ABB claims world first for an externally verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for industrial controllers in distributed control systems

ABB is claiming a key milestone in industrial automation with publication of its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the AC 800M family of controllers.
Designed for high reliability and flexibility, AC 800M controllers are central to the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system.
ABB says it is the first company to publish an externally verified EPD for industrial controllers used in distributed control systems (DCS). The company says introduction of the EPD for the AC 800M controllers is crucial for industrial customers looking to meet regulatory requirements and corporate sustainability goals.
An EPD is a standardised document that provides detailed information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study completed for developing the Type III EPD for AC 800M controllers was done in accordance with ISO standards and is based on the EN standard for electrical and electronic products.
ABB’s AC 800M controllers sit at the heart of ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system and Compact Product Suite, offering agile and scalable process control. They are designed to handle the demands of various industrial environments, providing robust performance and high availability across a wide range of critical process industries, including energy, chemicals, power generation, water, pharmaceuticals, metals and others.
Stefan Basenach, ABB Senior Vice President, Process Automation Technology, said: “Helping our customers across industries operate leaner and cleaner is at the heart of everything we do at ABB. We are dedicated to providing transparent information that enables our customers to meet regulatory requirements and achieve their sustainability goals. This EPD is a testament to this commitment and represents an important step toward greater transparency and accountability in industrial automation.”
The EPD covers the range of nine models within the AC 800M controller family. Each model features dual Ethernet ports and IP20 protection and meets key international environmental directives, including those related to hazardous substances, chemical safety, and electronic waste.