YKK AP December 2025 EPD takeaways
December brought fresh attention to YKK AP’s aluminum strategy and what it signals for product EPDs in 2026 bids. If your team sells fenestration or façade systems, the story here is simple: cleaner billets, cleaner data, cleaner comparisons. Here is what matters for specifications and for the next LCA cycle.
What actually happened
YKK AP’s BetterBillet kept the spotlight in December, with trade press highlighting its lower‑carbon positioning and U.S. production. The billet blends recycled material with primary aluminum from low‑carbon North American suppliers, and the company documents an average of 40 percent recycled content with at least 80 percent of primary purchased from low‑carbon sources (YKK AP, 2025) (YKK AP, 2025).
Why this shifts your EPD math
Primary aluminum’s global cradle‑to‑gate average sat around 14.8 t CO2e per ton in 2023, so sourcing below that baseline moves the needle in A1–A3 right away (International Aluminium Institute, 2024) (IAI, 2024). Many “low‑carbon” offers target footprints at or below 4 t CO2e per ton, which is a commonly referenced threshold in the market, though definitions vary by scope and boundary, so verifiers will check the fine print (International Aluminium Institute, 2024) (IAI Low‑Carbon Factsheet, 2024).
The recycled content kicker
Recycling uses about 5 percent of the energy of primary production, and typically cuts associated emissions by a similar magnitude in gate‑to‑gate terms. That is why even modest increases in post‑industrial or post‑consumer scrap share can materially lower your EPD’s embodied carbon number (The Aluminum Association, 2025) (Aluminum Association, 2025). It sounds obvious, but it is definately the fastest lever most window and curtain wall producers can pull without redesigning systems.
What data owners should copy from YKK AP
Owning melt and cast steps simplifies data collection, gives tighter alloy control, and reduces uncertainty in bill‑of‑materials and energy inputs. Those three things translate into smoother verifier reviews and fewer model rewinds when preparing product‑specific Type III EPDs. If you outsource billets, audit suppliers for metered energy, scrap streams, and declared footprints with clear system boundaries. Ask for third‑party verified numbers that align to your chosen PCR.
Implications for LEED v5‑era bids
Procurement teams increasingly compare product‑specific EPDs side by side rather than rely on industry averages. Lower‑carbon billet declarations improve your position in those comparisons, reduce penalty factors when a modeler must choose defaults, and keep your products in play on projects tracking embodied‑carbon budgets. The commercial upside is fewer last‑minute substitutions and faster approvals when the spec calls for verified transparency.
Your next three moves
- Confirm the aluminum mix in your 2024–2025 reference year, including recycled share and any low‑carbon contracts, then lock those values in your LCA plan.
- Align on a PCR and a program operator, and verify what evidence the verifier expects for supplier footprints and electricity factors.
- Schedule updates before expiries cluster, so sales is never explaining an almost‑expired EPD during a bid week.
The takeaway for manufacturers
December’s buzz around lower‑carbon billets is not just branding. It is an operations story that shortens the path to credible, competitive EPDs. Control more of the inputs, document them clearly, and your numbers get better and your reviews get quicker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does switching to low‑carbon primary aluminum help an EPD numerically?
Global primary averaged about 14.8 t CO2e per ton in 2023. Moving to verified low‑carbon supply that targets around 4 t CO2e per ton can meaningfully lower A1–A3 in the model, subject to scope and boundary alignment with your PCR (IAI, 2024).
Is recycled aluminum always the lowest‑carbon route for façades?
Gate‑to‑gate recycling typically saves about 95% of the energy versus primary production, which is why higher scrap content is powerful. Final results still depend on alloy, scrap type, and processing energy mix (Aluminum Association, 2025).
What evidence should I request from billet suppliers to support verification?
Ask for third‑party verified footprints with declared system boundaries, electricity source documentation, scrap percentages by type, and traceable batch data that match your PCR’s data quality rules.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
