CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With more environmental product declarations (EPDs) released for concrete available in Alberta and Manitoba, Lafarge’s ongoing commitment to sustainability remains in the forefront. The EPDs provide third-party verified data critical to surging sustainable construction across Western Canada.
“As the construction and building industry continues to shift its focus towards sustainability to combat the impacts of climate change, it is critical to establish a reliable and transparent means of evaluating and validating sustainable outcomes,” says Piero Nanfara, Director of Quality Assurance and Control and Development for concrete in Western Canada. “We’re proud to share the information. It’s proof that our innovations and trials to reduce GHG are worthwhile, are tested, can perform, and provide the solutions that our communities need.”
“There are a lot of specific details and components that are required to issue an EPD,” shares Morkos Hanes, Manager, at the Lafarge WCAN Technical and Development Centre who led the team. “We completed EPDs for our concrete mixes available in Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg - so anyone building there now has access to this information via ASTM.”
Although a business can issue information on their own, involving ASTM International - formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials - confirms that an impartial third body reviews the data. ASTM International is an American body of skilled personnel that specializes in testing materials and developing standards that are recognized, accepted, and used by industry and government in the global marketplace.
“It proves back the calculations,” says Hanes. “Their committees develop a standard with due process, debate, and their own expertise. Meeting the standard is proof that a company has been reviewed and assessed.”
Lafarge is well positioned to meet the commitments made by Western Canadian governments to mandate the use of reduced-carbon and sustainable building materials. The company recognizes that the built-environment plays a central role in the transition toward low-carbon and circular economy. Their concrete product offerings include ECOPact, with 30-100% less carbon emissions compared to standard concrete. ECOPact concretes integrate upcycled construction and demolition materials, further closing the resource loop.
The company will also host a virtual panel of concrete and sustainability experts to discuss the role of EPDs in building materials on September 16, 2021. A link to the newest EPDs is available on their website at www.lafarge.ca.
