01
Promote transparency
Standardised, comparable disclosure of verified environmental information.
Program Documentation
General Program Instructions
The operational rulebook for the Global GreenTag EPD Program. Defines program operator obligations, EPD development, verification and publication under ISO 14025.
Terms & definitions.
Eight working terms used throughout this document. All map to ISO 14025 vocabulary unless noted.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| EPD | Environmental Product Declaration — a standardised document that communicates transparent and comparable life-cycle environmental information about a product. |
| PCR | Product Category Rules — specific rules, requirements and guidelines for developing EPDs within a defined product category. |
| LCA | Life Cycle Assessment — compilation and evaluation of inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system through its life cycle. |
| Program Operator | Global GreenTag International Pty Ltd — the organisation responsible for operating and managing the EPD program. |
| Verifier | Independent third party that conducts verification of EPDs and LCA reports per ISO 14025 and program requirements. |
| Declaration Holder | The organisation or individual that owns and is responsible for the EPD. |
| Functional Unit | Quantified performance of a product system used as a reference unit in an LCA study. |
| System Boundary | Set of criteria specifying which unit processes are part of a product system under study. |
Six objectives that govern the program.
Each program decision — from PCR scope to verifier accreditation — is judged against these six aims.
02
Support green building
Enable LEED, BREEAM and Green Star credit achievement for project teams.
03
Drive innovation
Reward manufacturers who improve products through life-cycle thinking.
04
Enable comparison
Comparable data so specifiers and procurement can make informed environmental choices.
05
Ensure compliance
Align with ISO 14025, ISO 21930 and EN 15804+A2 — no exceptions.
06
Build trust
Third-party verified data that stakeholders can rely on for decisions and reporting.
Program scope & coverage.
Construction products, building materials and the wider built environment — globally registered under ISO 14025.
Standards Compliance
Internationally recognised, mutually acceptable
ISO 14025 Compliant
Type III environmental declarations
ISO 21930 Certified
Sustainability in building construction
EN 15804+A2 Standard
Construction product environmental declaration
ISO 14040 / 14044
Underlying LCA methodology
Mutually recognised across major Type III programs
Product coverage
- Building materials & construction products (concrete, steel, timber, insulation)
- Interior fit-out (flooring, ceiling systems, wall panels)
- Building services & infrastructure (HVAC, plumbing)
- Furniture & fixtures for commercial and institutional use
- Other products relevant to sustainable building
Geographic scope
International operation. EPD registrations accepted from manufacturers anywhere; products manufactured in any location and marketed globally are eligible.
Mutual recognition agreements with other Type III programs facilitate international acceptance for trade and rating-system credit.
For the full standards stack — ISO 14025, ISO 14040/14044, ISO 21930 and EN 15804+A2 — and how they fit together, see the Supporting Standards page.
Roles & responsibilities.
Four parties carry distinct duties. Independence between them protects the integrity of every EPD published.
Operator
Program Operator
Global GreenTag International Pty Ltd — manages the program end-to-end.
- Develops & updates PCRs
- Oversees verification
- Maintains the EPD registry
- Ensures ISO 14025 compliance
Advisory
Technical Committee
Independent committee guiding technical direction.
- PCR development & review
- Program rule modifications
- Quality assurance procedures
- International best-practice alignment
Verification
Independent Verifiers
Accredited third parties — independent of the LCA practitioner and declaration holder.
- Review LCA & EPD documentation
- Verify against ISO 14025
- Issue verification statements
- Maintain independence & objectivity
Practitioners
LCA Practitioners
Qualified consultants who run the underlying assessment.
- Conduct life-cycle assessments
- Prepare EPD documentation
- Gather primary data with manufacturers
- Submit for verification
Day-to-day administration.
Registration, fees, validity and the quality system that keeps the program credible year on year.
Registration & fees
- Transparent published fee schedule
- Annual maintenance for active EPDs
- Online registration through manufacturer portal
EPD validity
5years standard validity
- Renewal available on expiry
- Notifications 90 / 30 days before expiry
- Re-verification triggered on material change
Quality management system
Audits, stakeholder feedback and ongoing alignment with evolving standards. Four practices keep the program reliable:
Reviews
Regular program reviews & updates
Compliance
Monitoring & enforcement procedures
Stakeholder
Public consultation mechanisms
Improvement
Continuous improvement loop
Registration and annual-maintenance fees follow a transparent published schedule — see the Pricing page for the full fee structure and the five-year billing cycle.
PCR development process.
Product Category Rules define how comparable EPDs are made for one product family. Stakeholder-engaged, publicly reviewed.
PCR purpose
Ensures consistency and comparability of EPDs within a category — by fixing functional units, system boundaries and reporting requirements.
Development process
Industry & technical-expert consultation → public review → technical committee approval → registry publication.
Key PCR elements
Product definition & scope
Functional / declared unit
System boundaries & scenarios
Data quality requirements
Environmental indicators
Reporting requirements
For the full PCR development narrative — roles, timeline and mutual recognition — see the PCR Development page. For published PCRs and the consultation calendar, visit the Sub-PCR Library
LCA & EPD development — eight steps.
From PCR selection to published EPD. Each step has documented inputs and deliverables; verifiers begin once step 6 finishes.
1
Select PCR
Match product to the right Sub-PCR. If none exists, request development.
2
Conduct LCA
Per ISO 14044 + the chosen PCR. Cradle-to-gate or wider as required.
3
Collect primary data
From manufacturing sites — energy, materials, transport, waste streams.
4
Model & calculate
Build product system, run inventory analysis, characterise impacts.
5
Draft EPD
Use the program template; include all PCR-required indicators.
6
Submit for verification
Hand off LCA report + EPD draft to the assigned independent verifier.
7
Address feedback
Resolve verifier comments; finalise EPD; obtain verification statement.
8
Register & publish
Receive registration number; published on the EPD Registry & ECO Platform.
Required documentation
- Complete LCA report with calculations
- EPD draft following program template
- Data quality documentation & evidence
- Manufacturing process descriptions
- Product specifications & technical data sheets
- Functional unit declaration & system boundary diagram
For the full phase narrative — the dual LCA and EPD-drafting tracks, data requirements and validity rules — see the LCA & EPD Development page.
EPD verification — seven checkpoints.
Independent third-party review against ISO 14025, ISO 14044 and the applicable PCR. Verifiers issue a formal statement on approval.
1
Initial intake
Verifier receives LCA + EPD package from the practitioner.
2
Data review
Sources, quality, representativeness of inventory data assessed.
3
Boundary review
System boundaries & assumptions checked against the PCR.
4
Calc review
Methods, formulas and impact calculations re-traced.
5
Issue findings
Documented findings sent back for correction.
6
Re-review
Corrected documentation re-checked against findings.
7
Statement issued
Verification statement formally issued; EPD ready to register.
Verification scope
- Compliance with the applicable PCR
- Adherence to ISO 14025 / 14044
- Data quality & completeness
- Calculation accuracy
Verifier qualifications
- Professional LCA experience
- Working knowledge of ISO standards
- Independence from the EPD development team
- Program-specific training completed
For the full verification narrative — the external and internal review tracks, verifier competence and independence rules — see the EPD External & Internal Verification page.
Have a question on the GPI?
Whether you're a manufacturer, LCA consultant or specifier — the program operator team typically responds within two business days.