The Mineral Products Association has published its first verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for asphalt.
- These EPDs cover four generic types of asphalt products used on UK roads.
- The initiative aims to provide accurate data for assessing the environmental impact of asphalt.
- The EPDs will be instrumental in the industry’s progress towards net zero carbon emissions.
- MPA Asphalt believes the verified data will support stakeholders in making informed decisions.
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has taken a significant step by releasing its first-ever verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for four generic asphalt product types. These declarations, focusing on products used on UK roads, include asphalt concrete (base and binder), hot rolled asphalt surface course, stone mastic asphalt (SMA) type surface course, and thin surface course. The primary goal of these EPDs is to enable accurate and reliable comparisons of each product’s environmental performance, a need long recognised by the industry.
The methodology behind these EPDs is robust, utilising the One Click Life Cycle Assessment tool. This software streamlines the life cycle assessment process, offering users the ability to automatically calculate a building’s carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. According to MPA, these EPDs are representative of the majority of producers and production volumes across the UK. Such representative data allows for precise assessments and reporting on environmental impact improvements, benefiting producers and clients alike.
Brian Kent, chairman of MPA Asphalt, highlighted the industry’s progress towards net zero carbon and the challenge of measuring environmental impacts accurately. He noted that producing EPDs for numerous individual product types is costly when done site-specifically. Thus, these generic EPDs aim to mitigate costs, facilitating the widespread adoption across the sector and fostering confidence in environmental assessments.
MPA Asphalt director Malcolm Simms added that the EPDs are designed to be a valuable tool for highways projects. Moreover, MPA Asphalt members will soon access the One Click LCA online tool, enabling them to generate their own EPDs for direct comparison with the verified data. The broader user data will refine calculation assumptions, contributing to more precise environmental impact assessments. This initiative positions the industry to adapt to future changes in EPD regulations efficiently.
David Giles, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, acclaimed the publication of these EPDs as a milestone, underscoring the sustainability of asphalt products. The EPDs offer a standardised method to quantify sustainability indicators, crucial as the sector strives for net zero carbon goals. Future enhancements in bitumen life cycle inventory data are anticipated, further refining the industry’s environmental impact evaluations.
The release of these verified EPDs marks a pivotal moment in standardising environmental impact assessment within the asphalt industry.
