Life Cycle Assessment and EPD
LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) – evaluation of the life cycle.
A life cycle consists of sequential and interconnected stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or production from natural resources to final disposal. LCA is conducted according to:
- ISO 14040:2006 – Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and framework,
- ISO 14044:2006 – Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Requirements and guidelines.
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) – environmental product declaration.
An EPD is a third-party verified document that transparently and quantitatively presents information about the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle, based on life cycle assessment (LCA). EPD is developed according to:
- EN 15804 – Sustainability of construction works. Environmental product declarations. Core rules for the product category of construction products,
- ISO 14025:2006 – Environmental labels and declarations. Type III environmental declarations. Principles and procedures.
Benefits of LCA and EPD
For Manufacturers:
- Competitive advantage – demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and compliance with environmental standards.
- Transparency – provides objective information about a product’s environmental impact.
- Market access – enables participation in green building projects (e.g., LEED, BREEAM standards).
- Process optimization – helps identify areas in the production chain where environmental impact can be reduced.
For Clients:
- Product information – provides a clear understanding of a product’s environmental impact.
- Sustainability goals – allows for more sustainable choices in construction projects.
- Comparison – enables comparison of products from different manufacturers based on environmental indicators.
- Regulatory compliance – ensures that used products meet sustainability criteria in building regulations (CPR – Construction Products Regulation) or national requirements.