E‑Z MIX: Do paint mixing cups need EPDs?
E‑Z MIX sells the behind‑the‑scenes tools painters and fabricators grab daily. Think disposable mixing cups, lids and touch‑up bottles. Useful on any jobsite, but are these the kinds of products that move a LEED v5 scorecard or get screened by specifiers for EPDs? Short answer, not usually.
Company snapshot
E‑Z MIX, based in Illinois, focuses on disposable paint mixing tools and shop supplies sold into automotive, woodworking, epoxy, and pro paint channels. The catalog spans mixing cups and pitchers in multiple sizes, cup lids, touch‑up bottles, sticks and spreaders, plus a few protective garments. That adds up to dozens of SKUs across three core product families.
Where these products show up on construction projects
Their gear lives in shops and on jobsites as application aids. Cups and sticks help pros measure and mix coatings. They are not part of the building after hand‑off, so they are consumables rather than permanent materials.
EPD coverage today
We did not find any public, product‑specific EPDs for E‑Z MIX as of December 20, 2025. For this category, that is common. LEED’s EPD credit counts only permanently installed products and explicitly excludes items purchased for temporary use, which covers shop supplies like mixing cups and suits (USGBC Credit Library, 2024) (USGBC MR EPD credit). In plain terms, an EPD would not help a project team score this particular credit with a disposable cup.
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What would change the business case
If E‑Z MIX ever branches into installed materials, the math flips. Under today’s commonly used pathways, teams often need at least 20 qualifying products from five manufacturers, and product‑specific Type III EPDs with external verification can be weighted as 1.5 products toward that tally in v4.1 guidance (USGBC Credit Library, 2024) (USGBC v4.1 pathway example). That weighting makes verified, product‑specific EPDs a practical tie‑breaker on tight schedules.
Adjacent categories already playing the EPD game
Paints, resin floors, and protective or fire coatings frequently publish EPDs, because those coatings remain in the building. Large brands highlight portfolios with ISO‑conformant EPDs, which are widely used by specifiers in submittals and material tracking systems (PPG, 2025) (PPG paints sustainability). Sherwin‑Williams also lists EPDs for several protective and resin‑flooring systems on its regional sites, another signal that installed coatings are on specifiers’ radar.
Likely competitors on projects
For mixing systems and cups, E‑Z MIX often sits beside 3M PPS, SATA RPS, DeVilbiss DeKups and similar brands at the counter. When the conversation shifts to installed materials that drive LEED contribution and carbon accounting, the competitive set becomes coatings and sealants makers like PPG, Sherwin‑Williams, Sika, and Tremco. That is where EPDs influence selection because the material stays in the building.
Practical takeaways for manufacturers
Not every product needs an EPD. Consumables typically do not count in LEED’s EPD credit, so resources are usually better aimed at installed products that face yes‑or‑no EPD screens on submittals. Keep an eye on LEED v5 as it rolls out, since USGBC members ratified the rating system on March 28, 2025, and the market is steadily weighting embodied‑carbon performance across installed materials (USGBC, 2025) (LEED v5 status). If E‑Z MIX or any adjacent manufacturer launches installed coatings or sealants, publishing product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs early can open doors in enterprise accounts and keep the spec from drifting to a rival with stronger paperwork.
Bottom line for the spec chase
E‑Z MIX looks like a focused, pure‑play consumables brand with strong utility and a compact SKU map. Low EPD coverage is expected and not a deal‑breaker, because these items are not permanently installed. If strategy shifts toward installed materials, the EPD playbook becomes essential on day one. That is where clean data collection and fast verification matter, alot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do E‑Z MIX disposable mixing cups contribute to LEED EPD credits on projects?
No. LEED’s EPD credit covers permanently installed products and excludes items purchased for temporary use, which includes disposable shop supplies such as mixing cups. See USGBC guidance for the MR EPD credit. (USGBC Credit Library, 2024)
Would an EPD still help E‑Z MIX commercially?
For current consumables, rarely. If they introduce installed materials like coatings or sealants, a product‑specific Type III EPD with external verification can be weighted as 1.5 products toward the common 20‑product threshold in v4.1 guidance, which can speed up submittals. (USGBC Credit Library, 2024)
Who are the most relevant competitors E‑Z MIX faces on construction work?
Like‑kind consumables include 3M PPS, SATA RPS, and DeVilbiss DeKups. For installed materials that sway specs and LEED, adjacent competitors are coatings and sealants makers such as PPG, Sherwin‑Williams, Sika, and Tremco.
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.
