Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Sustainable Project Delivery
Current EPD Programs for Construction Materials
| Material | Source |
|---|---|
| Portland Cement | NSF International |
| Slag Cement | NSF/ASTM International |
| Steel | UL Solutions |
| Hot Mix Asphalt | National Asphalt Pavement Association |
| Concrete | NRMCA/ NSF International |
| Aggregates | ASTM International |
Current State of the Practice
Buy Clean Policies
Buy Clean is a green procurement policy that promotes the purchase of construction materials and products with lower embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking into account the life-cycle emissions associated with the production of those materials. EPDs are often used as a reporting tool to support implementation of Buy Clean policies.
At the Federal Level
Currently, the use of EPDs is not required under title 23, United States Code; however, the Federal government has outlined related efforts through Executive Order (EO) 14057. Under the EO, several Federal agencies are advancing activities related to EPDs. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued its first-ever specifications requiring EPDs for concrete and asphalt materials for GSA projects. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Policy Statement on Buy Clean Initiative that prioritizes the use of EPDs and the development of a Buy Clean Policy based on EPDs. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish two programs for EPDs. One program will award grants and provide technical assistance to support the development, enhanced standardization, and transparency of a uniform approach to measuring and certifying the carbon content of construction materials and products. The second program will set standards for determining which construction materials are carbon efficient and provide for labeling that would certify lower carbon construction materials. Other Federal efforts are being advanced through the Federal Buy Clean Initiative.
At the State Level
This map shows the implementation of Buy Clean policies related to transportation at the State level throughout the United States.
Note: Information collected from State legislative websites.
Resources from State Agencies: