Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
Page Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Announcement: Industry Outreach and Training on Caltrans EPD Requirements for Asphalt & Concrete
Join us for a live webinar on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PST to learn about Caltrans' Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) requirements for asphalt and concrete.
Caltrans presenters and industry experts will cover:
- What EPDs are and why they matter
- How to develop an EPD
- New Caltrans specification requirements and FAQs
- A live walkthrough of the Caltrans EPD database
This training is designed for producers, suppliers, contractors, engineers, QA managers, and Caltrans/local agency staff.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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.
Buy Clean California
The Buy Clean California Act, originally signed into law on October 15, 2017 mandates collection of EPDs for eligible materials (carbon steel rebar, structural steel, flat glass, and mineral wool board insulation).
- Department Exemptions to Environmental Product Declarations in Public Contract Code § 3503 (PDF)
- Construction Manual 3-606 Buy Clean California Act
For more information on the Buy Clean California Act, please refer to 6-1.06B of the latest Standard Specification.
Hot Mix Asphalt and Concrete
For projects with bid opening dates starting February 1, 2025, Caltrans requires EPD submittals for the following materials:
- Asphalt Concrete
- Concrete
- Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
Contractors will also be required to submit the estimated quantities of material used and the intended material application.
For more information, see the links below:
- CPD 24-8, Environmental Product Declarations for Hot Mix Asphalt and Concrete (PDF)
- Standard Special Provision 6-1.08 (PDF)
- Standard Special Provision Section 58-2.01C(9) (PDF)
New Caltrans EPD Database and FAQ's
Caltrans has developed a new database for contractors to add and submit EPDs. The new website was designed to improve the user experience and streamline the processes of entering and submitting EPDs.
A comprehensive FAQ section is also available on the EPD database to assist users with common questions about submittal requirements, system navigation, and program eligibility.
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 (Expired)
|
May 5, 2015 / May 5, 2020 August 26, 2020 / August 2025 |
| Flat Glass |
GANA Product Category Rule for Flat Glass - UN CPC 3711 (PDF)
GANA Product Category Rule for Flat Glass - UN CPC 3711 (Expired) |
September 30, 2013 / September 30, 2025 March 31, 2014 / March 31, 2020 |
| Mineral Wool Board Insulation | Part B Building Envelope Thermal Insulation EPD Requirements | January 15, 2025 /June 30, 2025 |
| Aggregate |
NSF International 1-Year Extension of ASTM International's Product Category Rules for Preparing an Environmental Product Declaration for Construction Aggregates: Natural Aggregate, Crushed Concrete, and Iron/Steel Furnace Slag (Expired) |
January 2017 / December 31, 2023 (2-year extension) April 2024 / December 31, 2028 |
| Asphalt Concrete |
National Asphalt Pavement Association Product Category Rules for Asphalt Mixtures (Expired) 1-Year Extension of National Asphalt Pavement Association Product Category Rules for Asphalt Mixtures (Expired) National Asphalt Pavement Association Product Category Rules (PCR) for Asphalt Mixtures |
January 31, 2017 / January 2022 January 31, 2017 / March 31, 2022 April 2022 / March 2027 |
| Concrete | Product Category Rules for Concrete, v2.3 – extension |
February 2025 / February 28, 2026 |
| Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) | Product Category Rule for CMU | March 1, 2022 / March 1, 2027 |
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.
FHWA Climate Challenge
Caltrans is excited to announce the FHWA Climate Challenge Program. Please click here for more information on the program.
Additional Resources
- How to create a DIME account (video)
- Find PCRs and EPDs on their website programoperators.org
- Caltrans EPD Authorized Materials List
- For any project specific questions, please contact your METS Representative
- For general EPD questions, contact EPD@dot.ca.gov
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.
- Latest Non-Standard Special Provision (NSSP) for Pilot Projects 6-1.06_N03-05-19_2019
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