White House announces new decarbonization commitments as Buy Clean momentum grows

With support from both public and private sectors, this announcement aligns with the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, first launched in 2021, to reduce the embodied carbon emissions from materials such as steel, concrete, and asphalt.

These actions build upon the administration's broader climate strategy with the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes leveraging federal procurement to prioritize low-carbon construction materials. The public sector is the largest purchaser of construction products in the U.S., and this initiative sends a powerful signal to the marketplace to incentivize innovation in material production and setting new sustainability standards for the construction industry.

Public and private sector commitments

How does this affect public sector projects?

New York State, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington State, and Michigan State have publicly committed to lowering carbon emissions from construction materials. Notably, New York State aims for a 30% reduction in carbon emissions from concrete by 2028, and New York City will begin to require environmental product declarations for certain concrete and steel products. These commitments support Governor Hochul's Executive Order 22, Executive Order 23 on Clean Construction, and New York State Buy Clean Concrete Guidelines. The city of Los Angeles, Washington State, and Michigan State have all set similar targets to include embodied carbon data in their procurement processes. 

How does this affect private sector projects?

In the private sector, major concrete and cement companies such as Heidelberg Materials, Cemex, National Ready Mixed Concrete Company, and Ozinga are committing to significant reductions in emissions. Heidelberg Materials North America plans to cut company-wide emissions by 25% by 2030, while Cemex aims for a 40% reduction in global warming potential in its projects. Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services are also playing a role by piloting low-carbon concrete technologies in their data centers. Microsoft, through its Climate Innovation Fund, is investing in cleaner materials, while Amazon has already scaled up the use of low-carbon concrete in 36 data centers in 2023. Turner Construction, the largest general builder in the U.S., has pledged to implement five projects using concrete with 50% lower emissions by 2026, further driving innovation and compliance with Buy Clean standards.

One Click LCA: supporting manufacturers in reducing embodied carbon

For manufacturers of construction materials, these developments create both opportunities and challenges. Embodied carbon — the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the production, transportation, and assembly of materials — has emerged as a key metric in determining the environmental impact of construction projects. Manufacturers are increasingly expected to disclose and reduce the carbon footprint of their products, particularly in light of new state and federal Buy Clean policies.

Environmental product declarations (EPDs) offer a standardized method of measuring and reporting embodied carbon and other environmental impacts across the life-cycle of a product. By creating EPDs, manufacturers not only comply with emerging regulations but also position themselves as leaders in sustainability, which can serve as a competitive advantage. EPDs also make products visible to contractors and designers and increase the chances for a product to be specified.

One Click LCA's platform simplifies the generation of EPDs, providing manufacturers with an easy-to-use solution to create product-specific environmental declarations. As EPDs are increasingly required in federal and state procurement processes, this tool becomes critical for companies aiming to meet the new Buy Clean standards.

Buy Clean and the role of EPDs in reducing embodied carbon

The Federal Buy Clean Initiative aims to reduce the climate impact of key materials used in federally funded construction projects. The initiative emphasizes the procurement of lower-carbon materials and mandates the use of product-specific Type III EPDs as the primary data source for assessing the environmental impact of materials like concrete, steel, and asphalt.

With the new commitments announced by states such as New York and California, and big players in the private sector, like Amazon and Microsoft, the demand for verified environmental data through EPDs is growing rapidly. For manufacturers, the ability to supply materials with documented, lower embodied carbon through EPDs becomes essential not only for compliance but also for remaining competitive in these markets.

Good news for sustainable building design in the U.S.

The expansion of the Buy Clean initiative is encouraging news for those working toward U.S. sustainability goals. By driving demand for low-carbon materials, the federal and state governments are fostering innovation in sectors traditionally associated with high emissions. These actions are expected to create ripple effects throughout the industry, accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies and reducing the overall carbon footprint of infrastructure projects across the country.

For manufacturers, these new regulations and market signals offer a clear incentive to invest in sustainable practices. EPDs provide transparency and credibility, allowing companies to showcase their efforts in decarbonization and appeal to environmentally conscious clients. This also opens up new market opportunities as public and private sectors seek suppliers that can meet stringent sustainability requirements.

In addition to the Buy Clean Initiative, the federal government launched a new low-carbon labeling program through the Environmental Protection Agency in 2024. This program will establish clear criteria for what constitutes "clean" materials, is expected to drive demand and spur innovation in the sector, and is another example of federal initiatives impacting the private market.

EPDs: The marketing and compliance tool for manufacturers

Beyond regulatory compliance, EPDs serve as an effective marketing tool for manufacturers. As sustainability becomes a key consideration in procurement decisions, companies that can demonstrate a reduced environmental impact through verified EPDs will have a distinct advantage. EPDs offer quantifiable data, which can help companies communicate the benefits of their products to clients and contractors, building trust and supporting long-term business growth.

By offering a platform for efficient EPD generation, One Click LCA supports manufacturers in navigating this evolving landscape. The tool streamlines the creation of EPDs, ensuring that manufacturers can quickly adapt to new requirements, participate in Buy Clean initiatives, and capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable building materials.

The future of clean construction

By promoting the use of low-carbon materials and emphasizing the importance of transparency through EPDs, the U.S. is taking a proactive stance in addressing climate change while fostering innovation in manufacturing.

For manufacturers, this shift underscores the importance of integrating sustainability into their operations. Tools like One Click LCA's EPD generator provide a crucial means of compliance and market differentiation, ensuring that companies can meet new regulatory demands and get their products specified, while contributing to the broader goals of reducing embodied carbon and supporting a more sustainable future.