EPDs – A standard for transparency

What is an EPD?

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized, third-party verified document that communicates transparent and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle. EPDs are based on international standards (ISO 14025) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, providing data on everything from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. 

Why are EPDs important? 

According to Mintel’s Packaging Trends 2025 – Packaging in Perspective, brands are expected to demonstrate measurable progress in reducing plastic use and waste – and to communicate their environmental impact openly and credibly. EPDs play an important role in advancing sustainability and transparency in the packaging industry.

Trust, accountability and consumer expectations

With third-party verification and standardized metrics, EPDs allow companies to provide stakeholders with the information needed to compare products and packaging solutions objectively.

Today, environmentally responsible packaging is no longer a premium feature — it is an expectation. In Germany for example, 55% of adults who consider sustainable shopping important say they buy items with reduced packaging as part of their purchasing behavior.¹

¹ Mintel: Sustainability in Retail, Germany 2024.

A deep dive into Ecolean’s EPDs

Ecolean publishes EPDs for both packaging and filling machines. All documents are publicly available via the sustainability portal.

These EPDs provide detailed, verified data across five core markets: Europe, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. For each market, the data is structured into three main process stages:

Upstream: Covers all production processes for the raw materials used in the packaging material or for producing a filling machine.
 

Core: Covers the production of packages or machines at Ecolean’s site in Helsingborg, Sweden. In addition to the package or machine itself, the EPD accounts for supplementary materials such as plastic wrapping and palletizing, as well as waste treatment and the impacts of electricity and fuel use.

Downstream: Covers transport of packages and machines to customers, filling at the customer site, further distribution and end-of-life handling. At the customer’s facility (e.g., dairy or beverage producer), packages are filled and sealed using Ecolean machines, but the impact of the filled product itself (e.g., milk, yoghurt, nectar) is excluded from the EPD. At end-of-life, packages may be recycled or used for energy recovery depending on local waste handling systems.

Data that supports informed decisions

Ecolean’s EPDs allow stakeholders to compare the environmental impact of different packaging options. This supports informed decision-making and helps brands communicate sustainability credentials with credibility.

This transparency aligns with market trends where carbon reporting is becoming the main metric for sustainable packaging.²

² Mintel: Clearing the air on carbon reporting, 2025

Insights from Mintel: What’s shaping the future

Mintel highlights several key trends shaping the future of packaging sustainability:
 

1. Sustainability positioning

On the global market, launches with sustainability claims have grown by 12% this year (to October 2025). “Environmentally friendly package” is the most common claim in, for example, the dairy category.³

2. Clear communication

Many consumers are unfamiliar with industry terminology. Brands therefore need to clarify the environmental benefits of their packaging choices.⁴

3. Packaging reduction and reuse

Packaging reduction and reuse are increasingly prioritized, with refillable or reduced packaging seen as desirable solutions.⁵ 

4. Radical transparency

Brands must openly acknowledge challenges, publish realistic roadmaps, and use third-party verification to rebuild trust.⁶ 

³ Mintel’s Global New Products Database

⁴ Mintel: 2024 Consumer Trends: Spotlight on Latin America

⁵ Mintel: 2024 Consumer Trends: Spotlight on Latin America

⁶ Mintel: 2026 Global Packaging Predictions

EPDs – a tool for change

Environmental Product Declarations are a cornerstone of transparency and accountability in the packaging industry. By providing standardized, third-party verified data on environmental performance, EPDs help brands, regulators, and consumers make informed choices and push progress toward a more sustainable future.

Companies who embrace EPDs and communicate the impact clearly, are well-positioned to meet evolving expectations and regulatory demands. That’s why we at Ecolean publish EPDs for all our packaging and filling machines, ensuring full transparency and reliable data for our customers.

Sources:

Mintel
Packaging Trends 2025 – Packaging in Perspective
Mintel: 2024 Consumer Trends: Spotlight on Latin America
Sustainability in Retail, Germany 2024
2026 Global Packaging Predictions report
Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD)

Ecolean
Environmental Product Declarations