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ON THIS EPISODE OF THE CONCRETE LOGIC PODCAST


Ready-mix producers are being asked for EPDs more often, especially on data center and large infrastructure projects.


But what are EPDs?


Who is asking for them?


And why should a small producer care?


In this episode, Seth talks with Leise Sandeman, co-founder of Pathways, about Environmental Product Declarations, life cycle assessments, carbon reporting, and how these requirements are starting to affect concrete bids.


Leise explains EPDs in plain language: what data goes into them, how cement, aggregate, admixtures, water, fuel, electricity, and transportation all get measured, and why producers should not assume this is only a “green building” paperwork exercise.


The big point?


EPDs are becoming part of how some owners, GCs, and hyperscale data center companies compare concrete producers.


And for smaller ready-mix companies, the risk is not just the carbon number.


It is being left out of the bid entirely because they do not have the documentation ready.


WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• What is an EPD?
• Why are data center owners asking concrete producers for EPDs?
• How does a life cycle assessment connect to a concrete mix?
• What data does a ready-mix producer need to create an EPD?
• Why can two plants from the same producer have different EPD numbers?
• How much of a concrete EPD is driven by cement?
• Are owners comparing concrete producers against each other?
• Why might simply having an EPD help a producer win work in some markets?
• How could EPDs affect smaller 2-to-10-plant ready-mix operations?
• Why does Leise think EPDs are becoming more about business than climate messaging?

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro and Concrete Logic Podcast support
 03:15 - Who Leise Sandeman is and what Pathways does
 03:52 - What is an EPD?
 04:35 - Who is asking for EPDs?
 05:54 - Where EPDs came from and how LCAs fit in
 06:48 - Comparing concrete to other materials and other producers
 07:36 - How cement and material supplier data affect EPDs
 08:33 - Why EPDs involve a lot of math and manual work
 09:07 - Generic EPDs vs producer-specific EPDs
 10:09 - The three major data inputs for a concrete EPD
 11:24 - Why utility and grid data matter
 12:07 - What owners and hyperscalers compare
 13:48 - How far the life cycle assessment goes
 15:28 - How cement EPDs are built
 16:12 - Does the EPD stop at placement?
 17:16 - End-of-life questions and future standards
 18:42 - Concrete’s carbon footprint vs material volume
 20:29 - Why supplier choices can change the EPD number
 21:21 - Why smaller producers need a simpler path
 23:42 - Where EPD requirements may be heading
 24:04 - Why EPD publishing is expected to grow
 25:21 - Future inputs, fuels, SCMs, and supplier options
 26:34 - How to contact Leise and Pathways


GUEST INFO


Leise Sandeman
 Guest Profile:
 https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/guests/leise-sandeman/


CONCRETE LOGIC ACADEMY


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Or someone who does not know what diesel smells like next to that first chute of concrete in the predawn darkness?


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The courses are practical, direct, and built for people who want to apply what they learn right away.


Inside the Academy, you get access to PDH courses, quizzes, resources, live Q&A, early access to podcast episodes, and a place to ask concrete questions without throwing them out into the LinkedIn circus.


For a limited time, get free access to the Concrete Logic Academy here:
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CREDITS


Host: Seth Tandett
 Producers: Jodi Tandett & Concrete Logic Media
 Music: Mike Dunton
 https://www.mdunton.com/


WHERE TO FIND SETH


Concrete Logic Podcast Website:
 https://www.concretelogicpodcast.com/


YouTube:
 https://www.youtube.com/@concretelogicpodcast


LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-tandett/


Like, subscribe, comment, and share the episode if it helped you understand where EPDs are headed in concrete.