ERG to Launch Environmental Product Declaration Ecosystem Quality Labeling Initiative in the U.S. Construction Sector
ERG will launch a labeling program to ensure the continued growth, trust, and adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for construction materials. An EPD serves as a sort of “nutrition label” that discloses a product’s environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions that occur throughout the supply chain of manufacturing a product from extracting and processing raw materials to manufacturing, often referred to as the “cradle to gate” stages of a product’s life cycle.
As part of this effort, ERG will form a coalition to continue the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Construction Material Opportunities to Reduce Emissions (C-MORE) program, specifically the program’s efforts to improve the quality of EPDs. The coalition will establish a consistent and transparent reporting framework for construction material EPDs in support of efforts to scale the use of EPDs in procurement and policy.
Having served as C-MORE’s lead consultant, ERG is committed to maintaining the momentum generated by the program and ensuring the U.S. construction industry leads in sustainable practices. ERG will collaborate with the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA), program operators, nonprofits, EPD generators, trade organizations, life cycle assessment consultants, public and private construction entities using EPDs, and others to create a successful program, including through a technical advisory group. ERG supports ACLCA’s role as the steward of relevant standards in the EPD ecosystem, including the 2022 ACLCA Product Category Rules (PCR) Guidance (also known as the Open Standard) and will help integrate the framework from C-MORE’s PCR Criteria, as well as provide technical assistance, support, and coordinate industry participation in the label development effort.
The construction industry has led the way in expanding the use and consistency of EPDs, and ERG is committed to fostering their continued leadership in this space. This initiative and resulting label will provide a visible signal of quality and consistency, help manufacturers demonstrate leadership, inform procurement decisions, and support government and private sector decarbonization goals. ERG invites interested stakeholders to join the coalition and help shape an ecosystem that serves the entire construction sector.
ERG welcomes interested parties to reach out for more information on participating and will establish a list of organizations that support moving this program forward. For more information and to learn how to get involved, please fill out the form here.