Exploring EPDs for Construction Sector in the Indian Context

This paper presents an analysis of the growing relevance of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in the context of India’s rapidly expanding construction sector. This is of significance due to the construction industry’s substantial environmental footprint driven by material extraction, fabrication of building materials, and transportation. The study aims to examine the benefits and barriers associated with EPD adoption in India, with the objective of promoting sustainability in the built environment. To achieve this, the paper explores the utility of EPDs in enhancing transparency, supporting green building certifications, and strengthening manufacturers’ competitiveness by offering verifiable environmental data. Key findings include that EPDs serve as critical tools for communicating the environmental performance of construction products, which helps mitigate embodied carbon and reduce instances of greenwashing. However, challenges such as high costs, limited awareness, technical complexity, lack of India-specific Product Category Rules (PCRs), and insufficient regulatory support currently hinder broader implementation. The implications suggest that addressing these barriers through policy incentives, awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, and industry-wide collaboration is essential for widespread adoption. This work contributes to the growing body of literature supporting the integration of EPDs into India's construction sector and emphasizes the need for systemic changes to align national practices with international sustainability standards, ultimately fostering a more environmentally responsible and future-ready construction industry.