Buy Clean Inflation Reduction Act

The Buy Clean component of the Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes and/or mandates the use of lower-carbon construction materials in federally funded projects. Designed to align federal infrastructure spending with climate targets, these provisions reward manufacturers who prove reduced environmental impacts using verified data. 

Key Objectives 

• Lower Carbon Footprints: Encourage the manufacturing of cleaner materials (e.g., steel, cement, glass). 

• Government Procurement Preference: Federally funded initiatives increasingly favor or require materials that demonstrate credible GHG reductions. 

• Enhanced Transparency: Promote labeling and reporting of embodied carbon, ensuring a transparent supply chain 

Who Must Comply?
Any entity supplying goods to federally funded construction or infrastructure projects may face Buy Clean requirements, particularly those in steel, cement, asphalt, insulation, and related building materials sectors. 

Why It Matters: 

• Competitive Advantage: Meeting Buy Clean thresholds or securing verified low-carbon credentials can win bids and expand your market share. 

• Regulatory Readiness: Expect more states and federal agencies to adopt stricter carbon-intensity limits, further shaping future procurement rules.  

• Emissions Performance Benchmarks
  Federal agencies are establishing GHG intensity benchmarks for key materials, rewarding suppliers whose products beat standard baselines. 

• Public Reporting & Labeling
  Contractors must often submit Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or LCA-backed documentation confirming reduced carbon footprints. 

• Funding & Incentives
  The IRA may offer financial support, rebates, or tax benefits for developing cleaner manufacturing processes, fostering further innovation. 

Sphera’s LCA for Experts enables you to quantify, compare, and document the carbon intensity of your construction materials, aligning seamlessly with Buy Clean requirements. 

Key Features: 

• Granular Carbon Footprint Assessments
  Precisely measure GHG emissions at each manufacturing stage—raw materials, production, transportation, and more. 

• EPD Generation
  Streamline the creation of Environmental Product Declarations to satisfy government procurement and compliance checks. 

• Scenario Modeling
  Evaluate different processes, materials, or supply chain tweaks to identify the most cost-effective path to lower carbon outputs. 

• Integration with Sphera Tools
  Link to the Sphera Database Server or Portfolio Analyzer for a comprehensive view of product performance across multiple regulations or global markets. 

• Stronger Bids for Federal Contracts
  Demonstrate verified low-carbon products, unlocking new revenue from public infrastructure projects. 

• Reduced Regulatory Risk
  Stay ahead of evolving GHG mandates, mitigating the potential for compliance shortfalls or lost bids. 

• Enhanced Brand & Marketability
  Securing transparent, data-driven LCA documentation appeals to eco-conscious customers and positions you as a sustainability leader. 

• Cost-Efficient Process Improvements
  Identify resource efficiencies (e.g., energy savings, alternative materials) that lower production costs while reducing carbon intensity.