NAPA Emerald Eco Label EPD Program, explained
If you sell asphalt mix in the U.S. or Canada, owners increasingly expect a plant and mix specific EPD at bid time. The National Asphalt Pavement Association’s Emerald Eco‑Label program is the asphalt sector’s primary lane for getting those declarations out quickly and in a format public agencies recognize. Here is what matters before you choose a program operator for your next round of mix EPDs.
What NAPA operates
National Asphalt Pavement Association (asphaltpavement.org) serves as the program operator for asphalt mixture EPDs in North America and runs Emerald Eco‑Label, a web tool used by producers to create and publish verified, plant specific declarations. Published asphalt EPDs accelerated from 1,778 in 2023 to more than 3,500 by 2024, signaling rapid adoption across plants and states (NAPA Annual Report, 2023) (NAPA Annual Report, 2024). citeturn1search2turn1search4
The rulebook under the hood
The governing Product Category Rules for Asphalt Mixtures version 2.0 took effect April 1, 2022 and run through March 31, 2027, so many asphalt EPDs share that common validity horizon (NAPA Emerald Eco‑Label software, 2024). The PCR scope is cradle to gate, covering A1 to A3 modules only, which keeps the focus on materials and mixing rather than paving or use stages (NAPA PCR v2.0, 2022). In 2025 NAPA invited public comments on a v2.1 mid cycle update aligned with EPA feedback, with the comment window closing September 15, 2025 (NAPA PCR Public Comment, 2025). citeturn1search1turn2search2turn2search5
Verification and data handling
Emerald Eco‑Label outputs are third party verified and subject to audit procedures. The tool’s guidance notes random audits that may be performed by WAP Sustainability, with producers expected to retain energy, water, and mix design documentation for review (Emerald Eco‑Label tool guidance, 2025). In November 2024 the software added biogenic carbon accounting updates in version 2.3.0, which can slightly shift results for certain binder additives while staying aligned to the benchmark methodology (NAPA Now, 2024). citeturn1search8turn0search9
Where these EPDs matter commercially
Transportation owners increasingly use EPDs as entry criteria. A practical signal is Caltrans’ FHWA Climate Challenge reimbursement program that offers up to 4,500 dollars per plant per EPD, with requests due January 30, 2026, which helps offset rollout costs for producers targeting agency work (Caltrans FHWA Climate Challenge, 2026). When reimbursements exist, the payback from one awarded project can dwarf an EPD’s carrying cost. citeturn0search4
Strengths and limits to know
Producers like the single template, the plant specificity, and the ability to replicate across dozens of mixes without reinventing the wheel. The limit is scope. Asphalt mixture EPDs created under this PCR stop at the plant gate, so jobsite paving energy or performance in use is outside the declared system boundary (NAPA PCR v2.0, 2022). NAPA also introduced privacy controls in 2025 that let companies show that an EPD exists while keeping detailed values visible only to agencies or prospects. Helpful for sales, yet specifiers who want instant comparability may prefer fully public PDFs (NAPA Quarterly, 2025). citeturn2search2turn1search0
A timing watch‑out for 2027
Because v2.0 set a common end date, many asphalt EPDs will reach the March 31, 2027 cliff at the same time. Teams should plan data refresh and verification capacity ahead of that window to avoid lapses that could complicate bids in spring letting cycles (NAPA Emerald Eco‑Label software, 2024). We recommend mapping your top bid mixes and plants now, then slotting renewal months across 2026 and early 2027 instead of all at once. citeturn1search1
Choosing where to publish
For asphalt mixtures in the U.S. and Canada, Emerald Eco‑Label is often the shortest path to a compliant, plant specific EPD. Owners usually accept any ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 conformant declaration, so the bigger differentiator is how fast your team can collect utility and mix data with minimal disruption. If you already track energy, binder, RAP and RAS inputs cleanly, the publishing step feels more like exporting an airline boarding pass than an audit.
Make the next spec smoother
Inventory your active plants, rank the mixes that drive revenue, and set a quarterly EPD plan that aligns with agency schedules and the 2027 PCR horizon. Keep documentation tidy to glide through random audits. Dont let a missing EPD push a bid into a penalty bucket when a verified, mix specific declaration is within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NAPA operate as an EPD program operator?
NAPA runs the Emerald Eco‑Label program that lets asphalt producers generate and publish verified, plant specific EPDs for asphalt mixtures in North America. Growth accelerated from 1,778 EPDs in 2023 to more than 3,500 by 2024 (NAPA Annual Report, 2023) (NAPA Annual Report, 2024).
Which life cycle stages are covered by NAPA’s asphalt mixture EPDs?
The Asphalt Mixtures PCR v2.0 is cradle to gate, covering A1 to A3 only, with a common validity through March 31, 2027 for v2.0 based declarations (NAPA PCR v2.0, 2022) (NAPA Emerald Eco‑Label software, 2024).
Are there recent software or rule updates users should know?
Yes. Emerald Eco‑Label v2.3.0 added biogenic carbon accounting in 2024, and NAPA ran a public comment period in 2025 on PCR v2.1 updates informed by EPA feedback (NAPA Now, 2024) (NAPA PCR Public Comment, 2025).
Any current incentives that make asphalt EPDs more affordable?
Caltrans’ FHWA Climate Challenge reimburses up to $4,500 per plant per EPD with requests due January 30, 2026, contingent on funding availability (Caltrans FHWA Climate Challenge, 2026).
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
