Clear and credible environmental labeling is no longer optional. It is a key driver of product selection. Today’s buyers expect transparency and rely on third-party verified data to validate a product’s sustainability claims.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are one such tool. They provide verified data on a product’s environmental impact across its entire life cycle—from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal. This level of detail offers clarity where vague claims fall short, giving building professionals the confidence to specify products that meet rigorous green building standards and support carbon-reduction goals.
Recent insights from COGNITION Smart Data show a significant shift in how building professionals view EPDs. While 47% see them as equally important as other green certifications, 26% now rank EPDs as their top priority when evaluating a product’s environmental performance–a number that has grown exponentially over just the past few years.
Unlike broad eco-labels, EPDs offer tangible numbers. For professionals under pressure to meet ESG benchmarks, achieve LEED credits, or appeal to environmentally conscious clients, this level of specificity is a game-changer. EPDs enable teams to make direct comparisons between products, set decarbonization targets, and confidently back up claims in an increasingly skeptical marketplace.
As the building industry moves toward greater transparency, EPDs are no longer just a nice-to-have. They are quickly becoming a standard tool for building consumer trust and proving environmental performance.
COGNITION Smart Data also reveals that 64% of building professionals have seen increased demand from consumers for EPDs, while another 21% say consumers may not yet be familiar with EPDs but are actively looking for product certifications to verify sustainability claims.
With 85% of consumers seeking a combination of EPDs and other eco-labels or certifications, market expectations are clear: having an EPD or eco-label is no longer a competitive advantage but the baseline requirement for consumers to consider your product.
About COGNITION Smart Data
COGNITION is the only market insights platform specifically engineered for the building industry’s sustainability transformation. We track evolving consumer behaviors, emerging technologies, policy shifts, competitive benchmarks, and market demand signals so you can adjust faster, sell smarter, and grow revenue—confidently.