[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Authors” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ custom_margin=”|60px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Authors<\/h3>\n
This research was conceived of and directed by the Carbon Leadership Forum. The research team from the Carbon Leadership Forum at the University of Washington College of Built Environments includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n Author contributions<\/em>:<\/strong> M.L. and K.S. led conceptualization; M.L., M.H., B.W., and S.C. conducted research and analysis; M.L., M.H., B.W., S.C., and K.S. performed review and editing; M.L. created the graphics; M.L. and M.H. wrote the paper.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Acknowledgements” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”10px|40px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The Carbon Leadership Forum\u2019s policy initiatives and this work are funded by grants from foundations that support climate change mitigation research and clean energy policy. We would like to thank Anthony Hickling at the Carbon Leadership Forum for his role in funding acquisition and project administration.<\/p>\n We would like to thank Mikaela DeRousseau at Building Transparency for her contribution to the research included in this document, and to thank David Walsh from Sellen Construction and Jessica Koski from the Blue Green Alliance for their review of report drafts.<\/p>\n Additional ongoing organizational support for the Carbon Leadership Forum is funded by various philanthropic organizations including our sponsors, listed here:<\/p>\n https:\/\/carbonleadershipforum.org\/our-sponsors\/<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/carbonleadershipforum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Cover-Image_EPD-Requirements-in-Procurement-Policies.jpg” title_text=”Cover-Image_EPD-Requirements-in-Procurement-Policies” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_all=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/carbonleadershipforum.org\/download\/17510\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Download the PDF” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”Download PDF” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||20px||true|false” custom_padding=”||||true|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=”Version” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_font_size=”10px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Version: September 30, 2021<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Citation” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Lewis, M., Huang, M., Waldman, B., Carlisle, S., and Simonen, K. (2021). Environmental Product Declaration Requirements in Procurement Policies. Carbon Leadership Forum, University of Washington. Seattle, WA.<\/p>\n Cover image by Pixabay<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The Carbon Leadership Forum receives gifts from sponsors, including manufacturers and trade associations, which are listed here<\/a>. Kate Simonen is on the board of directors of Building Transparency, a non-profit organization that supports the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, which includes a database of environmental product declarations.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|30px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n \u200bA growing number of local, state, and federal procurement policies require environmental product declarations (EPDs) for reporting the embodied carbon of eligible products. Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and disposal of construction materials used in the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. Procurement policies such as Buy Clean aim to leverage the purchasing power of government agencies to incentivize transparency and a shift toward lower-carbon options in the broader construction materials market.<\/p>\n EPDs are appropriate for use in procurement policies because they already exist as agreed-upon resources for calculating and documenting the embodied carbon of products. There are limitations on the use of EPDs for comparison, and there is room to improve EPDs and product category rules (PCRs). Policies aiming to compare products across categories (such as between concrete and steel) should consider a building-scale approach and use whole building life cycle assessment (LCA).<\/p>\n EPDs and PCRs can be improved in the following ways to support the use of relevant and accurate data for comparison:<\/p>\n Procurement policies are not currently harmonized in terms of the type of EPD that is required; existing and proposed legislation require facility-specific, product-specific, or supply chain\u2013specific EPDs. Facility-specific and supply chain\u2013specific EPD requirements were introduced by policymakers interested in upstream data that has not yet been included in the minimum requirements established by the PCR for an eligible product. Policymakers have also included requirements for additional data that can be reported in the supplemental information section of an EPD, such as the wood fiber sourcing data requirements proposed in Buy Clean Buy Fair Washington.<\/p>\n Policymakers may consider one of the following strategies to encourage harmonization and allow for the addition of eligible materials over time:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|30px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction headline” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n A variety of existing and proposed legislation regulating public procurement at the federal, state, and city levels require the collection of environmental product declarations (EPDs) <\/strong>for reporting the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with building material production, including resource extraction, transportation, and manufacturing. One of the most well-known versions of this type of procurement policy is Buy Clean California, which was introduced and passed into law by the State of California in October 2017. Buy Clean California and similar policies aim to reduce the embodied carbon <\/strong>associated with the construction of publicly owned facilities by leveraging the purchasing power of government agencies to incentivize transparency and encourage a shift toward lower-carbon options in the broader construction materials market.<\/p>\n This document provides an overview of current EPD requirements in existing and pro- posed policies and an analysis of the supply chain\u2013specific EPD definition introduced by the Buy Clean Buy Fair Washington Act in 2021.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue highlight box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n EPDs are third party\u2013verified documents written in conformance with international standards that report the environmental impacts of a product, including its global warming potential, based on life cycle assessment models.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Material Scale Embodied Carbon Policies” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ custom_margin=”-40px||||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Toggle Bar” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Material Scale Embodied Carbon Policies headline” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”1.1 Context” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|30px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Buy Clean and other low-carbon procurement policies incorporate purchasing requirements that address the GHG emissions from construction materials. The material- and procurement-focused approach utilized by Buy Clean legislation is one of several complementary approaches for reducing embodied carbon with policy.<\/p>\n A building-scale approach <\/strong>focuses on the embodied carbon impact of a project as a whole, as well as the assemblies and systems that comprise a building. This approach addresses a broader scope of materials (rather than only focusing on the highest-impact materials) and can invite additional strategies for embodied carbon reduction, such as material and building reuse, system and material comparisons (such as mass timber, steel, or spray foam vs. batt insulation), and material efficiency. Because materials are compared across the product categories, the entire life cycle of a product must be included when using whole building life cycle assessment (LCA) <\/strong>to compare the impact of design choices on embodied carbon.<\/p>\n A material-scale approach <\/strong>focuses on the embodied carbon impact of individual construction materials and incentivizes transparency and availability of products made with lower-carbon manufacturing practices. A key component of this approach is requiring disclosure of high-quality embodied carbon data in the form of an EPD for materials specified by the policy. This approach is particularly relevant during the procurement phase of a project, when the product type and performance requirements have already been selected. Material-scale policies are well-suited for horizontal infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, in addition to buildings.<\/p>\n Currently, this approach is often limited to impacts in the early stages of a product\u2019s life, from extraction to manufacturing, and to a handful of carbon-intensive materials, but this can change over time as standards improve and materials are added to policies.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Embodied carbon refers to the GHG emissions arising from the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and disposal of construction materials used in the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. Embodied carbon is a life cycle impact called global warming potential calculated using LCA.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n LCA is a systematic set of procedures for compiling and examining the inputs and outputs of materials and energy, and the associated environmental impacts directly attributable to a building, infrastructure, product or material throughout its lifecycle (ISO 14040: 2006).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”EPD Requirements in Policies” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Toggle Bar” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”EPD Requirements in Policies headline” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”EPD Req section 1″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|30px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The use of EPDs as standardized reporting tools for disclosing the global warming potential (GWP) <\/strong>of construction materials is increasingly prevalent in public procurement policy. EPDs are already used by consumers in the building industry to assess environmental impacts, enabling policymakers to build and improve upon the existing standards described in this section.<\/p>\n International Standards Organization (ISO) standards identify three types of environmental claims for products:<\/p>\n Of these three types of claims, Type III declarations are preferred for embodied carbon policy because they are third party\u2013verified and contain the greatest amount of \u201cquantified environmental information on the life cycle of a product,\u201d which helps \u201cenable comparisons between products fulfilling the same function\u201d (ISO 14025: 2006).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The development of EPDs and product category rules (PCRs) <\/strong>are governed by a number of standards developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO), including:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each material\u2019s PCR dictates methodological decisions that are relevant and fine-tuned to the material supply chain of that product category (e.g., concrete, floor coverings, insulated metal panels, etc.). A PCR dictates which life cycle stages and scopes must be included in the LCA, which background data sources are acceptable or mandatory, and other modeling choices such as allocation method and impact assessment method.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n EPDs vary in their level of product, supply chain, and regional specificity. The following categories of EPDs are used by purchasers to identify which level of specificity is required to comply with an EPD requirement:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue highlight box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The potential climate change impact of a product or process as measured by an LCA, reported in units (typically kilograms) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue highlight box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n A PCR is a set of specific rules, requirements, and guidelines for developing Type III environmental declarations for one or more product categories. Product category rules are reviewed and improved periodically over time.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ admin_label=”EPD Req section 2″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|30px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Table 1 presents an overview of the EPD requirements in existing and proposed embodied carbon legislation.<\/p>\n PCRs provide guidelines for calculating industry-average EPDs and product-specific EPDs for each product type. For example, the PCR for concrete (NSF International, February 2019<\/a>) defines product-specific EPDs as one \u201cfor a specific product or group of concrete mix designs categorized by performance developed by a manufacturer for a specific ready mix plant location\u201d and an industry-average EPD as one \u201cfor a specific product or group of concrete mix designs categorized by performance for a specified region.\u201d1<\/sup><\/strong> As of May 2021, PCRs do not provide facility-specific and supply chain\u2013specific EPD guidance.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||30px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”blue highlight box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”e867b3b3-b42d-452c-8027-44340982825f” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Supply chain\u2013specific data refers to the use of primary, rather than secondary, data for upstream manufacturing or production processes.<\/p>\n An example of using supply chain\u2013specific data is the use of a cement EPD from the cement plant sourced by a ready mix supplier rather than the use of generic data that represents industry average cement manufacturing in the United States.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Note 1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n 1.<\/strong> NSF International. \u201cPCR for Concrete.\u201d February 2019. https:\/\/d2evkimvhatqav.cloudfront.net\/documents\/concrete_pcr_2019.pdf\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Table 1″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”71ec4c3d-39eb-4479-a760-0015d42fc7bc” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|40px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Table 1. <\/strong>Overview of environmental product declaration (EPD) requirements in existing and proposed legislation focused on embodied carbon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Acknowledgments<\/h3>\n
Citation<\/h3>\n
Competing interests statement<\/h3>\n
Executive Summary<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Introduction<\/h3>\n
Environmental product declaration (EPD)<\/h4>\n
Material-Scale Embodied Carbon Policies<\/h3>\n
\u200bEmbodied carbon<\/h4>\n
Life cycle assessment (LCA)<\/h4>\n
EPD Requirements in Policies<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Global warming potential (GWP)<\/h4>\n
\u200bProduct category rule (PCR)<\/h4>\n
\n
Supply chain\u2013specific data<\/h4>\n
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