The use of EPD'S and the Role of Transparency in Sustainable Development-The Use of EPDs and the Role of Transparency in Sustainable Development

The Use of EPDs and the Role of Transparency in Sustainable Development

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video is a webinar presentation about Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and their role in the construction industry. The presenter, who works for the Athena Institute, a non-profit group specializing in life cycle assessment (LCA), explains the purpose and benefits of EPDs. EPDs are a communication tool based on data that provide a statement of the environmental performance data of a product. They are a shift away from non-substantiated claims towards transparent and unbiased data. The presenter emphasizes that EPDs are part of an evolution in thinking about environmental impacts and making sustainable choices. The presentation also covers the process of creating EPDs, the role of EPDs in LEED building certifications, and the challenges of comparing and interpreting EPDs. The presenter suggests that while EPDs are still relatively new and not yet comparable, they provide valuable data to drive environmental improvements in the industry. The presenter ends by explaining the Sustainable Plant Program initiated by the precast industry, which uses LCA data to track and improve environmental performance in manufacturing facilities.

Keywords

Environmental Product Declarations

EPDs

construction industry

Athena Institute

life cycle assessment

sustainable choices

LEED building certifications

Sustainable Plant Program