Aluminum Extruders Council releases EPDs for extruded component

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), Wauconda, Ill., has released a comprehensive, industrywide set of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for aluminum extrusions manufactured in the U.S. and Canada.

The EPDs quantify the cradle-to-gate life cycle environmental impacts of aluminum extrusions. One EPD is for thermally improved extrusions and one covers extrusions that have not been thermally improved. Both provide data for mill finish, painted, and anodized products, so architects and designers can assess the environmental impacts of finishing and thermal improvement decisions.

The EPDs are based on a detailed study of the process inputs and outputs of 11 AEC member extruders at 30 separate facilities. The participants are:

• Aerolite Extrusion Co., Youngstown, Ohio
• Alexandria Industries, Alexandria, Minn.
• Almag Aluminum Inc., Brampton, Ont.
• Apel Extrusions Ltd., Calgary, Alta.
• Bonnell Aluminum, Newnan, Ga.
• Jordan Aluminum Extrusions, Memphis, Tenn.
• Pennex Aluminum Co. LLC, Wellsville, Pa.
• Sapa Extrusion North America, Rosemont, Ill.
• Sierra Aluminum, Riverside, Calif.
• Tri-City Extrusion, Bristol, Tenn.
• Western Extrusions Corp., Dallas

The study covers extrusion production of 1.7 billion lbs., or about one-third of the North American total for the study year of 2015.

Based on a peer-reviewed life cycle assessment, these EPDs can help designers achieve the credits required for building certification within LEED® and other green building rating programs.