Miami Forever Carbon Neutral, for Manufacturers
Miami set a citywide net zero target for 2050 with an interim 60% cut from 2018 levels by 2035. That headline sounds municipal, yet it reshapes how building products get chosen across South Florida. If your materials show up with trustworthy EPDs, you ride the wave. If not, bids get harder and margins feel thinner.
What Miami’s pledge actually says
Miami’s roadmap aims for community‑wide carbon neutrality by 2050, with a near‑term 60% emissions reduction from 2018 levels by 2035 and objectives like 100% carbon‑free electricity by 2035 (City of Miami, 2025) (Miami Forever Carbon Neutral, 2025). For manufacturers, that sets clearer expectations on data, transparency, and credible disclosure. When a city formalizes targets, capital projects and private developers follow with specs that ask for proof, not promises.
Why embodied carbon is the next spotlight
Operational energy is getting tracked more tightly through benchmarking, which shifts attention to the carbon already baked into materials. Florida’s 2024 grid averaged about 765 pounds CO2 per megawatt‑hour, and as electricity cleans up, embodied carbon claims decide tie‑breakers in bids (EIA, 2025) (EIA Florida Electricity Profile 2024, 2025). EPDs are the accepted way to show that your mix, melt, or formulation stacks up under the rules of the right PCR.
BE305: a quiet driver behind stricter specs
City of Miami’s Building Efficiency 305 requires annual energy and water benchmarking for commercial and multifamily buildings 20,000 square feet and up, with the 2025 reporting period open now (City of Miami, 2025) (BE305 How to Comply, 2025). While BE305 targets operations, owners chasing lower utility intensity often push design teams toward materials with lower embodied impacts too. That is where product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs become the default ask.
What bid teams will look for on your EPDs
Specifiers read EPDs like nutrition labels. They check the declared unit, system boundary, and the PCR version. They compare GWP across A1–A3 first, then scan transport and manufacturing energy. If your competitors publish under a common PCR and you choose an outlier, you make comparisons muddy and risk being set aside. Think of the PCR as the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart.
Picking the PCR most likely to win the spec
Start with the competitive set. If the dominant EPDs in Miami projects cite the same concrete, steel, glazing, insulation, or flooring PCR families, match that unless a newer revision gives you a real advantage. Also watch expiry timelines. An EPD close to expiring can spook a conservative owner, even though it remains valid until its date. If trustworthy numbers on the next PCR update are missing, say so plainly and offer a plan to refresh once published.
Data collection without the drag
EPDs live or die on plant‑level data. The fastest path is a white‑glove approach that handles utility pulls, mass‑balances, waste streams, and supplier questionnaires for you, then models cradle‑to‑gate impacts with discipline. Speed matters because bid windows are short and product managers are busy. A partner who is program‑operator agnostic and publishes with the operator your market knows, such as Smart EPD in the U.S. or IBU in Europe, keeps doors open.
Timelines manufacturers should work to in Miami
Most owners now expect environmental documentation when construction documents go out, not weeks later. If your EPD is six months from expiry, start the renewal. If you are launching a new line with only a few months of production, a prospective EPD can bridge the gap, then get updated once a full year of data exists. That keeps you in the room when pricing and carbon are both on the table.
ROI in plain sight
An EPD often pays for itself with a single mid‑sized win because projects facing carbon targets apply penalties to products without third‑party declarations. With an EPD, your product is comparable on carbon rather than dismissed by default. That is not theory in Miami’s market, it is how shortlist decisions get made when schedules are tight and compliance boxes must be checked. Get the paperwork right and sales teams sell, not stall.
The Miami move
Miami Forever Carbon Neutral sets the direction. BE305 tightens the operational lens. Together they make credible, comparable product EPDs the safe choice for specifiers. Line up the right PCR, collect data once and well, publish with a recognized operator, and keep renewals on a simple cadence. Do this and your materials are not just greener, they are easier to pick. Simple, effective, definately worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami’s net zero plan include an interim emissions reduction target that affects project planning timelines?
Yes. Miami targets a 60% reduction from 2018 levels by 2035, on the way to citywide carbon neutrality by 2050 (City of Miami, 2025). This accelerates disclosure expectations and EPD asks in bids.
Is BE305 benchmarking mandatory and what size buildings are covered?
Yes. City of Miami requires annual energy and water benchmarking for commercial and multifamily buildings 20,000 square feet and larger, with phased timing by size and 2025 reporting open (City of Miami, 2025).
Which EPD fields do Miami specifiers commonly check first during bid reviews?
Declared unit, system boundary, PCR name and version, verifier, and GWP for A1–A3. They also scan transport and manufacturing energy to validate logistics claims.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
