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Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

General

The purpose of the Caltrans Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Implementation Project is to collect EPDs for materials incorporated into construction projects in order to quantify the Global Warming Potential (GWP) emissions in the manufacturing of those materials for our transportation system.

  • Caltrans EPD Implementation Project Information (PDF)

Buy Clean California

The Buy Clean California Act, originally signed into law on October 15, 2017 and amended on June 27, 2018, mandates collection of EPDs for eligible materials (carbon steel rebar, structural steel, flat glass, and mineral wool board insulation) to which this project will include in its deliverables.

For more information on the Buy Clean California Act, please visit the CA Department of General Services.

Pilot Project Updates

Five major building materials put into service by Caltrans have been identified to include Concrete, Carbon Steel Rebar, Structural Steel (SS), Asphalt, and Aggregate and will be the initial set of materials to which EPDs will be collected on pilot projects and used for determining baseline environmental impacts.

Current Pilot Projects Requiring EPDs (updated 03/27/2020, additional projects to be added)

Project EA Contract Award Approval Eligible Materials per Buy Clean California Act Concrete Asphalt Aggregate
Rebar Structural Steel Flat Glass Mineral Wool Board Insulation
02-1H110 December 31, 2019   ✔       ✔ ✔
02-4G500 October 24, 2019 ✔         ✔  
05-1F740 May 1, 2019 ✔


✔ ✔ ✔
07-31040 November 4, 2019
   ✔
       ✔   
08-0K121 January 22, 2020



✔
✔
08-1F690 October 24, 2019
       
  ✔ ✔ 
12-0N490 January 22, 2020 ✔ ✔     ✔    

✔ Indicates pilot project has anticipated quantity of material meeting threshold to require EPD as set forth in NSSP

Product Category Rules

Use the product category rule in effect on the date of bid opening unless otherwise authorized. Where a product category rule for material or product has expired without replacement as of the bid opening date, no environmental product declaration is required for that particular material or product.

Where separate bid item exists (Pilot Projects only): Submit a schedule of values for material and product environmental product declarations within 15 days after Contract approval.

Material or Product Applicable PCR Range of Applicability
Carbon Steel Rebar and Structural Steel

North American Product Category Rule for Designated Steel Construction Products

Product Category Rule (PCR) Guidance for Building-Related Products and Services Part B: Designated Steel Construction Product EPD Requirements

May 5, 2015 / May 5, 2020

August 26, 2020 / August 2025
Flat Glass GANA Product Category Rule for Flat Glass - UN CPC 3711(PDF) March 31, 2014 / March 31, 2020
Mineral Wool Board Insulation Product Category Rule (PCR) Guidance for Building-Related Products and Services Part B: Building Envelope Thermal Insulation EPD Requirements April 11, 2018 / April 11, 2023
Aggregate ASTM International Product Category Rules for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration for Construction Aggregates: Natural Aggregate, Crushed Concrete, and Iron/Steel Furnace Slag January 2017 / January 2022
Asphalt Concrete National Asphalt Pavement Association Product Category Rules for Asphalt Mixtures(PDF) January 31, 2017 / January 2022
Concrete Product Category Rule for Environmental Product Declarations, PCR for Concrete(PDF) April 2019 / February 22, 2024

1The current PCR for Concrete has replaced Version 1.1 dated December 2013, published by Carbon Leadership Forum.

Program Operator Consortium (POC) develops PCRs, reviews and verifies EPDs, reports Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and publishes customized Type III environmental declaration formats in accordance with the International Standard ISO 14025.

Additional Resources