LEED AP Building Design and Construction (BD+C) Practice Exam

What type of assessment is required for each of the three types of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)?

1. Cradle-to-cradle assessment

2. Cradle-to-gate assessment

3. Cradle-to-grave assessment

4. Life-cycle assessment

The correct answer is: Cradle-to-gate assessment

The correct answer is centered around the need for a cradle-to-gate assessment for the three types of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). A cradle-to-gate assessment evaluates the environmental impacts of a product from the extraction of raw materials (the "cradle") up to the point that the product leaves the manufacturing facility (the "gate"). This type of assessment is crucial as it provides a snapshot of the production phase's environmental impact, which is what EPDs aim to communicate. EPDs provide transparency regarding the life-cycle environmental impact of products, enabling purchasers to make informed decisions that consider sustainability. The cradle-to-gate perspective is particularly relevant for manufacturers, as it allows them to address and improve their processes before the product enters the market. In contrast, cradle-to-cradle and cradle-to-grave assessments represent broader scopes that include additional life-cycle stages such as product use and end-of-life disposal or recycling. While life-cycle assessments encompass full life-cycle impacts, including those beyond manufacturing, for EPDs specifically, the cradle-to-gate framework is the standard approach.