SSA Level 1 Certification & EPDs Cutting Through the Jargon to Real Value

Sustainability is no longer a buzzword in our industry, it’s becoming a baseline expectation. But with so many acronyms floating around, it can be tricky to know what really matters.

If your clients or you have worked with the Green Star rating system, terms you’ll hear more often are Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) Level 1 or Level 2 Certification and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). Let’s break them down.

What is SSA Level 1 Certification?

SSA Level 1 Certification is the entry-level tier of the Steel Sustainability Australia certification program. To become SSA Level 1 certified, a steel supplier must demonstrate:

Good governance, sound environmental management, and robust occupational health & safety (OHS) practices.
That the majority of its steel feedstock comes from producers or manufacturers that themselves meet responsible sourcing standards.

Download SSA Level 1 of Orrcon Steel Manufacturing in Queensland

Download SSA Level 1 of Orrcon Steel Manufacturing in New South Wales

The SSA program is designed to identify more sustainable steel suppliers by assessing the environmental and social impact of their manufacturing and processing operations.

What is an EPD?

Environmental Product Declarations are standardised documents (based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804) which provide transparent, third-party verified data about a product’s environmental footprint over its full life cycle. Among the metrics commonly included are:

  • Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint)
  • Energy and water use
  • Resource depletion
  • Waste generation

Download Orrcon Steel Manufacturing EPDs here

Orrcon Steel Manufacturing has under taken Life Cycle Analysis of our manufactured product range and developed an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that covers our range of Pipe and Tube Products from all manufacturing sites.

EPDs allow you to compare steel from different sources, , helping project teams choose lower-impact options, and make more informed decisions.

 

Key Difference Between SSA Level 1 & EPDs
  • SSA Level 1: Focuses on governance, responsible sourcing, and sustainability practices across the supplier.
  • EPD: Provides detailed environmental data about specific products.
How They Fit Into Green Star & Responsible Products Frameworks

If you’ve worked with the Green Star rating system (or similar sustainability/green building frameworks), you’ll appreciate that certifications and product declarations often contribute direct points to your building or infrastructure project scorecard.

Click here to visit Responsible Products Score Checker – Green Building Council Australia (Sign in required)

View Orrcon Steel Manufacturing Responsible Steel Supply document

 

Orrcon Steel Manufacturing SSA Level 1 Certification and EPDs
Note: A combination of ResponsibleSteel, Product-Specific EPD and SSA Level 1 under GBCA’s RPV methodology results in an RPV equivalent to a Best Practice product (≥15).
Note: A combination of ResponsibleSteel, Product-Specific EPD and SSA Level 1 under GBCA’s RPV methodology results in an RPV equivalent to a Best Practice product (≥15).
Practical Takeaways for Project Managers, Specifiers & Steel Suppliers
  • When specifying steel, check whether your supplier is SSA Level 1 certified.
  • Always ask for the EPD of the specific product you plan to use. Understand which parts of the product lifecycle the EPD covers.
  • Use these credentials in your tender documents, sustainability reports, and to engage with clients who are working on major infrastructure projects or government project or care about climate, water, waste, etc.

DOWNLOAD OUR QUICK GUIDE for a fast, straightforward overview of these certification and credential and how they support Green Star project requirements or book a one-on-one session with our expert to discuss your project in more detail.