ASTM Announces Environmental Product Declaration Program
BETHESDA, MD – ASTM International will be collaborating with industry to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across the 90+ industry markets it supports, including sealants. The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) will be partnering with ASTM International to raise awareness of this effort, educate industry on the value of Type III EPDs and proactively engage industry in developing Product Category Rules (PCR).
“There is an increasing trend towards defining how products impact the environment, with groups like the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) inserting EPD requirements within its LEED program, for example,” notes Matthew E. Croson, President, ASC. “A Type III EPD requires the development of PCR, which can then be leveraged by industry in developing a Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), which can then support a Type III EPD. We want to make sure industry is represented during meetings discussing any PCR that touches the sealant industry as we work with ASTM and ASC member companies to drive value through the supply chain in a new and different way.”
ASTM International announced that it was becoming a global Program Operator for PCR development and EPD verification in October 2012 and has worked to raise awareness of this effort through its 30,000 members. In January, the C24 members agreed that being active in the PCR process was in the best interest of the experts that are active members within C24, and plans are moving forward with scoping the PCR development for sealants.
ASTM International’s role will be to bring diversification to the stakeholders involved on the PCR development team and guide the process forward. It will also provide third-party verification of the EPDs.
ASC’s role is to educate industry on EPDs, promote the program to its members and ensure that industry is well represented as PCR are developed.
ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants will be meeting in Indianapolis, IN, on June 9-11, 2013. A special Committee C24 Research and Learning Session on Product Category Rules for Sealants will take on Tuesday, June 11 at 3:15 p.m. If interested in participating via conference call, contact Steve Mawn at smawn@astm.org.
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