In the realm of sustainable construction, the term “embodied carbon” has been gaining traction as a critical factor in assessing the environmental impact of buildings. …According to the New Building Institute, the building and construction industry is responsible for 39 percent of GHG emissions. And “of these emissions, one-third comes directly from the creation of construction products and construction activities.” …In 2023, California became the first state to approve what they call a “whole-building” embodied carbon policy in its state building code. Nationally, the federal government launched the Buy Clean Initiative to “spur the development of low-carbon construction materials made in America.” …Carbon-storing materials like wood, hemp, straw bamboo, and algae, and low-impact concrete alternatives, like green concrete developed by McHugh Concrete, can make an incredible impact on reduction of GHGs. Environmental Product Declarations, or EPDs, are a crucial piece of the puzzle.