In Vietnam, along with the rapid development of green buildings, Green Labels and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are becoming increasingly popular and gaining attention in evaluating and determining the sustainability and transparency of products and services.
Several organizations and agencies in Vietnam are pursuing Green Labels and EPDs. Certified products and services are growing in number and market recognition, contributing to raising awareness of sustainability and environmental protection in Vietnam.
Some pioneering companies in sustainable development include Siam City Cement Vietnam, Vicem Ha Tien, Saint-Gobain Vietnam, and Sika Vietnam.
EPD and Green Label Certifications of Siam City Vietnam
What is a Green Label?
A Green Label is often used to refer to a mark, logo, or system that evaluates products, services, or activities related to environmental protection and sustainability criteria.
Green labels are used to identify and distinguish products or services that are produced and managed according to stricter environmental standards or have a lower environmental impact than similar products or services.
In Vietnam, two popular types of Green Labels are registered by businesses: the Green Label of the Singapore Environment Council and the Singapore Green Building Council.
What is EPD?
EPD stands for “Environmental Product Declaration.” It is a standardized document that provides information about the environmental impact of a specific product or service. The primary goal of EPD is to provide detailed and reliable information about the product’s environmental impact from production to usage and disposal.
An EPD typically includes the following information:
- Product Information: Includes the product name, description, and information about the manufacturer or supplier.
- Product Lifecycle: Detailed description of the product’s production, transportation, use, and disposal processes.
- Environmental Assessment: Includes parameters for energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), ozone layer impact, water consumption, impact on land resources, ecosystems, and other environmental factors.
- Reference Information: Lists the sources and data on which the declaration is based.
EPDs can be used to compare different products based on their environmental impact, helping consumers and businesses make more environmentally friendly shopping and production choices. It also helps businesses optimize production processes and minimize environmental impact.
Benefits of Green Label and EPD for Green Buildings and Exporting Goods
Products certified with Green Labels and EPDs bring significant benefits for exporting and green building certification. Here are some key benefits:
- Access to International Markets: Green Label and EPD certifications are essential for products to enter international markets. Countries and international organizations require high sustainability standards for products and construction projects. Green Label and EPD certifications help products meet these standards, facilitating exports and entry into international markets.
- Increased Competitiveness: Green Label and EPD certifications create a competitive advantage for products. International customers and green building certifications often seek sustainable products and materials with transparency about their origin and environmental impact. Having these certifications can help businesses stand out in the market.
- Integration into Green Buildings: Using products certified with Green Labels and EPDs can make it easier to integrate into green building projects. Green projects often require sustainable products and materials to meet sustainability and energy efficiency standards.
- Building Trust and Credibility: Green Label and EPD certifications help build trust and credibility with customers and business partners. This is due to transparency about the product’s origin and environmental impact, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection.
- Compliance with Regulations and Standards: Having Green Label and EPD certifications helps businesses comply with sustainability regulations and standards from organizations and governments, reducing legal risks and ensuring transparency. EPD certification helps businesses comply with ISO 14064-1: greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory; and ISO 14067: carbon footprint of products easily.
Additionally, EPD is a valuable tool for organizations or businesses to meet the requirements of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) under EU Regulation 2023/956 for imported goods into the EU bloc.
The trend of producing and using materials with Green Labels and EPDs in Vietnam is essential to increase market opportunities for products and contribute to positive changes in consumer, business, and government awareness of global sustainability and environmental protection goals.
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Source: Construction Magazine – Ministry of Construction
Author: MSc. Architect Nguyen Trung Kien – Director of VILANDCO (Dat Viet Investment and Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company)
