Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials
In support of Inflation Reduction Act Section 60116, EPA is working to identify construction materials and products with substantially lower levels of embodied carbon. In the draft approach for the label program, EPA proposes to standardize and improve the quality of data used in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which disclose key environmental impacts of a product’s lifecycle. It also proposes a process to use data from EPDs and other sources to set thresholds for the amount of embodied carbon a product can have related to similar products to qualify for the label. The final phase of the draft approach is for the program to certify materials and products and to create a central registry of certified products.
Draft Label Program Approach Notice of Availability
On Feb. 15, 2024, EPA announced that it had issued a Notice of Availability to seek public input on the Agency’s Draft Label Program Approach (pdf) . EPA is seeking stakeholder input on this proposed approach through a 30-day public comment period. This draft program approach was informed by public input received in response to a Request for Information released last year which helped inform the prioritization of work and key design elements of EPA’s initiatives to address embodied carbon of construction materials.
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Webinar: Developing a Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials
On Feb. 27, 2024, EPA hosted a webinar to solicit feedback on the draft approach for developing a label program for construction materials and products with low embodied greenhouse gas emissions as authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The webinar also posed key questions.
Slides for Feb. 2024 webinar on draft label program approach. (pdf) .
Recording of Feb. 2024 webinar on draft label program approach.
Draft Product Category Rule Criteria
On March 5, EPA published a Notice of Availability to seek public input on draft Criteria for Product Category Rules (PCRs) to support the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials through a 30-day comment period. The PCR criteria was informed by public input received in response to a Request for Information released last year which helped inform the prioritization of work and key design elements of EPA’s initiatives to address embodied carbon of construction materials.
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Webinar: EPA’s Efforts to Improve Product Category Rules for Environmental Product Declarations
On March 21, 2024, from 1 to 2 p.m., EDT, EPA hosted a webinar to educate stakeholders on the PCR criteria and how it is expected to improve Environmental Product Declarations.
Slides for March 2024 webinar on draft Product Category Rule criteria (pdf)
Recording of the March 5 webinar on draft Product Category Rule criteria.