EPDs and sustainability

By Jesse Sanchez.

How the roofing industry is embracing environmental transparency.

In a compelling Coffee Conversations, hosted by Megan Ellsworth, Jean-François Côté and Amandine Tragus from SOPREMA explored the growing demand for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and their impact on the roofing industry. With sustainability becoming more of a necessity than a trend, manufacturers and contractors must adapt to remain competitive.

EPDs: The environmental nutrition label for roofing

An EPD serves as a transparency tool, much like a nutrition label on food packaging. “The simplest way I can think of to explain what an Environmental Product Declaration or EPD is by comparing it to a nutritional facts label that you can find on food packaging,” said Amandine, SOPREMA’s national quality and sustainability manager. “Except instead of showing nutritional information, an EPD discloses the potential environmental impacts of a product throughout its lifecycle.”

The lifecycle of a product includes four key stages: product stage, construction stage, use stage and end-of-life stage. By understanding these phases, stakeholders can make informed decisions about material choices and sustainability efforts. “To summarize, an EPD is simply a way to transparently communicate a product’s environmental impact,” Amandine added.

The roofing industry’s shift toward sustainability

Jean-François, director of standards and scientific affairs for SOPREMA Canada, highlighted the industry’s progress. “The roofing industry is sometimes labeled as a very conservative and slow-moving industry, but our industry has recognized the benefits of engaging in sustainability several years ago,” he said. “Our industry was among the first to publish EPDs way back in 2014.”

Today, many customers expect EPDs as a standard offering. “Companies that are not committed to reducing their carbon footprint today are part of the dwindling segments,” Amandine warned. As sustainability regulations tighten, manufacturers without EPDs risk exclusion from major projects. However, those who embrace EPDs now can position themselves as leaders in the green building movement, opening new opportunities and strengthening their market presence.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about how EPDs are shaping the industry’s sustainability efforts!