Michigan HB 5567: Low-Carbon Materials Study
Michigan’s House Bill 5567 looks small on paper—a two-page amendment that simply orders a study—but it could tug an entire supply chain toward transparent carbon data. If you make concrete, steel, asphalt, coatings or insulation in the Great Lakes state, the bill’s ripple effects will land on your desk even if lawmakers never pass a full “Buy Clean” mandate.
What HB 5567 actually proposes
Filed in March 2024, the bill directs the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to “evaluate low-carbon construction materials and methods” and deliver recommendations to the Legislature within 18 months (Michigan Legislature, 2024). Translation: a task force will need hard numbers—global warming potential per kilogram, energy footprints, and realistic cost curves—to decide which materials deserve preferential treatment in public projects.
Why Michigan cares now
The MI Healthy Climate Plan calls for a 52 % cut in state-wide greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030 (EGLE, 2024). Building materials account for roughly 11 % of those emissions, yet the state currently owns zero harmonized database on product footprints. HB 5567 plugs that data gap and aligns with the $32 million federal grant MDOT landed in 2024 to pilot low-carbon concrete and asphalt specs (MDOT, 2024).
Expect a surge in EPD questions
EGLE’s analysts cannot compare apples to oranges. They will lean on Environmental Product Declarations because EPDs follow ISO 14025 and EN 15804, giving them consistent, cradle-to-gate carbon numbers. If your catalog lacks an up-to-date EPD, you hand rivals free ammo when the state finally writes procurement rules.
The study’s likely data wish-list
EPDs for core inputs (cement, aggregate, rebar, polymers) EPDs for finished systems (precast panels, asphalt mixes, wall assemblies) Facility level production and utility data to double-check declared values Cost differentials between current spec and low-carbon alternatives
Manufacturers who already track these metrics will spend an afternoon compiling a response. Everyone else faces a month of email chains and spreadsheet archaeology. It isn’t fun.
Proven carbon-cutting levers
Peer-reviewed research shows that swapping traditional mix designs for low-carbon concrete can slash life-cycle emissions by nearly 30 % (IJLCT, 2025). Similar gains appear for recycled steel and mass timber. These hard numbers, not marketing claims, will shape the task force’s final report.
How to get ready without headaches
- Audit your EPD roster. Expired PCR? Plan a refresh now.
- Pull utility and production data from the most recent fiscal year. Accurate baselines speed life-cycle modelling.
- Sketch at least one low-carbon formulation per flagship product so you can share credible cost and performance impacts when EGLE comes calling.
Yes, data wrangling can feel like eating kale for breakfast but skipping it may bump you off future bid lists.
Watch the calendar
HB 5567 is still parked in the Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee. Hearings could happen as early as February 2026. That sounds far off until you realise an EPD project can soak up six to nine months if internal data is scattered. Give yourself elbow room.
Bottom-line take-away
Even if HB 5567 stalls, its logic is contagious: public dollars will start favouring products with verified, low-carbon footprints. Get your EPDs in line now, and Michigan’s coming carbon audit will play out on your terms, not someone else’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HB 5567 create a Buy Clean mandate for Michigan?
Not yet. The bill only funds a study and recommendations. A separate act would be needed to make EPD-backed carbon limits legally binding.
Which agency will run the low-carbon materials study?
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is explicitly named to lead the evaluation (Michigan Legislature, 2024).
Will small-batch or specialty products be exempt?
The bill doesn’t mention exemptions. EGLE’s report may address feasibility for niche products, but assume disclosure expectations will eventually reach everyone.
How long does a new EPD take to publish?
With organized data the timeline can be as short as 12 weeks, but most manufacturers need four to eight months because data collection drags. Plan accordingly.
Do I need one EPD per SKU?
Usually not. One declaration can cover a family of products if the life-cycle impacts stay within ±10 % of the worst-case model.
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
