A method used to quantify the environmental impact associated with a product over its entire lifecycle. It differs from product carbon footprinting in that it quantifies multiple environmental categories, for example, resource depletion, ecotoxicity, ozone layer depletion and acidification to provide a comprehensive assessment of a wide range of issues. We offer LCAs following ISO 14044, PEF, or as a streamlined option.
Benefits
- Provides a detailed understanding of the environmental impacts associated with upstream and downstream value chain;
- Allows for a broader scope of assessment in comparison to product carbon footprinting, considering many environmental impacts;
- Identifies areas of most significant impact (i.e. the ‘hotspots’) where reduction initiatives can be most effective;
- By assessing multiple impact categories, a holistic view can be taken in regards to impact reduction, avoiding ‘burden-shift’;
- Evaluates alternative product configurations, manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection; and
- Satisfies requests from downstream value chain.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
A standardised document reporting the environmental impact associated with a product over its entire lifecycle (i.e. LCA) in a consistent way and following strict rules. An EPD is used to communicate LCA results and can enable comparisons between products that fulfil the same function. We offer EPDs following ISO 14025 and any product category rules (PCRs) e.g. the PCR for construction products following EN15804+A2. We have experience in both developing and verifying EPDs for major EPD programmes in Europe e.g. EPD International, IBU and BRE.
Benefits
In addition to the benefits from an LCA an EPD provides:
- A standardised document providing information about the environmental impacts of your products;
- Can enable comparisons between products as everyone is following the same strict rules;
- Can help contribute to sustainability assessments of buildings e.g. BREEAM; and
- Satisfies requests from downstream value chain for EPDs, which are becoming increasingly common in certain industries, especially construction.
Product Carbon Footprinting (PCF)
The process of quantifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the life cycle of a product (i.e. a good or service). This involves setting a boundary for the extent of assessment, collecting data for processes and activities within this boundary, calculating associated GHG emissions and reporting the carbon footprint to stakeholders. We offer PCFs following the GHG Protocol, ISO 14067, PAS 2050 or as a streamlined option.
Benefits
- Provides a detailed understanding of the GHG impacts associated with upstream and downstream value chain;
- Identifies areas of most significant impact (i.e. the ‘hotspots’) where reduction initiatives can be most effective;
- Evaluates alternative product configurations, manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection; and
- Satisfies requests from downstream value chain.
Organisational Carbon Footprinting (OCF)
The process of quantifying the GHG emissions associated with the operation of a business. The scope of assessment usually includes direct (scope 1) and energy indirect (scope 2) GHG emissions and removals. However, increasingly, businesses are looking to widen the scope of assessment to include impacts from the value chain (scope 3). We offer OCFs following the GHG Protocol, ISO 14064 or as a streamlined option.
Benefits
- Helps a business identify areas of significant impact, allowing them to focus efforts of reduction appropriately;
- Can form the basis of a carbon management plan;
- Useful for monitoring progress towards carbon reduction targets by comparing year-on-year carbon footprint results; and
- Satisfies requests from downstream value chain.
Whole Life Carbon (WLC)
A method of measuring the embodied and operational emissions of a building over it’s whole life cycle. This includes carbon emissions associated with materials, construction and use of a building over its entire life, and demolition and disposal. We offer WLC assessment following ISO 15978, the RICS professional statement, and UKGBC net zero carbon building framework.
Benefits
- Provides a detailed understanding of the GHG impacts associated with a building;
- Identifies areas of most significant impact (i.e. the ‘hotspots’) where reduction initiatives can be most effective;
- Evaluates alternative product configurations, building methods, raw material choices and supplier selection;
- Allows for collaboration and use of data from suppliers (e.g. EPDs); and
- Satisfies requests from downstream value chain.
Assurance
We provide assurance for LCAs, EPDs, PCFs, OCFs and WLC assessments, both independently and through some of the leading assurance firms (e.g. Achilles, Intertek). We have having performed > 300 reviews, and Matthew is an approved EPD verifier for the International EPD System and IBU.
We offer critical reviews (single person or panel) of PCF and LCA following ISO 14071, verifications of OCFs following ISO 14064-3, and verifications of EPDs following ISO 14025 (and relevant product category rules).
Benefits
- Provides confidence in the results from an environmental assessment, especially where external environmental claims are being made;
- Ensure conformity with a particular standard and allows you to communicate the conformity has been determined by external review;
- Improves the quality of the study and ensures results are accurate;
- Satisfies the requirements for declaring environmental information (e.g. in the case of EPDs); and
- Satisfies internal or external requirements for external review.