No matter your expertise, there is opportunity for change and action.
The Carbon Coalition is connecting public, private and industry manufacturers to better understand what the real world issues are in executing decarbonization and data creation (like EPD’s). We are bridging information gaps (aka the Carbon Disconnect) through collaboration, providing actionable solutions that we can implement today.
5 Ways to Bridge the Carbon Disconnect
- Spec the Products – EPD’s & Low Carbon: Legislative and corporate decarbonization objectives are well under way, requiring low carbon products and/or EPD’s to help determine the carbon footprint of buildings. To better quantify carbon values and get approval through the planning process, the AEC industry should spec products with carbon information. The more we ask for EPD’s, the more EPD’s will be made available.
- Invest in the Test: Low carbon products are in demand and currently available across Canada, but not all meet the testing and code compliance requirements. We, as the private sector, can meet the increasing demand for low carbon products by requesting that these get tested.
- Create & Publish Your EPDs: Governments, developers and builders are working to decarbonize their projects and operations starting as early as 2025. If you are a manufacturer, get ahead of the curve with product transparency and start the EPD process for your respective products. You can even lead by example and publish the third party-verified EPD’s you already have.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration and Communication: Both manufacturers and private sector professionals are experiencing the challenges of implementing legislated decarbonization requirements. It’s important for public officials to hear from ground-level perspectives, collaborate on strategies, and consider where the system can be flexible to ensure low carbon goals do not hinder the provision of housing.
- The Future is Now – Connect with the Coalition: Each of our perspectives on decarbonization are valuable. Speak up and reach out to us with the issues and challenges you’re experiencing as a manufacturer, public official or private sector professional by connecting with the Coalition.
AEC Industry-Wide Event
We’re exploring those perpsectives as we put each of these principles into practice at our first conference themed, “Know Your Impact” on November 21st. Change is possible through education and advocacy, and by bringing cross industry professionals to the same table. Participants will gain invaluable insight on how to support one another in producing data (like EPD’s), making informed decisions, and solutions for consideration. Although this is an invite-only event, there will be many opportunities to join and support the Carbon Coalition. Next are key resources you can use to supplement your current efforts or advance your journey to decarbonization.
Actionable Solutions Available Today
- CAGBC’s (Canada Green Building Council) Manufacturer Kickstarter is a four-part manufacturer specific series for organizations who have not yet pursued product life cycle assessments and related market-facing transparency documentation. These courses will be available on demand in Q1 2025 in both English and French.
- CAGBC’s (Canada Green Building Council) EPD Optimization Kickstart Course is for manufacturers with existing Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), providing a strategic pathway to establish a competitive edge in the current market.
- Carbon Leadership Forum Embodied Carbon Policy Toolkit offers informative policy factsheets, tracking map, reports, case studies and videos. This training provides core embodied carbon policy concepts and frameworks and is great for both private and public sector representatives to learn more about how to implement decarbonization.
- The Carbon Coalition Manufacturer Survey is here to help us better understand what challenges industry manufacturers face in tackling decarbonization of products and producing data associated with them through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD’s).
Whether your journey starts with choosing low carbon products, publishing your products carbon data through EPD’s, or voicing your concerns on the challenges your industry is facing, your actions matter and can have a real impact here and now.
Connect with Carbon Coalition to let us know how we can help you, or to sign-up for our upcoming newsletters and mailing lists!
Author: Lara Gumushdjian, Director of Sustainability | Architect | Associate, KIRKOR Architects and Planners