A research group, working under the auspices of the University of Florida-University of Costa Rica Conservation Clinic, began in early 2009 an investigation into the potential of developing a system to create an eco-labelling type called Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in Costa Rica.  EPDs are defined as Type III labels according to the ISO 14025 standard.  The first potential application of an EPD considered by the group was for fresh pineapple, a product that has become the second most important agricultural export just over the last decade, but which at the same time has generated widespread public concern.  For this reason the application of an EPD to pineapple was investigated as a potential instrument for sustainable development, in way of providing a mechanism for markets to drive consumption of pineapples with less quantified environmental impact based on a comparable analysis, create a metric for farmers to measure their enviromental performance, and relate the production of the product with the environmental in a concrete way that could be used to educate the public and end-consumer.

The first activity of this project was to bring together representatives of the industry and government along with third party experts, in two separate workshops, to share the idea of a Costa Rican EPD for pineapples.  The second activitiry was to publish a report about the feasibility of an EPD system in Costa Rica, to be distributed to policy makers and others involved and interested in this potential.

Meeting summaries and minutes of the workshops along with the report will be published on this website when they are complete.  Public comments are welcome.

Questions or suggestions? Email them to epd dot costarica at gmail dot com.