Sustainable Material Selection – A Guide

Construction is responsible for a huge amount of emissions and environmental degradation.  How and by whom materials are made is key to transitioning to a sustainable economy.  An important tool in assessing the ecological impacts is environmental product declarations (EPD), which are product-specific impact assessments based on the scientific method of life cycle assessment (LCA).  EPD verification by an independent third party allows the product manufacturer to provide information on its supply chain, production cycles, and product characteristics.  A holistic material selection process considers the conditions of manufacturing as well as the supplier’s long-term business and governance strategy.