IACMI joins with American Composites Manufacturers Association to secure $6 million award
The grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector.
The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Knoxville-based Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) have announced their joint selection as recipients of the Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products grant, under EPA-R-OCSPP-OPPT-FY2023-001.
This $6 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector.
In this strategic partnership, ACMA and IACMI will deploy an industry-funded Life Cycle Assessment-Environmental Product Declaration (LCA-EPD) generator and develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for composite construction materials and products. The project will encompass the development of new Product Category Rules (PCRs) and the modification of existing PCRs as needed. Additionally, the initiative will educate over 200 composites manufacturers and their customers on the use of EPDs and collaborate with universities to develop gate-to-grave data for inclusion in EPDs. This project not only addresses an immediate industry need but also harmonizes technological advancement with environmental responsibility, paving the way for a more sustainable future in construction and infrastructure.
“We are honored to be selected for this grant from the EPA,” said ACMA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cindy L. Squires. “The work funded by this grant and managed in partnership with IACMI will not only address a critical need in the construction industry but also demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship. By developing comprehensive EPDs for composite materials, we can ensure that manufacturers and builders have the tools they need to make informed, sustainable choices.”
She added that “the grant will leverage an already significant investment by ACMA and its Composite Growth Initiative to prepare our manufacturers to provide the environmental impact information needed by their customers.”
“This project represents a significant step forward in harmonizing technological advancements with environmental responsibility in the composites industry,” said Chad Duty, CEO of IACMI. “By working together with ACMA, we aim to pave the way for a more sustainable future in construction and infrastructure, reducing the embodied greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the adoption of composites.”
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