Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff
Martin Marietta Materials is the first producer member to use NRMCA’s new system level Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification program, oriented to transparency credits in LEED v4 and other green building standards. The program meets strict international standards, but streamlines EPD verification: Rather than a fixed set of product-specific EPD, it verifies the software used to generate a concrete mix’s environmental impacts. Hence, producers can tender new product-specific EPD as needed for each project.
Martin Marietta used a Climate Earth enterprise software tool to generate EPD covering 50 concrete mixes from six Rocky Mountain Region plants. The software and underlying life cycle data for each plant was reviewed by Sustainable Solutions Corp., an NRMCA EPD program verifier. Martin Marietta can now generate EPD on-demand from each of the Colorado plants using the Climate Earth tool. The verification process and background data are checked periodically to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Implementing a system verification program for EPDs once again demonstrates that the ready mixed concrete industry is a leader in the transparency movement, NRMCA affirms. The association was one of the first industry groups to launch an EPD program in the U.S. and generate an industry-wide EPD, and is now an early mover in system level EPD verification.
“Concrete producers lead the way with over 2,400 products verified in [our] EPD program,” says NRMCA President Robert Garbini. “We’re proud to be able to offer this new system verification program, making the process of developing EPDs more efficient for our members.”
Additional information on EPD and the NRMCA EPD Operator program can be obtained here or from NRMCA Senior Director, Sustainability Initiatives James Bogdan, QEP, LEED-AP, 412/4204138; [email protected].
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