the product’s carbon emissions in CO₂ equivalent units, providing essential data for evaluating the environmental performance of products.
The greenhouse gases considered in Climate Declarations include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases.
The accuracy of Climate Declarations is ensured through data quality, accurate LCA calculations, third-party verification, and adherence to standards.
Required data for product Climate Declarations include production process, energy usage, raw material consumption, transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste management.
Climate Declarations are used for carbon footprint assessment and environmental sustainability in sectors such as construction, automotive, energy, agriculture, and textiles.
Third-party verification enhances the reliability of Climate Declarations, ensuring data accuracy and transparency, and provides confidence through independent assessment.
