What is required for the "Environmental Product Declarations" (EPD) credit?

The requirement for the "Environmental Product Declarations" (EPD) credit emphasizes the importance of having a transparent overview of the environmental impacts associated with products used in a project. An EPD provides comprehensive information based on life cycle assessments, detailing how a product affects the environment throughout its life cycle, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and end-of-life disposal.

This transparency allows project teams to make informed decisions when selecting products that align with sustainability goals, ultimately leading to reduced environmental impacts. The focus on environmental impacts is critical for LEED certification, as it helps in promoting the use of materials that are more sustainable and have lesser negative effects on ecosystems. This credit encourages manufacturers to disclose environmental impacts, fostering a competitive market that prioritizes sustainability.

Other options, such as cost analysis, marketing strategies, or project timelines, do not align with the core goal of EPDs, which is to provide detailed and transparent information specifically about environmental performance, making option B the correct answer.