Koskisen is advancing sustainability efforts by adopting DesignEPD, a progressive approach to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Unlike traditional EPDs, which focus on post-production transparency, DesignEPD integrates environmental impact assessments directly into the design phase, enabling our customers to make more sustainable choices from the outset.
What is DesignEPD?
DesignEPD builds upon the foundation of EPDs, which provide standardized data on a product’s environmental footprint. While EPDs are crucial for transparency and regulatory compliance, DesignEPD takes a proactive approach, allowing customers to evaluate and optimize sustainability before production begins. This supports better decision-making, aligns with EU climate goals, and helps reduce carbon footprints in meaningful ways.
DesignEPD brings early-stage integration of sustainability assessments into product design and allows clear comparison of materials and products based on environmental metrics.DesignEPDs include carbon capture analysis, especially for wood-based materials, as well as end-of-life impact assessments, including thermal recovery and recyclability, supporting circular economy principles.
“The biggest difference between EPDs and DesignEPDs is in their validity periods, EPD’s are to be updated every five years, whereas DesignEPDs have a much shorter cycle”, says Koskisen RDI manager Riitta Ahokas.
Collaboration as a catalyst
The development of DesignEPD has been driven by collaboration between Koskisen, its customers, and other stakeholders. The process has emphasized openness, shared learning, and mutual support.
“EPDs and DesignEPDs are crucial to sustainability goals. They tell us the final climate impact”, RnD manager Sara Fäldt from Stora Enso adds. Fäldt has been closely working with Koskisen lignin projects. According to Fäldt, the future of lignin is looking bright. “Or brown, just like the colour of lignin. We are in the beginning of exploring ways of lignin use, and we already know it can be used to replace many oil-based and fossil materials.”
Fäldt says EPDs are extremely important for measuring and comparing climate impacts at any type of construction, and products such as Zero bring their own impact, or lack thereof.
“More than just a tool, DesignEPD represents a mindset shift: embedding sustainability into design helps companies future-proof their products, meet evolving regulations, and contribute to a more sustainable built environment”,Ahokas says. “This is also a tool for product development, and something our customers need for their own development.”
Transparency in wood-based construction materials
Koskisen has been a pioneer in environmental transparency, having published certified EPDs for its plywood and chipboard products in 2020. “The first carbon footprint calculations were made at Koskisen as early as 2011”, Ahokas reminds. These documents provide detailed insights into the environmental impacts across the product lifecycle: from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to carbon sequestration. “Wood products act as a carbon sink as the carbon remains stored within the wood for the product’s lifespan, effectively acting as a carbon storage for the building or structure”, Ahokas continues.
The EPDs ensure third-party verification and comparability across products. They support informed decision-making for designers, developers, and contractors by offering data on climate impact, resource use, and other environmental indicators.
Each product’s global warming potential is calculated for the production stage, and carbon sequestration values are included. Wood stands out among construction materials for its dual role in reducing emissions and storing carbon.
Regulatory momentum: CPR and the future of EPDs
The EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) plays a central role in harmonizing safety, performance, and environmental standards across the construction sector. Following its 2024 revision, CPR places greater emphasis on environmental transparency, making EPDs more critical than ever.
Key changes include an introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs), consolidating technical and environmental data into a single digital record and mandatory environmental reporting for priority construction products, including CO₂ emissions and energy consumption. Also, an evolution of the CE marking system is set to reflect both technical performance and environmental impact.
These changes align CPR with broader EU sustainability legislation. EPDs are now essential tools for achieving climate goals and supporting sustainable construction practices.
For manufacturers, this means updating their Declarations of Performance (DoP) and ensuring EPDs are accurate and accessible. With compliance deadlines approaching in 2026 and 2028, companies must align internal data systems and processes with the new CPR standards. EPDs are no longer optional, they are becoming a requirement for market access and regulatory compliance.