The Role of Environmental Product Declarations in the Decarbonization of Concrete

According to Architecture 2030, concrete is responsible for 8% of total global emissions, with 90% of those emissions coming directly from the cement content itself. This can be a shocking statistic to some, but the material’s carbon impact is not new knowledge for those in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector. In fact, many industry leaders have long understood the huge opportunity the concrete/cement industry presents to drive decarbonization forward and meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

Contractors play an integral role in reducing the carbon impact of their building projects, starting with the concrete they specify. They must understand the carbon footprint of the materials they are specifying in order to remain compliant with industry regulations tied to sustainability, win more bids, and support the widespread decarbonization of the sector. An integral skill for contractors to do this is to know how to read environmental product declarations (EPDs), which are third-party verified documents that provide a “carbon roadmap” to AEC professionals when selecting and comparing construction materials.

Let’s dive into what EPDs are, how they can make a difference in decarbonizing concrete, and how contractors can use them to their advantage.

What is an EPD? What is it Telling You?

An important step towards decarbonizing concrete is driving more widespread adoption of EPDs across the industry. EPDs highlight the environmental impact of producing a given material. They also provide insight into a material’s intended applications, performance,  and specifications as well as how and where it was produced. You can think of an EPD as a nutrition label that tells us the global warming potential (GWP) of a material or product.

The most valuable part of EPDs for contractors is the ability to compare data and the carbon impacts of various materials in order to specify those with lower carbon footprints. In fact, a 2021 report from RMI noted that integrating low-cost or no-cost solutions, including the use of EPDs, for reducing embodied carbon on projects during its design and construction phases has the potential to reduce emissions by 19%-46% at cost premiums of less than 1%.

However, just because a material has an EPD doesn’t mean it is inherently the most sustainable option. By emphasizing the importance of these documents across the industry, more suppliers will provide EPDs for materials and make it easier for contractors to find the lowest carbon option, driving further investments in disclosure, transparency, and reporting.

Opportunities

Concrete is the second most used substance in the world, making it even more important for the AEC industry to move the needle towards decarbonizing the material and, in turn, the sector in order to meet climate goals. Understanding the insights that EPDs provide is particularly beneficial for those specifying concrete as it enables contractors to select concrete mixes with lower carbon footprints. Some current strategies involve replacing a portion of the cement content with supplementary cementitious materials, including fly ash, blast-furnace slag, and natural pozzolans.

In addition, there are quite a few up-and-coming technologies in the space of decarbonizing cement and concrete. In fact, the Decarbonized Cement & Concrete Alliance (DC2) was recently founded, which represents a host of emerging cement and concrete tech start-ups, who are hoping to scale up rapidly.

As embodied carbon education continues to grow across the AEC industry, organizations like Building Transparency, Carbon Leadership Forum, ACLCA, and USGBC offer professionals the resources they need to put their EPD knowledge into action. Through tools such as the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) and One Click LCA, contractors can easily prioritize decarbonization on every design and construction project by utilizing the tools’ robust database of digitized building material EPDs. These tools compile and track material-specific EPDs, making it easier for end-users to compare carbon impact and specify lower-carbon options.

How Can Contractors Utilize EPDs to Their Advantage?

EPD awareness and embodied carbon action are integral to the successful planning, bidding, and design phases of building projects. For contractors in particular, understanding EPDs can be a significant selling point for property owners looking to bid out their projects to sustainability-minded organizations, especially for those that are government-funded. As more and more regulations emerge related to green building standards, contractors can use their knowledge of EPDs to their advantage by explaining their commitment to specifying lower-carbon materials and doing this from the very start of a project.

Additionally, contractors can make the conscious decision to partner with material suppliers who understand the importance of embodied carbon action and the widespread adoption of EPDs to decarbonize the building sector. In fact, in markets where EPD data currently exists, Building Transparency is seeing 30%+ reductions in carbon emissions by using EC3 to select and procure low-carbon materials.

By collaborating with suppliers who routinely publish EPDs, the AEC industry can continue to make informed decisions on which products to specify in order to make the largest emission reductions. Because the embodied carbon of construction materials, including concrete, is set from the moment they are produced, it’s imperative for contractors, designers, manufacturers, and owners alike to prioritize the production of low-carbon materials and creation of EPDs.