Due to a lack of regulation, a large number of different environmental labels have developed on the market. This also applies to the declaration of the environmental performance of construction products. An ecolabel is a quality mark that identifies products and services and makes statements about the environmental friendliness of individual characteristics. According to ISO, there are three types of ecolabels:
- Type III in accordance with ISO 14025:200642 are environmental product declarations (EPDs), which provide a comprehensive description of environmental performance without a rating. They are based on the ISO 14040 life cycle assessment, in which all material flows from raw material extraction to disposal are systematically recorded.
- Type II according to ISO 14021:201643 are self-declarations prepared by manufacturers or retailers to draw attention to individual environmental aspects of products and/or services. Unlike Type I and III, no verification by independent third parties is required.
- Type I according to ISO 14024:201844, are labels for products in accordance with defined environmental performance requirements. They consist of a symbol or logo.
The appropriate declaration of performance in the context of European construction products legislation is label type III, while label type I can rather be used to evaluate the results of a life cycle assessment in accordance with the applicable (national) requirements, e.g. to assist in the interpretation of the results.
42 ISO 14025:2006 – Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations – Principles and procedures
43 ISO 14021:2016 – Environmental labels and declarations – Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling)
44 ISO 14024:2018 – Environmental labels and declarations – Type I environmental labeling – Principles and procedure
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