If you’ve been in the construction game for a while, you’ve probably noticed the growing buzz around sustainability. Whether it’s new regulations, client demands or green building certifications, the pressure to build smarter and cleaner is real. One term that keeps popping up in this conversation is EPD—short for Environmental Product Declaration. If you’re working with asphalt pavement, understanding EPDs isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s becoming essential.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
What Is an EPD, Really?
Think of an EPD like a “nutrition label” for construction materials. But instead of calories and carbs, it lists things like greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and other environmental impacts. It’s a standardized, third-party verified document that tells you how a product affects the environment over its life cycle—from raw material extraction to manufacturing (what’s called “cradle-to-gate”).
For asphalt, this means tracking the environmental footprint of everything from the aggregates and binder to the energy used at the plant.
Why Should You Care?
Here’s the deal: more and more public and private projects are requiring EPDs as part of the bidding process. States like California, Colorado and Oregon have already passed “Buy Clean” laws that require EPDs for materials like asphalt. And the federal government is getting in on it too, especially with funding tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
If you’re a contractor or business owner, having EPDs for your asphalt mixes can:
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Help you win more jobs—especially government-funded ones.
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Show clients you’re serious about sustainability.
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Benchmark and improve your environmental performance.
How Are EPDs Created?
Creating an EPD isn’t something you just whip up in Excel. It’s based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which calculates the environmental impact of a product across its life stages. For asphalt, this includes:
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Raw materials (like aggregates and binder)
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Transportation of those materials to the plant
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Production at the asphalt plant
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) has developed a tool called the Emerald Eco-Label to make this process easier. It’s designed specifically for asphalt producers and complies with international standards like ISO 14025 and ISO 21930.
You can learn more about NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label tool here.
What’s in It for Asphalt Producers?
If you own or operate an asphalt plant, EPDs can give you a competitive edge. They allow you to:
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Benchmark your mixes against industry averages
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Identify ways to reduce emissions (like using recycled materials or switching to cleaner fuels)
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Meet client and regulatory requirements without scrambling at the last minute
Plus, tools like the Emerald Eco-Label are designed to protect your proprietary data while still producing a credible, third-party verified EPD.
Tips for Getting Started
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Talk to your supplier: If you’re not producing asphalt yourself, ask your supplier if they have EPDs for the mixes you’re using.
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Use the right tools: The Emerald Eco-Label is a great starting point for asphalt-specific EPDs.
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Stay informed: Regulations are evolving fast. Keep an eye on state and federal requirements, especially if you’re bidding on public projects.
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Train your team: Make sure your estimators, project managers and sales staff understand what EPDs are and how to use them in proposals.
EPDs might sound like just another layer of paperwork, but they’re quickly becoming a key part of doing business in the construction world. Whether you’re paving highways or parking lots, understanding and using EPDs can help you stay ahead of the curve—and maybe even land your next big contract.
Be sure to share this article with a colleague to spread education about EPDs. Then, continue learning about EPDs, the IIJA and more with: Construction Sustainability Guidelines: What It Means and Tips for More Sustainable Jobsites and The Next Steps: Prepping Your Company for a Sustainable Future Under IIJA.
Photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/MARTIN MECNAROWSKI
