Increasingly, aluminum users are seeking data on the environmental footprint of the products they purchase. Whether it’s architects pursuing LEED credits by using aluminum with lower embodied carbon, demand for environmental transparency keeps growing. Users now want more specific data—tied to the exact manufacturing site and product—making general EPDs insufficient. Meanwhile, downstream producers aim to better understand their own carbon footprints to develop reduction strategies.

Traditionally, extruders facing these demands hired consultants—spending months and thousands of dollars to get the data. The Aluminum Extruders Council saw the need for a better solution: a faster, more cost-effective way to generate detailed data and test scenarios. This session will introduce the Council’s newly launched online EPD and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) generator. We’ll also explore the main drivers of extrusion environmental impacts and the strategies available to reduce them.

Note: Attendees should have moderate to advanced knowledge of/experience with: Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), Lifecyle Analysis (LCA), Carbon Product Footprint (CPF), and the differences between the three.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the key drivers of aluminum extrusions’ embodied carbon.
• Assess strategies to minimize the embodied carbon from extrusions they specify or purchase.
• Analyze and assess the most recent EPD data for aluminum extrusions.
• Determine how to  work with extruders to secure the most relevant environmental data for their purchases.

Presenters:

Shane Tredup

President, Custom Aluminum Products

Shane Tredup is the President of Custom Aluminum Products, an aluminum extruder specializing in custom extrusions, engineering, fabrication, welding, bending, painting, anodizing and assembly.  Shane has been with Custom Aluminum for over 25 years and has had previous roles as VP of Operations and Engineering Manager. As an active member of the Aluminum Extruders Council, Shane currently serves on the AEC Board of Directors, the Education Strategy Team, Safety Team and is the current Leader of the Sustainability Team.

Lynn Brown

Managing Principal, Long Point Associates

Lynn Brown is Managing Principal of Long Point Associates in Summerville, South Carolina. He regularly consults with extruders – both domestic and off-shore – on strategy and market development projects. In addition, for the past 12 years he has worked with the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) on Industry Promotion and Sustainability issues. Prior to retiring from Hydro in 2011, Brown was responsible for Strategy, Marketing and Sales for Hydro’s extrusion operations in the Americas.