Cement Association of Canada registers CSA Group's first EPD
CSA Group, a leading global provider of standards development and testing and certification services, has had its first environmental product declaration (EPD) registered by the Cement Association of Canada for general use (GU) and portland-limestone (GUL) cements.
EPDs provide a standard way to communicate the environmental impact of available products and as such are an important part of the life cycle assessment of a building. EPDs can measure environmental impacts from raw material extraction to the end product. They take into account critical factors such as overall energy use and efficiency, the materials that were used to make the product, chemical substances, emissions and waste generation.
"Environmental product declarations are a simple, easily understood way for contractors and architects – and the general public, to understand and evaluate the environmental impact of the products they choose," said Magali Depras, president of standards, CSA Group.
EPDs are like the nutrition label on a food box: they help give a fuller picture of the environmental impacts of a product from beginning to end. With this information, architects and construction companies can make better informed choices, leading to the construction of greener and healthier buildings.
"CSA Group is proud to work with organizations like the Cement Association of Canada who are leading the way to a better, more sustainable world. We are pleased to announce that EPDs for these two products will be available for Canada's future infrastructure,” added Magali Depras.
"Cement is used virtually exclusively to make concrete, a material that is literally the foundation of modern society and that will play a key role in the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient future," said Michael McSweeney, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada.
"The cement and concrete industry is committed to doing all it can to help in this transition. Not only are EPDs an important tool for providing data and transparency on materials but also to support complex integrated design processes that help maximise the role that materials like concrete can play in advanced energy efficient design."
