Are fast and cheap EPDs good? And are good EPDs fast and cheap?

By Josh Morshead

Managing Director, EPD Hub

In the sustainable construction sector, a long-standing assumption persists: if a process is fast and affordable, it must be cutting corners. Conversely, if it is slow, laborious, and expensive, it is deemed rigorous and reliable.

Lately, scepticism has surfaced regarding digital-first program operators. Critics have suggested that fast publishing times and lower costs equate to less validity, lower quality, and a lack of transparency when compared to traditional, purely manual regional operators.

But this raises a fundamental question for our industry: Are fast and cheap EPDs good? And are good EPDs fast and cheap?

The short answer is yes—if you change how they are made. The idea that speed and affordability imply lower value is an outdated worldview. At EPD Hub, our efficiency isn't a result of reduced governance; it is the direct outcome of a modern, digital-first infrastructure built out of sheer market necessity.

We find ourselves at a critical juncture in the decarbonization of the built environment. With new public procurement mandates, strict green building certifications, and incoming state-level regulatory requirements worldwide, the demand for EPDs is skyrocketing. Relying entirely on traditional, manual, human-only verification workflows is no longer scalable. A purely manual process creates immense backlogs, driving up costs and dragging out timelines for months. Meanwhile, a framework that combines human expertise with machine intelligence offers a way forward to meet the scale of the climate crisis.

But let's dig a bit deeper

The misconception that EPD Hub "publishes too fast" stems from a misunderstanding of how modern software works. In a legacy system, speed typically means that a human has rushed through the paperwork. At EPD Hub, speed means the heavy lifting of data validation was automated before the human expert even opened the file.

Our digital-first framework transforms the verification process in two distinct ways. Firstly, we leverage advanced data technologies and automated algorithms to perform rigorous, programmatic double-checks on background data, lifecycle impact assessments, and compliance with core Product Category Rules (PCRs). The machine catches anomalies, data gaps, and mathematical inconsistencies instantly and with absolute precision. Then comes the critical human verifier – this is where technology does not replace human judgment; it empowers it. By filtering out structural errors and automating routine data checks, our independent human verifiers can focus 100% of their energy on high-level methodology, qualitative governance, and contextual correctness.

I contend that this human-and-machine collaboration introduces a higher level of quality assurance and data rigour than manual checking alone can provide. The result - cheap and fast EPDs that ARE good.

About EPD Hub

EPD Hub is an established ECO EPD Programme Operator, delivering integrated EPD verification and publishing in line with ISO 14025, EN 15804+A2, ISO 21930, and other standards. Its library holds more than 6,000 EPDs from over 1,200 manufacturers.