EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for our lives, our work; and above all our future. Therefore, it is not surprising that a more mindful behaviour towards the environment when purchasing products is becoming increasingly popular. EPDs are a useful tool for assessing the environmental impact of products. The TROX Group develops environmentally friendly products as part of its sustainability strategy. By establishing environmental product declarations, the company sets a transparent standard for customers. Here, you will find information about the meaning, creation and advantages of EPDs that TROX is offering already. |
The abbreviation EPD is derived from "Environmental Product Declaration". It is a documentation of the environmental impact of a product over its life cycle. An EPD is based on an analysis that takes into account all environmental influences along the value chain. The document contains detailed information on the environmental influences of the product. When an EPD is created, emissions, energy and water consumption, as well as waste are included. The "cradle to grave" principle shows all environmental impacts from raw material to disposal. The EPD must be examined by external bodies and is valid for five years. |
In order to enable approximate comparability, it is necessary to take regulated international norms and standards into account. The international standard for the preparation of EPDs are the norms EN 15804, ISO 14025 and ISO 14044 serve as the basis for the creation of EPDs Product Category Rules (PCR for short). These product category rules define standardised assumptions for the calculation of EPDs. PCRs evaluate everything from scope to relevant impact categories for products. The PCR contains two Parts: Part A with standardised calculation rules for life cycle assessment and documentation and Part B with the specific product requirements. If no suitable PCR exists, manufacturers can work with an EPD programme holder to collect the necessary data to develop and provide a new PCR. |
EPDs offer a range of benefits at different levels. In the construction industry more emphasis is being placed on sustainability standards by planners, architects and construction companies. Since certification systems such as DGNB, LEED or BNB are EPDs are important criteria for public tenders. The product documentation not only simplifies the ecological assessment. EPDs offer an increasing competitive advantage when awarding future project contracts. Moreover, EPDs enable the visualisation of potential improvement within the supply chain. The creation of EPDs is increasingly driven by the legal requirements that apply in some European countries. An EPD is a clear opportunity of informing customers about the environmental impact of a product and its production. At TROX, the EPDs are also used internally to drive material adaptations or product innovations. |
WHAT IS BEHIND AN EPD
An important factor in EPDs is the recording of greenhouse gas emissions, which is based on the standards of the international GREENHOUSE GAS PROTOCOL. This includes not only the C02 - emissions, but also other environmentally harmful gases such as sulphur, fluorine and chlorine compounds or nitrogen oxides. The GHG Protocol distinguishes between direct emissions generated during the production of the emissions generated by the company, indirect emissions from energy consumption, and other emissions caused by the procurement of resources, transport and disposal of a product. These three areas are called Scope 1, 2 and 3. But other environmental influences are also made measurable in an EPD. These include, for example, water consumption, environmental pollution caused by erosion, water pollution or health effects that occur during the procurement of resources, production and disposal of the product. |
EPDs are an important tool for assessing the environmental impact of a product on the basis of a life cycle assessment (LCA). The verification of an EPD is carried out by a recognised life cycle assessor, so that the calculation is based on uniform standards and thus a comparability becomes possible. This creates a competitive situation that incentivises improving the ecological footprint of a product from procurement to disposal. Using the example of a product, this table shows all the modules included in the calculation of the EPD (C02-eg is only an exemplary unit here). The basis for the calculation of the are environmental impact databases such as ecoinvent or Ökobaudat. The result is based on the data sets provided on materials and their environmental factors over the product life cycle. |
TROX offers environmental product declarations for over 50 product series, including fire protection and smoke extraction dampers, X-FANS, control units, multileaf dampers and filters. Further EPDs are being developed and will be available for almost all product types in the future. To create EPDs, TROX works together with EPD Norge and the ECO platform. The ECO platform is a recognised European standard with high quality standards and EPD Norge is an expert in ventilation and air conditioning products. The ECO platform can be used to create EPDs for European projects and guarantee the adherence of high quality standards. |
The verified environmental product declarations from TROX are available as a certificate on the respective product page which are easily accessible and available for download. Further, the documents can also be downloaded directly here for all available products. |
Environmental product declarations provide a neutral depiction of the environmental data of products. They are therefore an important factor in sustainable product development. But the question arises: What other topics need to be considered in addition to EPDs in order to operate successfully and sustainably? In this web seminar, we explore this question and explain TROX's approach. ► Watch the Webinar Now! ►► |
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We are here for you
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Tel.: +49 (0)2845 / 202-0 | Fax: +49 (0)2845/202-265
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Thank you for your message!
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Our department for Service-Requests will contact you asap.
For general question regarding products or services you can also call:
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