As of January 2025, concrete producers operating in New York face new reporting requirements under the state’s recently adopted Buy Clean Concrete guidelines. Producers are required to submit Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for concrete mixes used in state agency projects valued at more than $1 million and involving 50 cubic yards or more of concrete, or New York Department of Transportation projects valued at more than $3 million and involving 200 cubic yards or more. In addition to submitting EPDs, producers must also ensure their concrete mix designs meet established Global Warming Potential (GWP) thresholds, currently set at 150% of regional baselines, to help reduce embodied carbon in public construction.

An EPD is a standardized, third-party-verified document that quantifies the environmental impact of a product over its life cycle, commonly referred to as its “carbon footprint.” EPDs detail emissions associated with raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation and other lifecycle stages. Often compared to a nutrition label for construction materials, EPDs provide transparent data that designers, specifiers and project owners can use to make informed decisions about sustainability and meet regulatory requirements.

To assist concrete producers in meeting EPD regulations set by New York State, the Kemco DCWH reduced overall energy usage by approximately 50-60%, thus lowering the embodied carbon footprint of the concrete production process and supporting compliance with state GWP limits.