Why concrete EPDs vary so much

Cement production is the dominant source of embodied carbon in most concrete, and cement content varies significantly by mix design and strength requirement. Beyond cement content, substitution rates for supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag cement), aggregate sourcing and transport distance, and admixture chemistry all shift a specific mix's results. This is exactly why product-specific EPDs matter more in this category than most: an industry-average number can obscure real differences between what a specifier could actually choose between.

Key materials typically covered

"Concrete & Cement" EPDs span several distinct product types, each with its own functional unit and, usually, its own PCR:

  • Ready-mixed concrete — the finished mix as delivered, declared by strength class and mix design
  • Precast concrete — structural and architectural elements cast off-site (panels, beams, planks)
  • Concrete masonry units (CMU) / block — declared separately from poured concrete
  • Cement — the binder itself (Portland and blended cements), declared separately from any finished concrete product that uses it
  • Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) — fly ash, slag cement, and similar substitutes for a portion of Portland cement, usually reflected as an input to a concrete EPD rather than declared on their own

Key standards and PCRs

In the US, ready-mix concrete EPDs commonly follow the NSF International PCR for Concrete (currently v2.1, August 2021, with a v3 update in development) or NRMCA's own program instructions for its member industry-average EPDs; cement has its own separate PCR. In Europe, both fall under product-specific PCRs written against EN 15804, and internationally against ISO 21930. See Product Category Rules for how to confirm the current, applicable PCR for a specific product and market.

Cement vs. ready-mix concrete EPDs

A cement EPD covers the binder alone — useful for comparing cement products directly, but not what a specifier is actually buying for a project. A ready-mix concrete EPD covers the finished mix as delivered, and is generally the more directly useful document for specification and procurement purposes, since it reflects the actual product going into the structure.

Top EPD program operators for Concrete & Cement

A handful of program operators account for most concrete-sector EPDs:

  • NSF International — maintains the North American PCR for Concrete and verifies EPDs built against it
  • NRMCA (National Ready Mixed Concrete Association) — the trade association operates its own program, publishing member industry-average EPDs for ready-mixed concrete
  • UL Solutions — also active as a program operator for concrete and related construction-product EPDs
  • ASTM International — operates PCR and EPD programs covering a range of construction products, including some concrete-adjacent categories
  • Internationally: EPD International (the International EPD System), EPD-Global (formerly EPD Norway), and Germany's Institut Bauen und Umwelt (IBU) all operate active concrete EPD programs in their respective markets

Notable producers of Concrete & Cement

Major global cement and concrete producers — including companies like Holcim and CRH — have published product-specific and industry-average EPDs across their product lines, alongside many regional and local ready-mix producers. Coverage varies significantly by market and product line; check a specific manufacturer's own published EPDs (via a database or the manufacturer directly) rather than assuming coverage.

Benchmark GWP figures for this category are planned for EPD Counts by Industry, Country & Operator and the rest of the Data section, pending real sourcing.

Sample EPDs for Concrete & Cement

To see what an actual concrete EPD looks like, EPD-Global's public registry publishes full documents — for example, Con-Form Group AS's EPD for a precast double wall element, verified against EN 15804 and searchable by NEPD number. In North America, NRMCA and NSF International publish member and industry-average concrete EPDs directly on their own sites, following the same overall structure.

How to Get a Concrete & Cement EPD: Step-by-Step

Getting an EPD for a ready-mix, precast, or cement product follows the same core process as any other construction product: choosing the applicable PCR, collecting primary production data, building the LCA, and having it independently verified before publication. See How to Get an EPD: Step-by-Step for the full process, or go directly to NRMCA or NSF International if you're pursuing an industry-average EPD through their member program rather than a product-specific one.

Frequently asked questions

Is cement declared separately from ready-mix concrete?

Yes — cement (the binder) and ready-mix concrete (the finished mix, which includes cement, aggregate, water, and admixtures) are typically covered by separate PCRs and separate EPDs, since a concrete mix's environmental impact depends heavily on its specific cement content, mix design, and aggregate sourcing.

Why do two concrete EPDs with the same strength class show different GWP?

Strength class (e.g. 4000 psi) is a performance spec, not a mix design — two mixes can hit the same strength with very different cement content, supplementary cementitious material (fly ash, slag) substitution rates, and aggregate sources, each affecting embodied carbon differently. Comparing EPDs meaningfully means checking the mix design details, not just the headline strength class.

Does using recycled aggregate or supplementary cementitious materials always lower GWP?

Generally, substituting supplementary cementitious materials for a portion of Portland cement lowers a mix's global warming potential, since cement production is the dominant carbon source in most concrete. It's not automatic, though — the actual reduction depends on substitution rate and what's being substituted, which is exactly what a mix-specific EPD is meant to show rather than assume.

What program operator should I expect to see on a North American concrete EPD?

Most commonly NSF International, which maintains the North American PCR for Concrete, or NRMCA itself for member industry-average EPDs. UL Solutions and ASTM International also operate concrete-related EPD programs. The program operator's name and the PCR it references are both printed on the EPD's cover page — worth checking against the current PCR version before relying on the numbers.

Do aggregates or supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag) get their own EPDs?

Occasionally, though it's far less common than EPDs for the finished ready-mix or precast product. When a concrete EPD needs to reflect a specific SCM source's impact precisely, the ready-mix producer's LCA can incorporate supplier-specific data for that input rather than relying on a generic industry average — but a standalone published EPD just for aggregate or fly ash is unusual outside specialized cases.

How do I find a real example of a concrete EPD?

Public EPD registries such as EPD-Global (formerly EPD Norway) publish full EPD documents, including for concrete products — see Sample EPDs below for a specific example. In North America, NRMCA and NSF International also publish member and industry-average EPDs directly on their own sites.

Sources

  • National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), Product Category Rule for ready-mixed concrete
  • NSF International, Product Category Rule (PCR) for Concrete, v2.1, August 2021
  • EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for the product category of construction products