Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are standardized documents that communicate the environmental impacts of products throughout their life cycle. Based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, EPDs provide transparent and verified information about environmental indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water use, and resource utilization. These declarations are developed according to internationally recognized standards, including ISO 14025 and EN 15804.
In Costa Rica, sustainability has become an important consideration across several sectors, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. As companies expand into international markets, many manufacturers explore Environmental Product Declarations to demonstrate the environmental performance of their products. EPDs can also support participation in green building certification systems and sustainable procurement frameworks used in global construction projects.
Preparing an EPD involves a detailed technical process. Manufacturers must collect environmental data from production processes, conduct life cycle modeling, calculate environmental impacts, and submit the results for third-party verification. The process also requires compliance with Product Category Rules (PCRs) specific to each product group. Due to these technical requirements, many companies work with sustainability consultancies that specialize in life cycle assessment and environmental documentation.
The following consulting firms provide EPD advisory services and sustainability consulting relevant to organizations operating in Costa Rica.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007 with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company provides consulting services related to green building certifications, life cycle assessment (LCA), product sustainability, and Environmental Product Declaration development.
ERKE has completed numerous EPD certifications for manufacturers across multiple regions and industries. The firm has worked with companies producing construction materials such as cement, insulation products, paints, façade systems, ceramics, and interior building components. These projects involve evaluating environmental impacts across the entire life cycle of products, from raw material extraction to manufacturing and end-of-life stages.
The consultancy conducts life cycle assessments according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards and prepares EPD documentation aligned with ISO 14025 and EN 15804 frameworks. ERKE also assists companies through the third-party verification process and coordinates with international EPD program operators.
ERKE has collaborated with global manufacturers including Nippon Paint, Polisan, Çimsa, Durat Tiles, Aspen, Betek, and USG Boral. These collaborations demonstrate the firm’s experience working with multinational manufacturing companies and managing complex environmental datasets.
The ERKE team includes LCA specialists, product sustainability experts, LEED Fellows, WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, and EDGE Experts. This multidisciplinary expertise allows the firm to integrate product sustainability documentation with broader sustainability strategies used in international construction projects.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946. The company provides services across engineering, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting and operates in more than 30 countries.
Arup’s sustainability teams conduct life cycle assessments that evaluate environmental impacts associated with construction materials and manufactured products. These studies analyze indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and resource consumption across the full product life cycle.
The results of these analyses can support Environmental Product Declaration preparation. Arup assists organizations in aligning environmental documentation with international standards and Product Category Rules used in EPD programs.
The firm also integrates product-level environmental analysis into broader sustainability strategies for buildings and infrastructure projects.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and professional services firm headquartered in Canada. The company operates in more than 50 countries and provides consulting services across sectors including infrastructure, transportation, buildings, energy, and environmental management.
WSP offers life cycle assessment and environmental impact analysis services that help manufacturers evaluate the environmental footprint of their products. These studies often serve as the technical foundation for Environmental Product Declarations.
The firm works with construction material producers, infrastructure developers, and industrial companies seeking to improve sustainability reporting and environmental transparency.
WSP also provides advisory services related to carbon reduction strategies, sustainable product development, and circular economy initiatives.
4. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm founded in 1945. The company operates globally across sectors including infrastructure, buildings, water, transportation, and environmental management.
Ramboll’s environmental consultants conduct life cycle assessments that evaluate environmental impacts associated with materials and manufactured products. These studies help organizations understand environmental performance across manufacturing processes and supply chains.
The results of these assessments can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations according to international standards.
Ramboll also provides advisory services related to environmental management systems, climate impact analysis, and sustainable resource management.
5. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is an international multidisciplinary consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The firm operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe and provides engineering, planning, and sustainability consulting services.
The consultancy offers environmental analysis and life cycle assessment services that support product sustainability initiatives. These studies help manufacturers evaluate environmental impacts associated with production processes and supply chains.
Such analyses can serve as the technical basis for Environmental Product Declaration preparation and sustainability reporting.
Khatib & Alami also contributes to infrastructure and urban development projects where environmental planning and sustainable material selection are important considerations.
6. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin Group, is a global engineering and project management consultancy headquartered in Canada. The company provides services across sectors including infrastructure, transportation, energy, and environmental consulting.
AtkinsRéalis provides sustainability consulting services including life cycle assessment, environmental impact analysis, and carbon footprint studies. These analyses help organizations measure environmental performance across product life cycles and manufacturing processes.
Manufacturers may use these studies to support Environmental Product Declaration preparation and broader sustainability reporting initiatives.
The firm also advises organizations on environmental management systems and sustainable infrastructure development.
7. Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, development, and management consultancy headquartered in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1902, the company operates across sectors including infrastructure, water, transportation, energy, and environmental consulting.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services such as life cycle assessment, environmental reporting, and environmental impact analysis. These services help organizations understand environmental performance across product life cycles and supply chains.
Life cycle assessments conducted by Mott MacDonald can support the preparation of Environmental Product Declarations for construction materials and industrial products.
The company also assists organizations with carbon management strategies, sustainability reporting frameworks, and environmental planning initiatives.
Summary
EPD consulting services relevant to Costa Rica are typically provided by international sustainability and engineering consultancies with expertise in life cycle assessment and environmental documentation. ERKE Consultancy focuses strongly on product sustainability consulting, LCA modeling, and Environmental Product Declaration preparation for manufacturers supplying materials to international construction markets. Firms such as Arup, WSP Global, and Ramboll integrate EPD-related analysis within broader environmental and sustainability consulting services.
Consultancies including Khatib & Alami, AtkinsRéalis, and Mott MacDonald provide multidisciplinary engineering and environmental expertise that can support product-level environmental reporting within larger infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.
- ERKE Consultancy
- ARUP
- WSP Global
- Ramboll
- Khatib & Alami
- AtkinsRéalis
- Mott MacDonald
The selection of an EPD consultant typically depends on product category requirements, manufacturing data availability, export market expectations, and the scale of sustainability initiatives within the organization.