Beyond Carbon Disclosure: TCC Secures Taiwan's First Cement EPD in Global Strategic Push

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Beyond Carbon Disclosure: TCC Secures Taiwan's First Cement EPD in Global Strategic Push

Environmental 2025 Vol.04

Beyond Carbon Disclosure: TCC Secures Taiwan's First Cement EPD in Global Strategic Push

#EPD
#Avoided Emissions
#Green Supply Chains

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Ping-Han,Wu｜Assistant Manager of Responsibility and Sustainability Office

What is an EPD? The "Environmental Passport" Even Google and Microsoft Care About

In late 2025, TCC set a new industry benchmark by securing Taiwan's first international EPD certification for cement. This achievement extends beyond a mere certification; it signifies our strategic entry into the world's most advanced supply chains.

The Type III Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) serves as a definitive "Environmental Passport." It replaces unsubstantiated "eco-friendly" claims with scientifically rigorous, third-party verified data, transparently disclosing lifecycle impacts—from raw material extraction to transport.

This level of transparency is now the global standard. The Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) Climate Accord—led by tech titans like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon—now mandates EPDs for data center supply chains. They recognize that in the age of AI, achieving Net Zero requires more than managing operational power usage; it demands accountability for the embodied carbon within the infrastructure and equipment itself.

TCC's Global Milestones: Bridging Taiwan, Europe, and Asia

In the race for global standards, TCC is leading the way. In Taiwan, we are proudly the sole building materials company holding EPD certifications for both low-carbon cement and concrete. Notably, TCC's officially received its in late 2025. This ensures our clients have the most comprehensive and credible data for their green building calculations. This ensures our clients have the most comprehensive and credible data for their green building calculations.

This commitment extends globally. Our subsidiary CIMPOR in Portugal has long held multiple EPD certifications meeting strict EU standards, while our partner OYAK in Turkey has similarly secured this "international passport" for its products. TCC is actively unifying its global low-carbon landscape through a single, high standard of transparency.

Why EPD Matters: Beyond Carbon

True sustainability extends beyond the single dimension of climate change. The strategic value of an EPD lies in its holistic disclosure. As detailed in the following list of common indicators for the cement industry, companies can tailor these quantitative metrics to align with key stakeholder priorities.

▍Key EPD Indicators

Indicators	Description
Carbon Footprint	Quantifies direct and indirect life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
Water Deprivation	Measures total water consumption during manufacturing and assesses the associated impact on water resources.
Energy Use	Accounts for the total energy required for production, including electricity and thermal energy.
Waste Management	Details the types and treatment methods of waste generated across the life-cycle, including recycling and reuse rates.
Hazardous Substances	Identifies potentially harmful materials present in the product, such as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Resource Use	Evaluates raw material input and sustainability, focusing on the utilization of renewable versus non-renewable resources.
Biodiversity Impact	Assesses potential effects on biodiversity and ecosystems, including habitat alteration or destruction.
Recyclability	Evaluates the ease of recycling and the potential for reuse or regeneration at the product's end-of-life stage.
Ozone Depletion	Measures the potential impact on the ozone layer, primarily concerning substances like CFCs and HCFCs.

Through precise quantification, we monitor a comprehensive range of impacts—including water footprints and ecotoxicity—alongside carbon. This data serves a dual purpose: it provides transparency and drives process optimization. It ensures that as TCC supports global infrastructure development, we are proactively managing environmental risks and minimizing our impact on the broader ecosystem.

Shifting Tides: China's Green Transition Signal

The EPD wave is rapidly gaining momentum in China. Driven by the national "Dual Carbon" goals and "Green Factory" initiatives, regulatory focus is expanding from broad carbon management to granular data governance.

According to the China Building Materials Federation (CBMF), 2025 marks the pivotal rollout of the sector's EPD platform. In the world's largest single market for building materials, an EPD is transitioning from a value-add to a mandatory license to operate. TCC anticipated this strategic pivot. We have proactively launched EPD initiatives for our core products across China. By aligning our regional portfolio with these evolving standards, we are securing our position as the market's most trusted green supplier.

Translating Core Values into Rigorous Data Commitments

Reflecting on this journey, I recall the words of Chairman Nelson Chang: “'Service to Life' is neither a moral high ground nor a mere slogan; it is a discipline of high professionalism that must be embedded into our daily operations.”

At first glance, an EPD filled with dense data may appear as cold scientific notation. Yet, behind every metric lies a profound commitment to environmental stewardship and responsibility toward the land. When we optimize these figures, we are doing more than driving operational efficiency. We are ensuring that while we support the continuity of human civilization, we preserve cleaner water and clearer skies for future generations.

TCC champions EPDs not to showcase technical prowess, but because we believe true industrial civilization demands both humility before nature and absolute transparency in data. This scientific pledge serves as TCC's most pragmatic and heartfelt tribute to the Earth and to humanity.

AUTHOR

Ping-Han, Wu｜Assistant Manager of Responsibility and Sustainability Office

Serving TCC for six years, I am honored to witness our dedication to the Earth and civilization. May we still enjoy a world of peace and serenity twenty-five years from now.