Presentation by Joseph Shacat, Director of Sustainable Pavements, and Kelly Kanaras, Associate Director of Awards and Marketing on the National Asphalt Pavement Association's Environmental Product Declaration program.

1. Emerald Eco-Label
NAPA’s EPD Program for
Asphalt Mixtures
Joseph Shacat
Director of Sustainable
Pavements
Kelly Kanaras
Associate Director of
Awards & Marketing

2. What NAPA Does
Who is NAPA?
1,100 Member Companies
Mix Producers Paving Contractors, Equipment Producers, & Suppliers
Research & Engineering
Education & Member Services
Federal Advocacy
• Highway & Airport Investment
• EH&S Regulatory Issues

3. Components of NAPA’s EPD for Asphalt Mixtures
PCR LCA EPD

4. Product Category Rules
• Defines inputs, system boundaries, life
cycle stages, and data to be reported
• NAPA is the Program Operator for Asphalt
Mixtures produced in the U.S.
• Independent and public review process
• Valid through January 2022

5. Product Category Rules
• EPDs are comparable if asphalt mixtures
meet similar performance criteria
• Declared unit is 1 short ton of asphalt
mixture
• Defines primary (site-specific) and
secondary (upstream) data
• Specifies public databases for upstream
products & processes

6. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
•Conducted by Dr. Amlan Mukherjee
•Industry-wide survey of 50 plants
•Scientific basis for NAPA’s Emerald Eco-
Label (EPD tool)
•Independent review process

7. EPDs for Asphalt
Mixtures are
Cradle-to-Gate

8. Data Gaps
Public databases don’t have good
information on most asphalt additives
• Liquid antistrips
• Recycling agents
• Warm-mix chemical additives
• Ground tire rubber
• Polymers
Data gaps are noted in the EPD

9. List from Institute for Environmental Research and Education
“Typical” Steps to Develop an EPD
1. Select a program operator.
2. Find or commission an LCA study of your product type
3. Develop a PCR committee
4. Make all relevant decisions in committee
5. Have your draft PCR reviewed by at least three experts (and
open public comment period)
6. Publish final PCR
9. Publish your reviewed EPD
8. Have the EPD reviewed by an expert
7. Conduct your LCA and draft the EPD

10. How to Develop an EPD using NAPA’s Tool
1. Compile plant-specific and mix-specific data
2. Purchase access for your plant(s) $
3. Upload your data into the tool

11. What is Emerald Eco-Label?
• NAPA’s online program that
produces EPDs for asphalt
mixtures
• Can be used for any plant
located in the U.S.
• Simplified process that saves
mix producers time and
money

12. • Web-based tool
• Software hosted by a third
party to ensure confidentiality
of mix design data
• Inexpensive, easy-to-use
• Results can be printed as a
pdf

13. Primary Data – Entered by
the User
• Plant specific data
• Fuel usage, electricity
consumption, tons
produced, etc.
• Mix specific data
• Binder content, RAP
content, additives,
distance from material
suppliers, etc.
EPDs are
plant-specific and
product-specific
for each mix design
NAPA’s data collection
spreadsheet helps you
collect & organize data
Data inputs are
confidential

14. Product
Declaration
EPDs of asphalt mixtures can not be compared
to EPDs of concrete mixtures

15. Data
Outputs
Impact Categories Materials Transportation Mix Production
Life Cycle Stages

16. • Evaluate plant operations and supply
chains to optimize sustainability
• Quantify environmental improvement of
products over time
• Provide new marketing opportunities
• Meet requirements under Caltrans’ EPD
policy and green rating systems (LEED,
Envision, etc.)
User Benefits

17. 1. Go to www.asphaltpavement.org/epd
2. Watch two (free) training webinars
3. Register on the Emerald Eco-Label website
4. Purchase access for your plant(s)
How to Get Started

18. • No limit on the number of mix designs (products) for each plant
• Access expires January 31, 2022
Pricing Structure

19. NAPA
Contacts
Technical Questions:
Joseph Shacat, Director of Sustainable
Pavements
jshacat@asphaltpavement.org
Program Questions:
Kelly Kanaras, Associate Director of Awards
& Marketing
kkanaras@asphaltpavement.org