Washington EO 20-01, decoded for manufacturers
Washington’s Executive Order 20-01 quietly rewired how state projects buy, build, and measure impact. If you supply concrete, steel, or engineered wood, this order and its companion law turn EPDs from nice-to-have into table stakes. Miss the paperwork and bids slow. Nail it and you move to the front of the queue.
EO 20-01 in plain English
EO 20-01 tells state agencies to choose lower‑emissions options whenever workable and cost‑effective, to design new state‑owned buildings to be zero energy or zero energy‑capable, and to consider net‑embodied carbon in those designs. It also folds environmental purchasing and toxics reduction into everyday procurement decisions.
Think of it as Washington’s operating system for cleaner state projects. It sets the tone that specifications will favor verifiable environmental data, not promises.
Why that points straight at EPDs
Embodied carbon is the lion’s share of a product’s climate story before it reaches the site. Agencies measuring it need third‑party verified numbers, which is exactly what an EPD provides. Manufacturing construction materials accounts for about 11% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, which is why policy attention is locked here (US EPA, 2024) (US EPA, 2024).
The companion law that makes it concrete
Washington’s 2024 Buy Clean and Buy Fair law requires reporting for covered materials on state building projects and sets dates that drive submittals. For new construction contracts on projects larger than 100,000 gross square feet, reporting begins July 1, 2025. It expands to all covered projects on July 1, 2027. On those projects, contractors must provide a current EPD covering at least 90% of the cost of each covered product category used, along with other basic supplier details (2ESHB 1282 Final Bill Report, 2024) (2ESHB 1282 Final Bill Report, 2024).
Covered products are structural concrete, reinforcing steel, structural steel, and engineered wood. The state’s public database will ingest and publish reported GWP values, so clarity and completeness matter.
What bidders will likely be asked for
On Washington state projects, expect specifications and submittal portals to ask for:
- A current, third‑party verified, product‑specific or supply‑chain‑specific EPD that matches what is actually supplied.
- Basic facility information and manufacturer location aligned to the EPD’s declared unit and scope.
- Any available HPD for the product, plus simple supplier conduct disclosures when requested.
Treat this like TSA PreCheck for materials. Clean files glide through. Mismatches trigger extra screening that eats bid time.
How to prepare quickly without chaos
Start with a fast gap scan. Map your products against the covered categories, then stack‑rank by Washington sales potential and project size. Pick the right PCR, confirm reference year data, and align plant utility, fuels, and allocation methods with that PCR’s rules.
Choose a partner that handles white‑glove data wrangling across plants, ERP, and suppliers so your engineers stay focused on production instead of chasing utility bills. We advocate for publishing with a program operator that fits your market plans, whether Smart EPD, IBU, or others.
Watch the calendar signals
The clean‑operations drumbeat will not quiet down. Beyond EO 20-01 and BCBF, the Clean Buildings Performance Standard sets energy compliance deadlines for large existing buildings, which keeps agencies focused on performance and cost of carbon. Tier 1 reporting milestones hit June 1, 2026 for buildings over 220,000 square feet and June 1, 2027 for buildings over 90,000 square feet (WA Commerce CBPS, 2025) (WA Commerce CBPS, 2025). Different policy, same direction of travel.
Turn it into a revenue play
EPDs are not just compliance. They are the pass that lets your product compete on performance instead of unit price alone when embodied‑carbon accounting is required. Organized suppliers shorten submittal cycles and reduce substitution risk. That is how specs stick.
Bottom line for Washington suppliers
EO 20-01 sets the expectation that state projects will pick lower‑emissions options and factor embodied carbon. The 2024 law adds dates and a reporting gate that favors manufacturers with clean, project‑ready EPDs. Get your data house in order now. It is definately easier to win when your paperwork is already doing the talking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EO 20-01 itself require EPDs for building products?
The order directs agencies to select lower‑emissions options, design new state buildings to be zero energy or zero‑energy capable, and consider net‑embodied carbon. It does not prescribe EPD submittals, but EPDs are the practical way agencies document embodied carbon in procurement.
Which Washington dates matter for EPD reporting on state projects?
Reporting begins July 1, 2025 for new construction contracts on projects larger than 100,000 gross square feet and expands July 1, 2027 to all covered projects. On covered projects, EPDs must cover at least 90% of the cost of each covered product category used (2ESHB 1282 Final Bill Report, 2024).
Which material categories are covered under the 2024 law?
Structural concrete, reinforcing steel, structural steel, and engineered wood are covered product categories. Expect requests for current EPDs and some basic supplier information.
What level of EPD detail should manufacturers target?
Aim for product‑specific EPDs that match the supplied mix or mill output and reflect the correct facility scope. Supply‑chain‑specific EPDs can be advantageous where available because they better reflect actual upstream conditions.
How does the Clean Buildings Performance Standard relate to product EPDs?
CBPS is about operational energy for existing buildings, not product EPDs. Its deadlines keep public owners focused on energy and carbon performance, which reinforces procurement interest in low‑carbon materials (WA Commerce CBPS, 2025).
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.
