EPDs for unconventional systems: win the carbon case

The scrutiny paradox

Non‑conventional systems face extra questions because conventional categories learned to tell a recycled‑content story early. Yet bid‑level differences often shrink once you normalize by strength, mass, and service life. Owners now anchor to public benchmarks, for example 4000 psi concrete at 284, 326, and 352 kg CO2e per m³ for top 20 percent, top 40 percent, and better‑than‑average tiers (GSA, 2025) (GSA, 2025).

What specifiers actually follow in 2026

LEED v5 moves embodied carbon to the front of the line with a prerequisite to quantify structure, enclosure, and hardscape before points are in play (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC, 2025). Public owners and many private buyers also mirror BCCA ceilings, for example rebar at 890 kg CO2e per metric ton and flat glass at 1,430 kg CO2e per metric ton (DGS, 2025) (DGS, 2025). If your EPDs are missing or vague, teams default to conservative assumptions that can price you out.

Make the comparison fair, then obvious

A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly, ignore it and the game falls apart. For alternative systems, frame the comparison at the assembly level and hold function constant. That means the same span, the same fire rating, the same thermal target, and a declared service life. Show results per functional unit, not per kilogram. One wall that weighs less or lasts longer should get credit for it.

GFRP‑reinforced tilt‑up, the mass lever

GFRP bars remove corrosion risk and often cut reinforcement mass because density and detailing differ from steel. On a per‑kilogram basis, one peer‑reviewed study found GFRP rebar about 17 percent lower in CO2e than steel, and project‑level totals dropped further once lower bar mass was accounted for (Sustainability, 2024). Pair a product‑specific EPD for the bar with a panel EPD that captures concrete mix choices and you can meet or beat common procurement tiers for both components.

ICF walls, the time lever

ICF assemblies trade a heavier wall for operational savings that compound. A 2025 field study of occupied homes measured up to 41 percent lower electricity use and at least 5 percent lower natural gas use versus wood‑framed walls, with tighter temperature stability across seasons (Buildings, 2025). Your EPD will cover A1 to A3 by default, so add a short, referenced memo on expected B‑stage energy impacts to help project teams see total carbon, not just upfront.

What to publish, fast

Your best defense is a crisp evidence pack that travels in submittals and early design decks.

• A product‑specific, third‑party verified EPD for each critical component, tied to the governing PCR and clearly listing plant location and declared unit.
• An assembly‑level comparison sheet that normalizes mass, performance, and service life, plus a one‑page narrative written for architects and owners.
• A compliance note that maps your EPD numbers to active benchmarks, for example GSA concrete tiers or BCCA limits for rebar and glass (GSA, 2025) (DGS, 2025).
• A roadmap for mix or design tweaks that can shave another 5 to 10 percent GWP without schedule risk, documented in plain English with references.

Getting the PCR and operator choices right

Pick the PCR your competitors use unless a newer one clearly improves comparability. Publish with a program operator your customer accepts, then host the PDF in a public link that never moves. If a PCR is set to update soon, plan your renewal window so the document stays valid through installation. Teams want reliability more than perfection.

Translate LCA tables into buyer language

Replace jargon with sentences that answer three questions. What changed in total material mass. What changed in service life and maintenance. What changed in operational energy. Close with what that means for LEED v5 pathways, schedule confidence, and risk. When reviewers can retell your story in one slide, your odds jump.

Speed matters more than ever

Design moves fast. Sales cycles move faster. Choose an LCA partner who handles data wrangling across plants and utilities rather than handing you a spreadsheet marathon. That is how product teams keep building and still ship enviromental proofs on time.

From defensive to proactive

Non‑conventional systems do not need a louder apology. They need clean EPDs, fair comparisons, and a two‑minute story that maps to today’s scorecards. Put that in front of architects at concept stage and the conversation shifts from why this system to how soon can we draw it.