Featured Current Industry Resources
Environmental Product Declaration of Ready Mixed Concrete — Version 4
Introduction: Environmental Product Declarations
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a communication document that quantifies environmental impact data from manufacturing a product. It is a summarized report extracted from an in-depth Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that complies with the ISO 14040 series. Although environmental disclosure can found in a variety of reports, they are most often cited as an Industry-Average EPD, or preferably, a Product-Specific EPD.
EPDs are being specified in green building standards and codes (LEED, IgCC), advocacy initiatives (Architecture 2030 Challenge for Products, SEI/ASCE SE 2050 Commitment Program, Infra 2050) and even referenced in State and Local legislation. These types of market-based and regulatory initiatives are driving an increase of EPDs in many industries and product categories.
Note: In LEED a “product” is defined by the distinct function it serves. That means concrete has the advantage of contributing significantly because of concrete’s wide range of applications or functions. For example, footings, foundations walls, shear walls, bearing walls, columns, beams, slabs, sidewalks and parking areas, each with a unique mix design, would all be considered different products.
Click here to download a guide for specifying concrete for LEED v4 projects.
Producer-Specific EPD Resources
Published third-party verified plant-specific EPDs: search every EPD certified under the NRMCA Certified EPD Program by company, EPD number or product.
EPDs for Concrete, Cement, Aggregate and many other product categories can also be found on other EPD Program Operator websites. Please see the below links for a listing of Program Operators and their verified EPDs:
*Note: NRMCA does its best to ensure these links are current.
NRMCA Industry-Wide (Average) EPD and Regional Benchmarks Report:
Industry-Wide (Average) EPD
Industry-Wide (Average) EPD. NRMCA sponsored a project to help NRMCA members producers meet the requirements of market drivers, i.e., LEED v4 by providing concrete producers with an industry-wide EPD (IW-EPD). A cradle to gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for ready mixed concrete was conducted and an IW- EPD was published. The LCA and EPD encompasses concrete for a variety of applications, strength and durability classes and slumps (or slump flows), so that a producer can use the disclosure report during the submittal process for a project requiring an EPD. The IW-EPD represents concrete typically used on a variety of projects including residential, commercial and public construction in different climate zones and in different markets.
Note: A concrete producer must have participated in providing operations data and be publicly listed as a contributor.
See below for the LCA and IW-EPD reports, a list of participating companies and plants, and additional resources to assist concrete producers.
Regional Benchmarks Report
Using data collected in developing the LCA and IW-EPD for concrete, a set of regional benchmarks for key environmental impacts was developed. The Benchmarks Report represents the environmental impacts of products with varying strengths for different applications and exposure conditions at the national level and eight NRMCA regions. The Benchmarks Report has two primary purposes:
- Concrete producers can use these benchmarks to compare their environmental impacts and aspire to lower their impacts, i.e., LEED Optimization.
• Click here for an alignment project between Athena and Climate Earth to report company EPD consistency with the regional benchmarks. - Where legislation is being drafted, the Benchmark Report is the go-to reference for regional impacts.
2026 Industry-Wide EPD and Benchmark Report:
- Industry-Wide EPD, Version 4 (PDF)
- Industry-Wide LCA Report, Version 4, used to develop the NRMCA Industry-Wide EPD and Benchmark (Industry Average) Report (PDF)
- Executive Summary, LCA Version 4 (PDF)
Previous Versions: Industry-Wide EPD and Benchmark Report (2020 and 2021)
For LEED submittal letter template PDF click here | Word doc click here
Click here to download a PDF of the presentation on how to use the Industry-Wide EPD and Benchmark Report
Free Webinar: Environmental Product Declarations
EPDs are third party verified (certified) reports published by EPD Program Operators that provide quality assured information regarding environmental performance of their products. Review the recorded 1-1/2 hour webinar that offers a brief overview of EPDs, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that supports them and the Product Category Rules (PCRs) that sets the ground rules for them. In addition, the webinar will discuss NRMCA’s EPD Program.
Watch a Recorded Webinar on EPDs
Recording of a Webinar describing the PCR and EPDs
- Click here to download Part 1 of the Webinar presentation (pdf).
- Click here to download Part 2 of the Webinar presentation (pdf).
Example Whole Building LCA Using NRMCA Benchmarks and IW EPD Mixes
Many projects have the objective of quantifying and demonstrating a reduction in the environmental footprint on a project, including the carbon footprint of concrete. The difficulty is to identify the best way to specify concrete to help meet this objective without compromising the performance objectives of the project. In the past design professionals have tried to artificially reduce the impact of concrete by specifying maximum cement content or minimum quantities of supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag. This usually results in concrete mixes that are more costly and might not meet the performance objectives. In addition, there is no way to quantify reductions in environmental impact.
Click here for an example on how to use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare the carbon footprint of the proposed building using mix designs that have relatively high volumes of slag cement and fly ash to a reference building using mix designs based on industry averages.
NRMCA Certified EPD Program Details
NRMCA is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Program Operator in order to help concrete producers and concrete product suppliers meet new requirements in green building rating systems such as LEED and other standards and initiatives such as the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and the Architecture 2030 Challenge for Products.
Program Objectives:
The objective of the NRMCA Certified EPD Program is to facilitate the development, verification certification and publishing of certified EPDs for ready mixed concrete and concrete ingredients. To maintain third party objectivity, NRMCA will ensure that an independent verifier reviews and verifies each EPD developed under the program. Verifiers may be an individual or verification body with knowledge of the concrete products industry and related environmental aspects, with process and product knowledge of the product category, and have expertise in LCA methodology. NRMCA will strive to keep up-to-date on the general rules of other related EPD Programs and PCR development. The goal is to make EPDs verified (certified) by NRMCA as consistent as possible with those in other EPD Programs in order to support the use of that information in LEED, IgCC, Architecture 2030 Challenge for Products and other green building and environmental programs.
Program Instructions:
NRMCA has developed EPD Program Operator Instructions by which it conducts the NRMCA Certified EPD Program. These rules lay out how NRMCA will adopt and develop PCRs, conduct LCAs, and develop and verify (certify) EPDs. These rules were developed by NRMCA EPD Program Committee and meet the requirements of international standards for developing EPDs. Click here to view the NRMCA EPD Program Operator Instructions.
NRMCA manages the process from beginning to end, helping manufacturers identify consultants and tools to perform the prerequisite LCA in order to develop a draft EPD. Once the draft EPD is developed, NRMCA verifies that the LCA and EPD were conducted in accordance with the selected PCR and if so, certifies the EPD.
How do I get an NRMCA Verified (Certified) EPD for my Product?
Under the NRMCA Certified EPD Program, companies (concrete producers and concrete product suppliers) go through the following steps to receive an NRMCA Certified EPD:
- Select a PCR. The PCR will be the basis for which an LCA Report and draft EPD are developed. NRMCA maintains a list of PCRs it recommends for specific product categories (see below).
- Conduct an LCA on the product based on the selected PCR and produce an LCA Report. A company can do this with in-house staff if it has the expertise or it can engage an independent consultant do this. NRMCA maintains a list of independent consultants that have the capabilities of conducting LCAs and producing LCA Reports. Consultants conducting LCAs and producing LCA Reports contract directly with companies seeking LCAs and do not contract with NRMCA. See below for list of LCA consultants.
- An LCA must be critically reviewed by an independent reviewer. NRMCA can assign one of its independent reviewers to conduct the Critical Review of the LCA.
- Develop a draft EPD from the LCA Report. A company can do this with its own in-house staff if it has the expertise or it can engage an independent consultant do this. NRMCA maintains a list of independent consultants that have the capabilities of developing draft EPDs from LCA Reports. Consultants developing draft EPDs contract directly with companies seeking LCAs and do not contract with NRMCA. See below for a list of LCA consultants.
- Submit the LCA Report and draft EPD to NRMCA for verification (certification). NRMCA conducts a preliminary review of the LCA Report and draft EPD for compliance with its EPD Program. If they meet NRMCA requirements, the LCA Report and draft EPD are sent to an Independent Verifier for review.
- An NRMCA Independent Verifier reviews the LCA Report and draft EPD. If the Independent Verifier determines that the LCA Report and draft EPD meet all the requirements of the applicable international standards, the PCR and the NRMCA EPD Program Operator Rules, the Consultant signs the draft EPD and NRMCA will issue the EPD with the NRMCA Certified EPD logo and publish the EPD on its website.
- Companies can use the NRMCA Certified EPD for project submittals and product marketing.
What does it cost for an EPD?
There are basically two steps to the process that will cost money: 1) Conduct an LCA, produce an LCA Report and a draft EPD, and 2) Have the LCA Report critically reviewed and the EPD verified (certified). Most companies don’t have the expertise in-house to conduct an LCA and produce a draft EPD so they will have to hire a consultant. There are many consultants who have the necessary expertise, but NRMCA recommends the LCA consultants listed below since they are also qualified verifiers in the NRMCA Certified EPD Program and have a detailed knowledge of the NRMCA Certified EPD Program Rules. You will contract directly with the consultant to conduct the LCA and produce an LCA Report and draft EPD.
The second step is to submit the LCA Report and draft EPD to have the EPD verified (certified) by NRMCA. There are 3 different levels of verification fees. Most companies will select Level 1 since they will need to have the LCA Report critically reviewed and their draft EPD verified. However, you can select Level 2 or 3 if you already have a critically reviewed LCA from NRMCA and have used the LCA to verify an EPD under the NRMCA program.
Levels of Verification (Certification):
Depending on the documentation submitted by the company seeking EPD verification (certification) from NRMCA, there will be different levels of Verification Services (and associated fees) required.
Level 1: Conduct a Critical Review of an LCA Report and Independent Verification of an EPD based on the LCA Report to determine if they meet the requirements of the PCR, ISO 14040, ISO 14025 and NRMCA EPD Program Operator Rules. If all the requirements are met, NRMCA issues a Certified EPD.
Level 2: Conduct a Critical Review of an updated LCA Report and Independent Verification of an EPD based on the LCA Report for additional plants and mixes from the same company as to determine if they meet the requirements of the PCR, ISO 14040, ISO 14025 and NRMCA EPD Program Operator Rules. This level of review must take place within 4 months of a Level 1 verification from the same company. If all the requirements are met, NRMCA issues a Certified EPD.
Level 3: Verify changes to existing verified EPDs, based on an LCA report that was previously Critically Reviewed and are from the same company and plant(s) per Level 1 and 2 verification above to determine if it meets all the requirements of the PCR, ISO 14025 and NRMCA EPD Program Operator Rules. Level 3 verification and EPD period of validity is contingent on compliance with the current Product Category Rule.
Verification (Certification) Fees:
Level 1: NRMCA Verifier Fee for New Customers
| Number of plants reported in LCA/EPD | NRMCA Members | Non-members |
| 1 to 3 plants | $1,250 | $2,000 |
| 4 to 10 plants | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| 11 or more plants | Negotiated fee | Negotiated fee |
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Level 2: Additional Plants within 4 Months of Level 1 Verification
| NRMCA Members | Non-members | |
| Plant Rate | $300/plant | $450/plant |
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Level 3: New EPDs at Verified Plants or Changes to Existing EPDs
| NRMCA Members | Non-members | |
| Hourly Rate | $300/hour | $450/hour |
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To submit an EPD for verification (certification) or for questions contact [email protected], 703-706-4885.
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NRMCA Verified LCA Consultants
The following is a list of LCA consultants. The LCA consultant will guide you through the data collection process and will generate a LCA and draft EPD. Once these drafts are complete, NRMCA randomly selects an independent verifier verify your EPD.
| Company | Contact/E-mail | Phone |
| Climate Earth | Drew Schlegel | 303-349-3436 |
| One Click LCA | Amarpreet Singh | 332-265-8287 |
| Pathways | Dorian Krausz | 415-686-2759 |
| Jack Cove | 301-957-0634 | |
| WAP Sustainability Consultants | Hannah Renaud | 250-837-8915 |
Slag Cement Life Cycle Assessment Calculator
The SCA commissioned the Athena Institute to produce its Ready Mixed Concrete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Calculator for Slag Cement – Version 3.0 to show the environmental impacts of using slag cement in ready mixed concrete. The LCA calculator allows users to enter custom concrete mixes and then substitute varying amounts of slag cement through a simple dashboard interface. By selecting a preset mix or entering the details of a custom mix, the calculator allows users to increase or decrease the percentage of slag cement and calculate LCA results in real time. The tool also allows users to compare custom mixes against region-specific industry average mixes and substitute these mixes into a generic whole building to calculate cumulative whole-building results. The calculator can be accessed on the SCA’s website.
Product Category Rules
The following is a list of PCRs adopted by NRMCA for concrete and concrete ingredients:
| Product | EPD Program where PCR is registered***/Download |
| Concrete | NSF International |
| Cement | ASTM |
| Cement | The International EPD System |
| Slag Cement | ASTM |
| Expanded Shale, Clay, and Slate Lightweight Aggregate | ASTM |
| Construction Aggregates: Natural Aggregate, Crushed Concrete, and Iron/Steel Furnace Slag | ASTM |
***PCRs can be registered by any EPD Program. Any EPD Program can adopt a PCR developed by another EPD Program.
For questions contact [email protected], 703-706-4885.