Congrats, Zeolite Composites: First EPDs on the Board
Natural pozzolan just entered the transparency arena. Zeolite Composites has published its first product‑specific Environmental Product Declarations for clinoptilolite zeolite used as a supplementary cementitious material. That puts verified, spec‑ready numbers behind a cement‑reduction story the market already wants, and it moves their SCM from datasheet claims to third‑party proof. January 2026 is the moment this portfolio switched from promise to paperwork.
What launched in January
Zeolite Composites now lists two current, product‑specific EPDs for clinoptilolite zeolite produced at its Victorville, California facility. One covers 20‑Mesh Clinoptilolite Zeolite with a January 2026 publication. The other covers a packaged concrete‑grade SCM format published earlier and also current. Both are verified under the Smart EPD program using its Part B PCR for Supplementary Cementitious Materials. The developer is listed as Zeolite Composites, which signals strong in‑house ownership of the data and scope.
Why this matters to specifiers right now
SCMs live or die by how much portland cement they can credibly displace. Cement still accounts for the lion’s share of concrete’s footprint, roughly 800 kg CO₂ per metric ton of cement produced, so every verified kilogram swapped out moves the whole‑building model in your favor (IEA, 2024). With LEED v5 continuing to keep product EPDs in scope, buyers are asking for plant‑ and product‑specific declarations rather than generic placeholders.
What Zeolite Composites makes, in plain terms
Clinoptilolite zeolite is a natural pozzolan that reacts with cement hydrates to deliver strength and durability while cutting clinker. For ready‑mix and precast teams, that means another domestically available SCM option when fly ash is variable and slag is tight. The new EPDs clarify impact baselines so mix designers can tune cement factors with fewer unknowns and fewer back‑and‑forths in submittals.
Competitive snapshot
Two names already show up in the SCM lane with current EPD coverage. Eco Material Technologies has a coal‑ash SCM EPD on record under Smart EPD. CR Minerals lists a natural‑pozzolan EPD for its Tephra product under ASTM’s operator. Zeolite Composites now meets that bar with two zeolite‑based SCM declarations, which strengthens head‑to‑head comparability in mix designs and prequal packages. In short, they have caught up to the documentation level spec teams expect in this category.
What this changes in bids and mix approvals
A product without an EPD often gets modeled with conservative default data, which quietly lowers the odds of making the final cut. With fresh, product‑specific declarations, Zeolite Composites removes that modeling penalty and gives engineers permission to evaluate zeolite substitutions on performance and availability, not guesswork. Sales teams also get cleaner, faster submittals because the EPD answers common carbon and scope questions up front.
Where to find the files
Zeolite Composites references its EPD on its website and points readers to the operator for details. Start here: https://zeolitecomposites.com. For readers who want context on the operator’s process and rules, see our overview of Smart EPD. We did not locate a direct PDF link on the company site during drafting, so adding a visible EPD downloads section would boost visiblity and make life easier for specifiers. It’s a small tweak that pays off on every submittal.
The takeaway
Zeolite Composites just turned a strong SCM story into verified data. Two product‑specific EPDs, January 2026 debut for the flagship 20‑mesh grade, Smart EPD verification, and a clear SCM use case put them in more serious conversations alongside established SCM suppliers. That is how manufacturers enter the transparency arena and stay there. It is definately the right move for a market that now screens by documentation as much as by performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products are covered by Zeolite Composites’ first EPDs and what is the scope?
Two product‑specific declarations cover clinoptilolite zeolite SCM produced in Victorville, CA. One is for 20‑Mesh Clinoptilolite Zeolite with a January 2026 publication, the other for a packaged concrete‑grade SCM. Both are cradle‑to‑gate and verified by Smart EPD under its Part B PCR for SCMs.
Who verified these EPDs and who is listed as developer?
Smart EPD is the program operator. The developer is listed as Zeolite Composites, indicating the LCA and EPD work was led in‑house.
How does this change competitive positioning versus other SCM suppliers?
Peers like Eco Material Technologies and CR Minerals already publish SCM EPDs. With two declarations live, Zeolite Composites reaches comparable transparency, which helps in side‑by‑side mix design reviews and prequal checks.
Where can specifiers find the EPDs today?
The company references its EPD on the homepage at https://zeolitecomposites.com and points to the operator. Adding a direct EPD downloads page on the site would further streamline submittals.
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
