Guidance released on Streamlined Carbon Neutral Certification for Australasian EPDs

29th May 2018

The Australian Department of the Environment and Energy has published a guidance document on how Australasian EPD holders can utilise a streamlined process to achieve carbon neutral certification against the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).

The guidance was summarized during a recent webinar by speakers from the Department, Energetics and Australian EPD.

Under the new process, the carbon account of an Australasian EPD produced to EN 15804, can be used as a basis for an application for carbon neutral certification. All Australasian EPDs for construction and building products comply with EN15804.

If the EPD is produced to ISO 14025, the carbon account may also be used, but only if the underlying methodology is consistent with the NCOS Product and Service Standard. The LCA practitioner should be able to identify any differences and ensure that the initial study meets both standards.

With all Australasian EPD’s the NCOS requires that the carbon account be re-evaluated to determine that it meets the requirements of the Product & Service Standard. This step is necessary due to minor differences in the calculation methodologies between the two standards. Australasian EPD holders must submit their audit report, verification report and verifier’s notes, documenting the process.

Watch the webinar here.