Development of interpretation keys for environmental product declarations

Certified environmental product declarations (EPD) are beginning to be used in several countries. To date, user experience indicates that the EPD results are difficult for professional purchasers and salespeople to understand. In order to improve understanding, three interpretation keys have been developed. They recalculate the EPD results to other numbers, which are easier to value. One key calculates the degree of satisfaction of environmental goals, another calculates the damage cost and yet another compares with what is normal in economic activity. The three interpretation keys represent different ethical views of the environment. Intended users, people having some knowledge of environmental issues without being specialists, have tested the keys on several occasions after which the keys were redesigned. We concluded that the interpretation keys offer increased understanding. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved