Councils across Australia are under growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact and build more sustainably. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are emerging as a powerful tool to support better, data-led decisions.
An environmental product declaration (EPD), which ResourceCo has for 26 of its recycled aggregate, sand and concrete products, is more than a technical document – it’s an independently verified summary of a product’s environmental impact. As Mitchell Bacon, ResourceCo Environmental Development Manager, explains, it details the full lifecycle from material intake to sale. This means councils can access precise, verified data about the environmental consequences of their projects and services.
Scope three emissions – the indirect emissions tied to a council’s value chain – are particularly complex to measure.
“Scope three emissions are an absolute minefield and very difficult to calculate,” Bacon said.
For councils, understanding these emissions is crucial, as they encompass everything from purchased materials to community project impacts.
Turning data into action
Councils are under pressure to prove their sustainability credentials. EPDs offer a practical way to track and reduce environmental impacts across infrastructure planning and procurement. By using products with verified environmental declarations, councils can make more informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals.
While not mandatory, EPDs offer clear value for councils looking to lead on sustainability.
“They provide a way to move beyond assumptions and guesswork, offering real data that can be directly plugged into sustainability models and reporting frameworks,” Bacon said.
“The future of sustainable infrastructure lies in transparency, verification, and precise environmental accounting. EPDs represent a critical step in this journey, giving councils the tools they need to make informed, environmentally responsible decisions.
“For a roadway project for example, you want to be able to choose materials that are recycled, because they reduce the reliance on virgin materials and can reduce the environmental impact of the project.”
This allows councils to select products that directly support their sustainability objectives.
EPDs go beyond carbon emissions, offering a full picture of environmental impact – from water and land use to resource depletion. For recycled materials, this level of transparency is especially valuable.
More councils are now developing materials calculators that integrate EPD data – enabling precise environmental tracking. As Bacon notes, this creates “a chain of custody or chain of verification” that makes environmental reporting more transparent and reliable.
Independently verified
Unlike self-declared claims, EPDs are independently verified by international experts.
“All the environmental factors get assessed by an independent verification process, ensuring that the data councils rely on is both accurate and credible,” Bacon said.
Through its EPDs, ResourceCo is helping councils go beyond compliance – making environmental data more accessible, meaningful and actionable.
The declarations are much more than just documents.
For councils committed to reducing their environmental impact, EPDs are no longer just a nice-to-have – they’re becoming an essential tool for responsible infrastructure development and environmental stewardship.
To learn more about how ResourceCo can help your council reach its sustainability goals, visit resourceco.com.au.
