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Combating Greenwashing of Construction Products in New Zealand and Australia: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Product Declarations

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  • Taofeeq Durojaye Moshood

    (School of Built Environment, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand)

  • James Olabode Bamidele Rotimi

    (School of Built Environment, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand)

  • Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi

    (Built Environment Engineering, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand)

Abstract

The construction industry’s increasing environmental impact has led to the widespread adoption of sustainability claims, yet the prevalence of greenwashing—where organizations make misleading environmental claims—threatens genuine sustainable development efforts. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have emerged as a potential solution, particularly in the New Zealand and Australia construction sectors, where recent government climate regulations have accelerated their adoption. However, the effectiveness of EPDs in combating greenwashing and their practical implementation remain understudied. This research addresses this gap through a comprehensive analysis of EPDs in construction, employing a systematic literature review of 82 articles from 2010 to 2024 across major databases. Using ATLAS.ti 9 software, this study makes three key contributions: (1) develops a novel framework for evaluating EPD programs and their effectiveness in preventing greenwashing, (2) establishes a standardized methodology for assessing the completeness and accuracy of life cycle assessment information in EPDs, and (3) provides evidence-based recommendations for improving EPD implementation in the construction industry. The findings reveal critical shortcomings in current EPD practices, including inconsistent assessment methodologies and incomplete life cycle data. This study proposes specific reforms to enhance EPD reliability and transparency, offering practical guidelines for industry stakeholders to verify environmental claims. These contributions advance both the theoretical understanding of environmental certification systems and practical implementation of sustainable construction practices by developing regulatory frameworks.

Suggested Citation

  • Taofeeq Durojaye Moshood & James Olabode Bamidele Rotimi & Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi, 2024. "Combating Greenwashing of Construction Products in New Zealand and Australia: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Product Declarations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9671-:d:1515236
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giovanni Mondello & Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Giuseppe Saija & Sergio Sparacia & Maria Claudia Lucchetti, 2017. "Comparative LCA of Alternative Scenarios for Waste Treatment: The Case of Food Waste Production by the Mass-Retail Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Bernardette Soust-Verdaguer & Elisabetta Palumbo & Carmen Llatas & Álvaro Velasco Acevedo & María Dolores Fernández Galvéz & Endrit Hoxha & Alexander Passer, 2023. "The Use of Environmental Product Declarations of Construction Products as a Data Source to Conduct a Building Life-Cycle Assessment in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Anish Koyamparambath & Naeem Adibi & Carolina Szablewski & Sierra A. Adibi & Guido Sonnemann, 2022. "Implementing Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Predict Environmental Impacts: Case of Construction Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, March.
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