EPDs Are Here to Stay

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are quickly becoming the norm across North America as consumers demand transparency and more stringent regulatory measures to tackle climate change.

So, what is an EPD?

It’s a declaration of a product’s environmental credentials. It is based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which takes into account :

• Emissions associated with the transportation of each material

• The environmental impact of all production processes, including energy and resources consumed, waste generated, and more

• Expected impact of the use-stage and end-of-life stage of the final product, as required by the PCR (Product Category Rule)

And much more.

Whether it's building codes, procurement policies, or tax breaks, increasingly, if you’re a manufacturer who wants to do business in North America, you’ll need an EPD.

And as you can see below, if not now, then definitely in the next few years. 

But don’t worry, complying isn’t as hard as you might imagine. 

What’s more, complying early will help differentiate you from the market and put you in good standing with federal and state governments. 

Requirements for Material Manufacturers

It’s important to understand that there are differing regulation guidelines depending on the materials you work with.

Complying with the regulations allows you to participate in certain projects and incentives.

There are also several initiatives and regulations all manufacturers need to consider, many of which have only arrived in the last few years.

A Few Highlights From The United States: Federal and State Initiatives

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative is a significant step forward, mandating EPDs to report production and supply chain emissions for all government construction materials. 

As EPD requirements become the norm, project teams will be forced to procure materials that fall below Global Warming Potential (GWP) thresholds. 

California’s Buy Clean California Act (BCCA), one of the earliest and most comprehensive initiatives, requires EPDs for steel, flat glass, and mineral wool board insulation in state-funded projects. 

California’s CALGreen building code requires EPDs for steel, flat glass, insulation, and concrete to fall below industry-wide EPD thresholds. At a local level, the City of Berkeley, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Marin County have incorporated EPD submission and threshold requirements, ensuring that new construction projects adhere to stringent environmental standards. 

This policy has set a precedent, encouraging other states to adopt similar measures or go a few steps further.

The Denver Green Code and Buy Clean Colorado Act (BCCO) require EPDs for major construction materials and list maximum acceptable GWP values. 

A Few Highlights From Canada

In Canada, cities like Vancouver and Toronto are at the forefront of embodied carbon policy development.

 Vancouver’s Embodied Carbon Guidelines and Building By-laws require EPD submissions for various construction materials, relying heavily on ISO-compliant, product-specific EPDs for successful building-level LCAs. 

Toronto’s Green Building Requirements set limits on upfront embodied emission intensities for all new city-owned buildings, emphasizing the importance of data quality and transparency through EPDs.

EPDs: Where Next?

The increasing emphasis on EPDs in regulatory measures is a reflection of current trends, but also a glimpse into the future of construction and sustainability.

 States across the US will continue to roll out Buy Clean initiatives like in California as local governments across North America enforce more stringent procurement policies. 

In the US, the EPA is crucial in increasing the accessibility and standardization of EPDs through the Grant Program and the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials. 

These initiatives will facilitate the generation of EPDs and drive demand, influencing how manufacturers shift towards greater transparency and sustainability. 

The era of EPDs is here, shaping the future of building practices and environmental accountability across North America.

How Can You Make a Start?

We hope this post has provided you with a good overview of the regulatory environment across North America. 

Understanding the laws and regulations and which ones apply to your business is the first step to ensuring you stay competitive and compliant. But more importantly, showing you are doing your bit to save the planet.

References: 

Buy Clean Policies: Overview and Implementation