PCA Release of EPD on Cement Shows Reduced Carbon Impact

As a key partner and supplier in the escalating war on embodied carbon, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) recently released a revised industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The EPD, verified by ASTM International, includes portland cement, portland-limestone cement (PLC), blended cement and masonry cement (click here to download a copy of the EPD). The results demonstrate a reduction in carbon impact associated with producing cement in the United States. Compared to the 2016 EPD, the carbon impact of portland cement decreased by 11.3%; blended cement decreased by 16.8% and masonry cement decreased 14.9%. Additionally, the EPD included portland-limestone cement which showed a carbon footprint 8.2% lower than portland cement.

Cement’s carbon reduction is a value to ready mixed concrete production. Where concrete EPDs reference the PCA’s EPD, this would also decrease the carbon impact of concrete. To date, the North American ready mixed concrete industry, including material suppliers, have invested into more than 80 verified EPDs with more than 35,000 products/mixes and is the leading material industry that reports environmental impacts. NRMCA -verified EPDs can be found here.

Integral to the Build With Strength campaign, NRMCA promotes Strength Through Transparency for member and industry competitiveness in the green building marketplace and the trends toward product and company transparency.

For support, training, sustainability strategy planning or program development, please contact James Bogdan at jbogdan@nrmca.org or 412-420-4138.