EPD verifier selection: ITB, IBU, EPD International, ECOnsult compared
Which program operator publishes your EPD shapes your market reach. The practical differences between the four leading European programs.
By clca Editorial TeamLast updated
EPD verification requires an accredited program operator that runs the audit and officially publishes the EPD. Europe has four leading operators: ITB Poland, IBU Germany, EPD International (EPD Norge), ECOnsult. The choice directly affects market recognition and timeline.
ITB Poland — practical and fast
ITB (Building Research Institute Poland), based in Poland, serves all of Europe. Verification takes 2-4 weeks — the fastest in the industry. Fees are 20-40% below others (1500-3000 EUR range depending on complexity). Format and process are pragmatic; the verifier focuses on practical outcomes. Preferred for Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Balkans. Less recognised on the German domestic market than IBU.
IBU Germany — high prestige, strict process
IBU (Institut Bauen und Umwelt) is Germany's official EPD operator. Gold standard in the German domestic market and DGNB certification. Verification takes 6-10 weeks — the slowest, but the resulting EPD has the highest recognition. Fees 3000-6000 EUR. IBU disclaimer rules are strict; report format is detailed. Almost mandatory for manufacturers exporting to Germany.
EPD International — international recognition
EPD International (formerly EPD Norge), based in Norway; integrated with the pan-European Environdec system. Verification 4-6 weeks. Fees 2500-4500 EUR. Preferred in Scandinavia and international tenders; broad recognition in UK, US and Asian markets. Strong on digital format — produces machine-readable JSON-LD EPDs as standard.
ECOnsult — small-scale, flexible
ECOnsult is a smaller German-based operator. Flexible process, quick turnaround (3-5 weeks), individual verifier communication. Fees 1500-3500 EUR. Practical for manufacturers with few products in niche categories. Global recognition is below IBU or EPD International; sufficient only for the EU internal market.
Operator selection matrix
- German market target — IBU (almost mandatory for DGNB)
- Scandinavia / UK / international target — EPD International
- Turkey / Balkans / Eastern Europe / fast turnaround — ITB Poland
- EU internal, small portfolio, flexible process — ECOnsult
- High-value product, prestige important — IBU or EPD International
- Budget pressure, quick market entry — ITB or ECOnsult
Publishing the same EPD with multiple operators
If your market is wide, the same EPD can be published with multiple operators — e.g. IBU + ITB. This requires two verifications (fees 2-3×) but doubles recognition. clca produces operator-specific PDFs from the same model, reducing the operational cost of multi-publication because the model is built once.
Tags
- EPD verifier
- ITB Poland
- IBU Germany
- EPD International
- ECOnsult
Related reading
All articles in Verification- Verification
Industry-average EPD or product-specific EPD?
There are three EPD types: product-specific, manufacturer average and industry average. Representativeness, the credit difference in green building schemes, tender expectations, cost and the strategy for moving from an average to a product-specific declaration.
10 min read - Verification
EPD validity: the five-year rule and what triggers an update
An EPD is valid for five years from its issue date; it is updated earlier if product, process or energy source changes the results significantly. What happens when an EPD expires, which changes call for re-verification and how to plan the five-year maintenance cycle.
10 min read - Verification
How to generate an EPD in clca: from product data to verified report
EN 15804+A2 EPD generation in 7 steps: product data → inventory → LCIA → DQR → AI interpretation → ready report → verification. What clca does at every step.
17 min read - Verification
How to read an EPD: a guide for procurement and design teams
An EPD is read in five steps: the cover data, the declared unit, the module scope, the GWP rows and the comparability conditions. Red flags, and moving EPD data into a building LCA.
10 min read