Project Summary
The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) has released its third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for corrugated steel pipe. The industry-wide declaration provides transparent environmental data to support engineers, owners, contractors, and specifiers making informed infrastructure decisions.
Supporting Smarter Infrastructure Decisions
Sustainability continues to play a larger role in infrastructure planning. Engineers, owners, and public agencies increasingly seek transparent environmental information when evaluating construction materials for transportation, stormwater, and utility projects.
To support those efforts, the National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) has released a new industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for corrugated steel pipe. Independently verified by SCS Global Services, the declaration provides standardized environmental information developed through a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using internationally recognized standards.
Rather than serving as a marketing document, the EPD delivers objective environmental data that helps engineers, specifiers, and project owners better understand the environmental profile of corrugated steel pipe throughout defined stages of its life cycle.
What Is an Environmental Product Declaration?
An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized report that communicates the environmental impacts associated with a product throughout specific stages of its life cycle.
Developed using internationally recognized standards, an EPD provides verified, transparent environmental information rather than marketing claims. This allows architects, engineers, municipalities, and owners to evaluate products using consistent environmental reporting methods.
The NCSPA Environmental Product Declaration complies with ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 while following the Smart EPD Product Category Rules for steel construction products.
For those new to life cycle assessment, explore our Technical Resources and Studies & Reports pages to learn more about the engineering behind corrugated steel infrastructure.
Representing North American Corrugated Steel Pipe
The declaration represents production-weighted average environmental data from participating NCSPA member manufacturing facilities throughout North America.
Products covered by the EPD include galvanized, aluminized, and polymer-laminated corrugated steel pipe used in a wide variety of infrastructure applications, including:
- Culverts
- Storm sewers
- Stormwater management systems
- Utility conduits
- Underpasses
- Foundation structures
- Service tunnels
The declaration includes round pipe ranging from 6 inches to 144 inches and structural pipe arches up to 20 feet 7 inches by 13 feet 2 inches.
Learn more about these applications on our Culvert Applications, Stormwater Management, and Storm Sewer resource pages.
Science-Based Environmental Transparency
The Environmental Product Declaration is based on a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment that evaluates environmental impacts from raw material extraction through manufacturing, with additional end-of-life modules included.
The declaration reports standardized environmental indicators including:
- Global warming potential
- Resource consumption
- Water use
- Waste generation
- Manufacturing impacts
- Transportation impacts
- End-of-life recovery potential
The study also reports that the representative corrugated steel pipe contains at least 55% total recycled steel by mass, demonstrating the significant role recycled steel plays in modern corrugated steel pipe manufacturing.
Additional information about steel’s environmental benefits can be found on our Why Choose Steel? page.
Built for Today’s Infrastructure Projects
Environmental Product Declarations have become increasingly important as transportation agencies, municipalities, consulting engineers, and owners pursue greater transparency in material selection and project documentation.
The NCSPA EPD provides standardized environmental information that can support sustainable design initiatives while helping project teams better understand the life cycle impacts associated with corrugated steel pipe.
As required by international standards, Environmental Product Declarations are intended to provide transparent environmental information and are not designed as standalone product comparison tools. Product selection should always consider project-specific performance requirements and complete life cycle considerations.
A Foundation for Continuous Improvement
Beyond providing environmental transparency, the Environmental Product Declaration establishes an important benchmark for the corrugated steel pipe industry.
The information contained within the EPD helps identify opportunities for continued improvement in areas such as material sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life recovery. As technologies and practices evolve, future Environmental Product Declarations can measure progress while continuing to provide engineers and owners with credible environmental information.
This long-term approach reinforces NCSPA’s commitment to responsible infrastructure and continuous improvement across the corrugated steel pipe industry.
Download the NCSPA Environmental Product Declaration
The NCSPA Environmental Product Declaration is available for engineers, municipalities, DOTs, contractors, owners, architects, and specifiers seeking transparent environmental information for corrugated steel pipe.
Whether you’re developing transportation infrastructure, stormwater systems, or utility projects, the EPD provides independently verified environmental data developed using internationally recognized Life Cycle Assessment methodologies.
Download the NCSPA Environmental Product Declaration to learn more about the environmental profile of North American corrugated steel pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
An Environmental Product Declaration is a standardized report that communicates the environmental impacts of a product based on a Life Cycle Assessment and independently verified according to international standards.
Who verifies the NCSPA EPD?
The Environmental Product Declaration was independently verified by SCS Global Services in accordance with ISO requirements and applicable Product Category Rules.
Does an EPD compare products?
No. Environmental Product Declarations provide standardized environmental information but are not intended to serve as standalone product comparisons. Product performance and project requirements should always be considered.
How long is the NCSPA EPD valid?
The current Environmental Product Declaration is valid from July 6, 2026 through July 5, 2031.