The UK’s first environmental product declarations (EPDs) for asphalt have been published, paving the way for measurable sustainability in road materials.
- The Mineral Products Association has released verified EPDs for four types of asphalt used on UK highways.
- These declarations enable consistent comparisons of environmental impacts, focusing on carbon footprint.
- Industry leaders highlight this as a major step towards the goal of net zero carbon emissions.
- Local authorities and contractors now have a reliable method to assess asphalt’s sustainability impacts.
In a significant development for sustainable construction, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) has unveiled the UK’s inaugural environmental product declarations (EPDs) for asphalt. These declarations pertain to four generic types of asphalt used prominently in UK highways, providing a much-needed tool for assessing the environmental performance of these materials. By employing consistent methodologies, these EPDs offer a reliable means of comparing the carbon footprints of different asphalt products, thus offering clarity on their sustainability indicators.
Brian Kent, chairman of MPA Asphalt, underscored the industry’s forward strides towards achieving net zero carbon emissions. He acknowledged the challenge of accurately measuring environmental impacts and progress, which this new EPD framework aims to address. By standardising the publication and verification of EPDs, the industry can avoid the substantial costs of custom EPD generation for every product type and plant, ultimately benefiting all stakeholders involved.
The EPDs are underpinned by data from the 2024 OneClick life cycle assessment tool, representing a comprehensive depiction of the industry’s production metrics. David Giles, chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, celebrated this milestone as pivotal for the industry, emphasising that these EPDs help quantify a range of sustainability indicators, chiefly focusing on the carbon footprint of asphalt products. Such tools are invaluable for local authorities and contractors aiming to assess and optimise the environmental impacts of asphalt as part of their commitment to net zero carbon objectives.
Furthermore, Malcolm Simms, director of MPA Asphalt, highlighted the broader benefits of these EPDs, which extend beyond highways projects. By enabling MPA members to access an online tool for generating personalised EPDs, the industry can refine its calculation assumptions and datasets, ensuring they accurately reflect production realities. This capability also allows members to consistently evaluate and compare their progress towards sustainability goals at both site and project levels.
Looking forward, the development of these EPDs is set to evolve with enhancements to the bitumen life cycle inventory data. Siobhan McKelvey of Eurobitume remarked on the importance of MPA’s reference EPD approach as a crucial step towards standardising environmental assessments in the sector, particularly given bitumen’s significant environmental impact. The upcoming LCI report from Eurobitume aims to further support the industry’s sustainability efforts, providing accurate tools to evaluate carbon footprints and support collective decarbonisation initiatives.
The establishment of these environmental product declarations marks a significant advancement in sustainable asphalt production.
