If you work with Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for asphalt mixtures, you need to know about a mid-cycle update NAPA released earlier this month.
The National Asphalt Pavement Association issued Version 2.1 of the Product Category Rules (PCR) for Asphalt Mixtures on April 1, 2026. The update follows a review by the EPA under its Construction Materials Opportunities to Reduce Emissions (C-MORE) program, which confirmed that NAPA's PCR met all baseline criteria. It's best to consider this as a stamp of approval with the addition of a few targeted improvements attached.
“Version 2.1 provides asphalt EPD users with robust, transparent tools to lead the transition to sustainably designed and constructed pavements,” said Amlan Mukherjee, Senior Director, Sustainability & Intelligent Construction. “Our goal is to provide the marketplace with absolute confidence in the integrity of our data while we look toward the next generation of standards. These updates underscore our commitment to transparency and ensuring a sound underlying processes.”
What Actually Changed?
In short, the methodology stayed the same, but the documentation around it got sharper. NAPA clarified definitions to align with the ACLCA PCR Open Standard, tightened the language around data specificity and EPD types, and added Mexico to the PCR's geographic scope alongside the U.S. and Canada. That last piece matters most for contractors who work across the border or source materials from North American supply chains that cross those lines.
The update also carried weight on the regulatory side. With Buy Clean legislation now active in seventeen states and procurement requirements tightening across both public and private markets, having a PCR that the EPA explicitly vetted under C-MORE gives Emerald Eco-Label licensees a stronger footing when, and, or if agencies come to ask questions.
If you're currently licensed through Emerald Eco-Label, NAPA is handling the transition automatically. Your valid EPDs will update to reflect Version 2.1 without any action on your part. More importantly, the association also extended the current PCR's validity date by six months, pushing the expiration to September 30, 2027. That should give contractors and producers an extra cushion as the industry works toward Version 3.0.
For decision-makers using asphalt EPDs in procurement, NAPA's indicated that Versions 2.0 and 2.1 are interchangeable. There's no recalculation required, no change to impact indicators, and no disruption to existing documentation. The core data remains the same, however, the clarity and rigor around how that data gets communicated and verified did.
If your operation involves EPDs at any level, whether you're generating them, submitting them on project bids, or evaluating supplier documentation, the full updated PCR document is worth a review. NAPA has the updated program documents available at AsphaltPavement.org/EPD.
