The number of Environmental Product Declarations published for concrete products has surged, but at the same time, there is a shortage of third-party verifiers. Dr Andrew Minson and Nicolas Antoniou of the Global Cement & Concrete Association make the case for automation of EPD production
The construction industry is responsible for a significant proportion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. However, there is a growing movement towards sustainable construction, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of buildings throughout their entire lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the demolition and disposal of the building.
This shift towards sustainability has given rise to various tools and methodologies, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
Understanding Environmental Product Declarations
EPDs provide transparent and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle and help stakeholders make informed decisions that align with sustainability goals. EPDs are developed in accordance with international standards and are verified by independent third-party organisations.
EPDs can be used by architects, engineers and other decision-makers to select building materials and products with a lower environmental impact. For example, an engineer may use EPDs to compare the environmental impact of different types of concrete.
They are also important for achieving green building certifications, such as LEED and BREEAM. Many green building rating systems require projects to earn points for using building materials with EPDs.
As environmental regulations become more stringent, EPDs are often required for compliance. In many regions, construction projects are mandated to meet certain sustainability criteria, and EPDs are a valuable tool for demonstrating adherence to these requirements. Furthermore, EPDs will play a fundamental role in public low-carbon procurement in the near future.
The GCCA EPD tool
The Global Cement & Concrete Association (GCCA) has developed a web-based solution that allows producers to create Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for clinker, cement, concrete, aggregates and precast products. The GCCA EPD tool is based on a standardised lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology that has been developed specifically for the cement and concrete industry.
The GCCA EPD tool can help cement and concrete producers to:
- Reduce the cost and time associated with generating EPDs.
- Generate EPDs that are compliant with international standards.
- Increase the transparency and credibility of their environmental claims.
- Benchmark their performance and compare different products.
The importance of EPD automation
As the construction industry strives to embrace sustainable practices, the demand for product- and project-specific EPDs is growing rapidly. The number of construction product EPDs to EN15804 has grown from 240 in 2011 to approximately 17,000 in 2023.
With nearly 90,000 EPD to ISO 21930 and over 25,000 EN 15804 EPD from verified EPD tools, there are likely nearly 130,000 EPD for construction products globally (Andersen, 2023), the majority being concrete EPDs.
Despite the significant increase in EPDs, there is a shortage of third-party verifiers who can review and certify these declarations. It can be difficult and time-consuming for companies to generate EPDs for their products, hindering the industry’s progress towards sustainability goals.
To address this challenge, automation of EPD processes is emerging as a viable solution. By automating the LCA and verification process, companies can generate EPDs more quickly and efficiently.
This can also help to reduce the cost of EPDs. Fully automated EPDs, also known as EPDs on-demand, are particularly prevalent in North America. A ready-mix plant can create instantly verified EPDs for different concrete mixes.
Earlier this year, the GCCA and WAP Consulting introduced an EPD on-demand service for North America, which uses the GCCA EPD tool’s calculation engine. The GCCA and WAP Consulting are working closely with European programme operators to introduce this EPD on-demand service in Europe and the rest of the world.
Conclusion
Environmental Product Declarations play a crucial role in sustainable construction by providing comprehensive and transparent information about the environmental impact of construction materials. The GCCA EPD tool offers a valuable solution for the cement and concrete industry, streamlining the EPD creation process.
Given the increasing significance of EPDs in facilitating low-carbon procurement, we’ve witnessed an extraordinary surge in published EPDs for concrete and, at the same time, a shortage of third-party verifiers. Consequently, the need for preparedness and automation in EPD production has become paramount.
Dr Andrew Minson
Concrete and sustainable construction director
Nicolas Antoniou
Sustainable design and construction manager
Global Cement & Concrete Association
Tel: +44 (0)20 3580 4268
