The company’s journey with EPDs began in 2014 when several large architectural and engineering firms informed the company that its products would no longer be specified without EPD documentation.
ClarkDietrich took immediate action, announcing its first-ever EPD the following year. Now, nearly a decade later, the company has rapidly expanded its EPD offerings to cover thousands of steel products.
According to Adam Shoemaker, director of corporate sustainability at ClarkDietrich, the company’s current motivation is no longer reactive but proactive. “We aim to reduce our company’s impact on the environment, meet market demand and consumer expectations, stay ahead of regulatory compliance and industry standards, gain a competitive advantage by differentiating our products in the marketplace, and let sustainability drive continuous improvement and innovation,” he says.
With such distinctions, it is no surprise that ClarkDietrich has established itself as a veteran in green manufacturing. Over the past decade, ClarkDietrich has refined its manufacturing process and supply chain impacts using insights gathered from previous EPDs to reduce the environmental impact of the company and its products. For instance, the company meticulously assesses the sustainability attributes of its raw materials, Shoemaker notes.
ClarkDietrich has upheld that steadfast commitment to EPDs by certifying 100 percent of its in-house produced cold-formed steel framing products under a new low-embodied carbon EPD. Notably, ClarkDietrich distinguishes itself as one of only two manufacturers in the cold-formed steel framing industry that offers low-embodied carbon products eligible for General Services Administration (GSA) projects in the top 20 percent tier. It is also the sole national-level provider.
“We collaborated with our supply chain to gather primary data on steel coils produced in electric arc furnaces, [which are] known for their lower embodied carbon emissions compared to other furnaces,” Shoemaker explains. “This limited our supplier options, requiring us to navigate logistical challenges to ensure nationwide availability of these products. Fortunately, our exceptional purchasing and operations teams successfully managed these complexities, ensuring that our customers have access to the eco-friendly building products they desire.”
ClarkDietrich has experienced a significant increase in demand for its low-embodied carbon steel products, driven largely by their low global warming potential (GWP) and supported by comprehensive EPD documentation that validate their environmental claims.
Customers are more inclined to purchase EPD-backed products over traditional alternatives, as the verified sustainability attributes provide assurance that their purchase will benefit the planet. In a world where greenwashing is prevalent, customers appreciate the transparency that EPDs provide, Shoemaker adds.