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Client Report:

Accompanying Report for the BRE Global Environmental Profiles of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates Prepared for: John Mercer Date: July 2009

Client report number: 250248

1 Environmental Profiles Analysis Report for Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates

BRE Global Client report number: 250248 Commercial in confidence

© BRE Global Ltd 2008

Prepared by

Name Kim Allbury

Position Senior Consultant

Signature

Approved on behalf of BRE Global

Name Jane Anderson

Position Materials Team Technical Director

Date

July 2009

Signature

BRE Global Garston WD25 9XX T + 44 (0) 1923 664000 F + 44 (0) 1923 664010 E [email protected] www.bre.co.uk

This report is made on behalf of BRE Global. By receiving the report and acting on it, the client - or any third party relying on it - accepts that no individual is personally liable in contract, tort or breach of statutory duty (including negligence).




Executive Summary

This report forms the output of the Environmental Profiling work done for Sandtoft resin bonded slates. The report provides a description of the update of the Environmental Profiling methodology (2008), provides the Environmental Profiles for Sandtoft resin bonded slates and provides an analysis of the environmental performance of the product. All analysis within this report is according to the 2008 BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology.

Table 1a and 1b shows the summary Ecopoint scores for Sandtoft resin bonded slates on a per tonne basis and as part of a pitched roof construction over a sixty year study period.

Table 1a. Product Specification Ecopoint scores for Sandtoft resin bonded slates

Product Specification 2008 Methodology Ecopoints Per Tonne

Sandtoft resin bonded slates per tonne – Cradle to Gate 5.86

Transport to Site 0.10

Disposal from Construction, Refurbishment and Demolition 2.67

Table 1b. Building Element Green Guide Ratings for Sandtoft resin bonded slates

Specification

(As Installed over 60 year study period)

Element Number

Buildings assessed

Ecopoint score (Cradle

to Grave)

2008 Green Guide Summary

Rating

Domestic 0.58

Health

Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britlock resin bonded slates

812410035

Retail 0.5

A

Domestic 0.66

Health

Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bonded slates

812410036

Retail 0.58

A




Specification


Element Number

Buildings assessed

Ecopoint score (Cradle

to Grave)

2008 Green Guide Summary

Rating

Domestic 0.64

Health

Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Countess resin bonded slates

812410037

Retail 0.57

A

Generic Specification (for comparison only)

Domestic

Health Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and resin bonded slates.

812410010

Retail

- A

Summary of impacts

The findings from this analysis have shown that the resin DSM (polyester/styrene) raw material accounts for the most significant proportion of environmental impact attributed to the Sandtoft resin bonded slates products. The largest impacts on the environment are from climate change and from higher level nuclear waste. Both of these impacts arise from the manufacture of the resin DWM (polyester/styrene).

In terms of the building elements, within all of the specifications modelled, the greatest proportion of the environmental impact is attributed to the resin bonded slates.

The Ecopoint scores for the three pitched roof specifications incorporating the resin bonded slates means that they achieve a Green Guide Rating of A, when included in the studied specifications and compared to other commonly specified products in The Green Guide to Specification 2008, as set out in table 1b.




Contents

1 Introduction 6 1.1 The Certified Environmental Profile Scheme 6 1.2 Methodology 6 1.3 Report Content 6 1.4 Product Description 7

2 Product Analysis 8 2.1 Graphical Analysis and Findings 8 2.2 Ecopoint Scores 13 2.3 Sensitivity Analysis 13 2.4 Conclusions 13

3 Impacts Beyond the Factory Gate 14 3.1 Element Description 14 3.2 Transport from Factory to Site 14 3.3 Waste Disposal/End of Life Model 15

4 Functional Unit Analysis 16 4.1 Functional Unit Analysis 16 4.2 Green Guide Ratings 20

5 Conclusion and Next Steps 21

Appendix 1. Data Assumptions for the Creation of the Sandtoft Certified Environmental Profiles 23

Appendix 2. Environmental Profile: Characterised and normalised data for 1 tonne of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates 28

Appendix 3 – Environmental Profile: Characterised and normalised data for 1 m2 of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates as installed 29

Appendix 4 – Environmental Profile: Characterised and normalised data for 1 m2 of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates over a 60-year study Period 30

A1. Life Cycle Thinking 32 A.2 Life Cycle Assessment 34 A.2.1. An Introduction 34 A2.2 BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology (2008) 37 A2.2.1 Life Cycle Stages 40 A2.2.2 Impact Categories 42 A.2.3 Glossary 51 A.3 Linking Environmental Profiles to other Sustainable Construction Tools 53 A.3.1 BREEAM 53




A.3.2 The Code for Sustainable Homes 53 A.3.3 EcoHomes (For Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and assessments registered in England Pre April 2007) 54 A.3.4 Summary of Elements applicable to each BREEAM Scheme 54




1 Introduction

This report forms the output from the Environmental Profiles of Sandtoft resin bonded slates project undertaken for Sandtoft Roof Tiles Limited.

The aim of this report is to provide explanatory information to accompany the Sandtoft resin bonded slates Environmental Profiles.

1.1 The Certified Environmental Profile Scheme

BRE Global has run the Certified Environmental Profile scheme since 2001. Environmental Profiles provide standardised, reliable and independent information about building materials and components. They measure the environmental performance of materials and products over their entire lifecycle through their extraction, processing manufacture, construction, use and maintenance, to their eventual disposal.

They also provide information on the key issues related to environmental sustainability, such as climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, consumption of minerals and water, emissions of pollutants to air and water and the quantity of waste sent for disposal. The end result is presented in Ecopoints – the lower the Ecopoints the less environmental impact the product has. The information can be used by manufacturers to target areas for resource efficiency improvements and to reduce the overall environmental impact of the product. It can also be used by specifiers to reduce their building’s environmental impact.

1.2 Methodology

The updated Life Cycle Assessment methodology used for Environmental Profiles has been peer reviewed and complies with ISO 21930, the forthcoming standard for analysing the environmental impacts of construction products. The peer review process was conducted by a team of experts in LCA and building materials, headed by Wayne Trusty, Director of the Athena Institute in Canada. A copy of the full methodology can be accessed from www.thegreenguide.org.uk and a summary of the major changes that have been made to the methodology for the 2008 update is provided within Annex A.

1.3 Report Content

This report provides information on the following:

Product Analysis – this section of the report highlights the most important sources of the product’s environmental impact and the relevant environmental issues.

Appendices – a full list of inventory data assumptions used to generate the Environmental Profiles, the Environmental Profiles for the product (cradle-to-gate) and the Environmental Profiles for the elements containing the product (cradle-to-grave).

Annexes - this section contains background information (including details on the updated methodology).




1.4 Product Description

The following products are included within the scope of this Environmental Profile:

• Britlock resin bonded slates manufactured at Heckmondwicke – 360 x 340 x 11mm, 1.4 kg per tile at 75mm headlap = 16.4 kg/m2 (measured horizontally).

• Britslate Duchess resin bonded slates manufactured at Heckmondwicke – 610 x 305 x 6mm, 2.0 kg per slate at 75mm headlap = 24.4 kg/m2 (measured at 30-35 degree pitch).

• Britslate Countess resin bonded slates manufactured at Heckmondwicke – 510 x 255 x 6mm, 1.3 kg per slate at 75mm headlap = 23.4 kg/m2 (measured at 30-35 degree pitch).

Note: masses have been taken from Sandtoft product literature.




2 Product Analysis

The Environmental Profile data has been prepared based on the manufacturing data provided by Sandtoft Roof Tiles Ltd. A full copy of the agreed data assumptions made in preparing the LCA is provided in Appendix 1.

The analysis considers firstly the processes occurring in the factory and the impacts of extraction, manufacture and transport of the raw materials (the ‘cradle to gate’ phase) to explore the relative impacts of different inputs and the process to manufacture 1 tonne of Sandtoft resin bonded slates.

Four charts are shown below. All of the breakdowns are provided on a per tonne basis. The charts are:

Figure 1: The material inputs to the process by proportion of mass (tonne/tonne).

Figure 2: Sources of environmental impact (Ecopoints/tonne).

Figure 3: Ecopoints for environmental impact by issue (Ecopoints/tonne).

Figure 4: Ecopoints for environmental impact by material and issue (Ecopoints).

Preceding the graphical reports, a short paragraph summarises the findings. The cradle to gate Environmental Profiles are presented in Appendix 2.

2.1 Graphical Analysis and Findings

Figures 1 – 4 provide analysis of 1 tonne of Sandtoft resin bonded slates.

The slate granules and slate powder account for 75% of the inputs (by mass) going into the Sandtoft resin bonded slates product (Figure 1). Resin DSM (polyester / styrene) accounts for a further 19% and the remaining input materials collectively account for 6%.

While the slate granules and powder account for the greatest proportion by mass of materials, they collectively account for only 8% of the environmental impact associated with the cradle to gate stage of the products life cycle (Figure 2). The resin DSM accounts for the greatest proportion of environmental impact, at 73%. The life cycle inventory data set that has been used as a proxy for the resin DSM is 80% polyester resin and 20% styrene.

The largest impact on the environment is from climate change (43%), higher level nuclear waste (12%) and water extraction (9%), see Figure 3. Climate change arises primarily from the manufacturing process associated with the production of the resin DSM (Figure 4). Some of the climate change impact can also be attributed to the production of the pigments and the resin polyite (100% polyester) but this is substantially less. The higher level nuclear waste and water extraction also mainly arises from the manufacturing process associated with the production of the resin DSM (Figure 4).


BRE Global Client report number: 250248 © BRE Global Ltd 2008 Commercial in confidence

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Slate Granules Slate Powder Resin - DSM Pigments Styron Zinc Stearate Resin - polylite Catalyst

Input Material

% o

f Inp

ut b

y M

ass

Figure 1: The material inputs to the process by pro portion of mass (tonne/tonne) – Excluding water and Packaging.



-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Resin

- DSM

Pigmen

tsSlat

e Gra

nules

Slate P

owde

rRes

in - P

olylite

Styron

Solid

Was

teZinc

Stea

rate

100%

Gre

en G

rid E

lectri

city

Trans

port

of R

aw M

ateria

ls to

Facto

ry

Diesel

Furl O

il

Packa

ging

- Poly

ethy

lene S

hrink

wrap

Cataly

stM

ains W

ater

Packa

ging

- Rec

ycled

card

boar

d

Facto

ry E

mission

s

Packa

ging

- poly

este

r/poly

ethyle

ne st

rapp

ing

Packa

ging

- Pall

ets

Source of Environmental Impact

Per

cent

age

of E

nviro

nmen

tal I

mpa

ct (

Eco

poin

ts p

er t

onne

)

Figure 2: Sources of environmental impact (Ecopoint s/tonne).



43%

9%8%

1%

8%

5%

12%

5%

3%5% 1%

Climate Change

Water Extraction

Mineral Resource Extraction

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Human Toxicity

Ecotoxicity to Fresh Water

Higher Level Nuclear Waste

Ecotoxicity to Land

Waste Disposal

Fossil Fuel Depletion

Eutrophication

Photochemical Ozone Creation

Acidification

Figure 3: Ecopoints for environmental impact by iss ue (Ecopoints/tonne).



0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Resin - DSM

Pigments

Slate Granules

Slate Powder

Resin - Polylite

Inpu

t Mat

eria

l

Ecopoint per Tonne

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral Resource Extraction Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Human Toxicity Ecotoxicity to Fresh Water Higher Level Nuclear Waste Ecotoxicity to Land

Waste Disposal Fossil Fuel Depletion Eutrophication Photochemical Ozone Creation

Acidification

Figure 4: Ecopoints for environmental impact by mat erial and issue (Ecopoints).




2.2 Ecopoint Scores

The table below provides the cradle to gate Ecopoint scores for a tonne of Sandtoft resin bonded slates

Table 2. Product Specification Ecopoint scores for Sandtoft resin bonded slates.

Product Specification 2008 Methodology Ecopoints (Cradle to

Gate) Per Tonne

Sandtoft resin bonded slates, 1 tonne 5.86

2.3 Sensitivity Analysis

The manufacturing data used to create the profile for the Sandtoft resin bonded slates has been verified by BRE Global through the Environmental Profiles Certification Scheme. The inventories used to model the Life Cycle Assessment are specific and representative of industry (see Appendix A). Therefore there is a low factor of uncertainty associated with this product.

2.4 Conclusions

The findings from this analysis have shown that the resin DSM (polyester / styrene) accounts for the most significant proportion of environmental impact attributed to the Sandtoft resin bonded slates product. The largest impacts on the environment are from climate change, higher level nuclear waste and water extraction. All of these impacts primarily arise from the manufacture of the resin DSM raw materials.

As a separate consultancy project, BRE are able to model modifications in the production process, (both raw material inputs and the process itself) for the insulation, to indicate potential improvements in the Environmental Profile.




3 Impacts Beyond the Factory Gate

To model the environmental impact of Sandtoft resin bonded slates over the full life cycle, the cradle to gate data for the products are modelled in a building specification over a sixty year study period and combined with transport to site and final disposal data. The Briefing Notes provide details of the basic approach used in the creation of an Environmental Profile, and a summary is within Annex A.

3.1 Element Description

Three elemental profiles have been generated using the site-specific Sandtoft resin bonded slates data over a ’60-year study period’.

• 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britlock resin bonded slates.

• 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bonded slates.

• 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Countess resin bonded slates.

Please note that the following functional units were used. The ratings are appropriate to the system, whatever thickness, though if used to gain credits within an assessment under the Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 4 to 6, bespoke ratings based on the actual construction will be required.

Functional unit for Roofs for Domestic: 1m² of roof area (measured horizontally), to satisfy England & Wales Building Regulations, particularly a U value of 0.16 W/m²K (pitched) or 0.25 W/m²K (flat). Span of 8m to include a plasterboard ceiling and emulsion paint finish. To include any repair, refurbishment or replacement over the 60-yr study period.

Functional unit for Roofs for Health and Retail 1m² of roof area (measured horizontally), to satisfy England & Wales Building Regulations, particularly a U value of 0.16 W/m²K (pitched) or 0.25 W/m²K (flat). Span of 8m. To include any repair, refurbishment or replacement over the 60-yr study period.

3.2 Transport from Factory to Site

Manufacturers are asked to provide data on the typical methods of transport of the product to the site. This includes distance travelled, vehicle type and average load and return load if any. In the absence of this




information, then BRE Global use default data provided by the Department for Transport from the continuing Survey of Roads Goods Transport1.

To create this Environmental Profile, BRE Global used data provided by Sandtoft Roof Tiles Ltd. This gives an Ecopoints score per tonne of 0.1 compared to the cradle to gate impacts of 5.86 Ecopoints per tonne.

3.3 Waste Disposal/End of Life Model

A disposal route model has been produced consisting of the percentage of material sent to each disposal route (landfill, incineration, recycling and reuse). Where relevant, they are also specific to construction waste, refurbishment waste and demolition waste. These models are used to calculate the relevant impacts of the disposal route using data from the ecoinvent database. Tailored models are created where evidence is available for particular disposal practices.

The model for the creation of the Sandtoft resin bonded slates Environmental Profile is presented here and is based on the model for generic resin bonded slates.

End of life model (including construction, refurbis hment and demolition waste)

% to Landfill 90%

% to Incineration 10%

% to Re-use or Recycling 0%

The above disposal profiles all have an impact of 2.67 Ecopoints in comparison to the per tonne Cradle to Gate impacts of 5.86 Ecopoints.

1 typical load and haul data for 2005 calculated for common commodities used in construction and product manufacture from an extract from the Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport provided to BRE Global by the Department for Transport in a personal communication (21.11.2006).




4 Functional Unit Analysis

This section provides an analysis of how the Sandtoft resin bonded slates perform within a specification over a sixty-year study period. We then show how the product compares to generic products within the concept of a building and discuss the significance of the Green Guide ratings received. For the comparison a full functional unit is assessed over a 60-year study period (the ‘cradle to grave’ profile).

The overall environmental impact of the Sandtoft resin bonded slates over a sixty year study period (on a per m2 basis) is broken down by environmental issue (Figure 5-7).

• Figure 5: Breakdown of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britlock resin bonded slates

• Figure 6: Breakdown of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bonded slates

• Figure 7: Break down of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Countess resin bonded slates

The full Environmental Profiles (installed and over a 60 year period) are presented in Appendices 3 and 4.

4.1 Functional Unit Analysis

The pitched roof specifications demonstrate that, in all cases, the resin bonded slates account for the greatest proportion of environmental impact associated with the specifications. The largest impacts on the environmental associated with the specifications are climate change and high level nuclear waste impacts.



-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

GenericInsulation

Paint Plasterboard Buildingpaper to

BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritlockResin

BondedSlates

Timbertrussedrafters

GenericInsulation

Buildingpaper to

BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritlockResin

BondedSlates


Insulation fortimber

pitched roofswith

Plasterboard and paint Sandtoft britlock resin bonded slates,battens, roofing felt - 35° pitch


Insulation fortimber

pitched roofswith

Sandtoft britlock resin bonded slates,battens, roofing felt - 35° pitch


House Retail & Health

Eco

poin

ts p

er m

2

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral Resource Extraction Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Human ToxicityEcotoxicity to Freshwater Nuclear Waste (higher level) Ecotoxicity To Land Waste Disposal Fossil Fuel DepletionEutrophication Photochemical Ozone Creation Acidification

Figure 5: Breakdown of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britlock resin bonded slates ( Element Number: 812410035)



-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

GenericInsulation


BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritslateDuchess

resin bondedslates


GenericInsulation

Buildingpaper to

BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritslateDuchess

resin bondedslates


Insulationfor timber

pitched roofswith

Plasterboard and paint Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bondedslates, battens, roofing felt - 35° pitch



pitched roofswith

Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bondedslates, battens, roofing felt - 35° pitch



Eco

poin

ts p

er m

2

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral Resource Extraction Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Human Toxicity

Ecotoxicity to Freshwater Nuclear Waste (higher level) Ecotoxicity To Land Waste Disposal Fossil Fuel DepletionEutrophication Photochemical Ozone Creation Acidification

Figure 6: Breakdown of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Duchess resin bonded slates (Element Number: 812410036)



-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

GenericInsulation


BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritslateCountess

resin bondedslates


GenericInsulation

Buildingpaper to

BS1521 A1F

Battens SandtoftBritslateCountess

resin bondedslates



pitched roofswith

Plasterboard and paint Sandtoft Britslate Countess resinbonded slates, battens, roofing felt - 35°

pitch



pitched roofswith

Sandtoft Britslate Countess resinbonded slates, battens, roofing felt - 35°

pitch



Eco

poin

ts p

er m

2

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral Resource Extraction Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Human ToxicityEcotoxicity to Freshwater Nuclear Waste (higher level) Ecotoxicity To Land Waste Disposal Fossil Fuel DepletionEutrophication Photochemical Ozone Creation Acidification

Figure 7: Breakdown of element by material impact: 1m2 Timber trussed rafters and joists with insulation, roofing underlay, battens and Sandtoft Britslate Countess resin bonde d slates (Element Number: 812410037)




4.2 Green Guide Ratings

Three elemental profiles have been generated using the site-specific Sandtoft resin bonded slates data over a ’60-year study period’. The Green Guide ratings presented in Table 3 are to the new (2008) methodology and provide both the product specific and generic Green Guide ratings for comparison.

Table 3: Green Guide Ratings

Specification


Element Number

Buildings assessed

Ecopoint score

(cradle to grave)

2008 Green Guide

Summary Rating

Domestic 0.58

Health


812410035

Retail 0.5

A

Domestic 0.66

Health


812410036

Retail 0.58

A

Domestic 0.64

Health


812410037

Retail 0.57

A


Domestic


812410010

Retail

- A




5 Conclusion and Next Steps

The tables below shows the summary Ecopoint scores for Sandtoft resin bonded slates on a per tonne basis and as part of a pitched roof construction over a sixty year study period.

Table 4a. Product Specification Ecopoint scores for Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates.

Product Specification 2008 Methodology Ecopoints Per Tonne

Sandtoft resin bonded slates per tonne (Cradle to Gate) 5.86

Transport to Site 0.10

Disposal from Construction, Refurbishment and Demolition 2.67

Table 4b. Building Element Green Guide Ratings for Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates.

Specification


Element Number

Buildings assessed

Ecopoint score (cradle

to grave)

2008 Green Guide Summary Rating

Domestic 0.58

Health


812410035

Retail 0.5

A

Domestic 0.66

Health


812410036

Retail 0.58

A

Domestic 0.64

Health


812410037

Retail 0.57

A




Specification


Element Number

Buildings assessed

Ecopoint score (cradle

to grave)

2008 Green Guide Summary Rating


Domestic


812410010

Retail

- A

The findings from this analysis have shown that the resin DWM (polyester / styrene) accounts for the most significant proportion of environmental impact attributed to the Sandtoft resin bonded slates product. The largest impacts on the environment are from climate change, higher level nuclear waste and water extraction. All of these impacts arise from the manufacture of the resin DSM raw materials.

As a separate consultancy project, BRE Global are able to model modifications in the production process, (both raw material inputs and the process itself) for Sandtoft resin bonded slates, to indicate potential improvements in the Environmental Profile.




Appendix 1. Data Assumptions for the Creation of t he Sandtoft Certified Environmental Profiles



Assumptions made during verification visit (items that have changed since verification and modelled for certification are shown in italics) Company: Sandtoft Roof Tiles Limited Product(s): Britlock, Britslate Duchess and Britslate Countess

Verified Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Data Source

Questionnaire section

Data Figures Data assumptions/ Conversion Figures/ Sources

Yes No

General N/A Data provided by Sandtoft covered all the Heckmondwike manufacturing facility for the period 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2007. Data provided covered all products manufactured at the site. Allocation of materials, energy, water, emissions and waste to the certified products will be done per tonne of total production output and then multiplied by the mass per metre square of each tile product. All LCI datasets used have been extracted from the BRE Environmental Profiles databases or external databases such as Ecoinvent or Boustead.

Sandtoft certified products (Britlock, Britslate Duchess and Britslate Countess) make up 100% of all Heckmondwicke site production output.

All of the certified products have the same formulation. The difference between them being the different methods of application and different densities.

4. Works Output Britlock total production output = 2220 tonnes Britslate Duchess total production output corrected to 484 tonnes Britslate Countess total production output= 268 tonnes

Y

5. Works Input Raw materials Slate granules verified figure = 1196 tonnes Y Stone federation slate data plus allocation based on cost (slate granules)

Slate powder verified figure = 1117 tonnes Y Stone federation slate data plus allocation based on cost (slate powder)




Resin: DSM verified figure = 578 tonnes Resin: Reichhold verified figure = 23 tonnes

Y Polyester resin, unsaturated, at plant/RER U 80 % Styrene, at plant/RER U – 20 %

Catalyst: Triganox 21 verified figure = 8 tonnes N Methyl tert-butyl ether, at plant/RER U

Styron verified figure =58 tonnes Y polystyrene, general purpose, GPPS, at plant/kg/RER

Zinc Stearate verified figure = 40 tonnes N BRE created zinc stearate system

Colour: Carbon Black verified figure = 22 tonnes Y Carbon black, at plant/GLO U

Colour: titanium oxide verified figure =35 tonnes Colour: heather pigment verified figure = 3 tonnes Colour: green pigment verified figure = 0.2 tonnes

N Iron oxide pigments -100% powder

Packaging Shrink bags (2.9 tonnes) BRE created: Packaging - Polyethylene Shrinkwrap

Cardboard (0.4 tonnes) BRE created: Packaging - Recycled cardboard




Mass Balance

Mass balance of outputs against inputs was calculated as follows and is shown to be acceptable:

Output: total site production (tonnes) [A] 2,972 tonnes Total Material Inputs (tonnes) 3,082 tonnes Total process waste 127 tonnes Inputs less process waste [B] = 3,082 – 127 = 2,955 tonnes MASS BALANCE = Output/ Inputs less process waste = [A]/[B] = 100.6 %

N N/A

5b) Transport The transport of materials to the factory are as provided within the data collection form, with the exception for the following which were amended during the certification visit or from data supplied after the site visit:

1. Transport of Triganox 21 catalyst Model based on transport from paper collection site to plant Manufacturing location Distance to Plant Mons, Belgium Via Calais 676 km

N

Ecoinvent transport models for shipping

and freight.

5c) Direct consumption of fuel

Electricity = 1,017,546 kWh

Verified figure = 1,017,546 kWh.

Y

Electricity, at wind power plant/RER U

Gas oil = 6100 litres Verified figure from bills = 6100 litres Y

Light fuel oil, burned in industrial furnace

1MW/CH U Biodiesel = 400 litres Verified figure from bills = 400 litres. Used cooking oil for fork lift trucks and

heating. Y

5d) Water used/ water discharged

Mains water = 933 m3 Verified figure from bills = 504 m3

No water is used in the production process, only for canteen and office. Y Ecoinvent: Tap water, at user

(Europe)




6a) Emission to air

Styrene emission from mixers <0.0012 kg/hr Styrene emission from pressers <0.0313 kg/hr Total maximum running hours (estimated) = 7320 hours Calculated from total maximum number of running hours multiplied by verified number of days running (Feb, Mar, May, June, Oct) averaged over the year. Therefore total styrene emissions = (0.0012 + 0.0313) x 7320 = 237.9 kg If the emissions are found to have a significant impact on the environmental impact of the product then will calculate a more accurate total running hours figure.

Y Styrene

6b) Emission to water

No emissions to water

6c) Solid wastes Municipal waste to landfill = 127 tonnes

Total quantity of Municipal waste from invoices = 127 tonnes. 90% to landfill

Y Ecoinvent: Disposal, municipal solid

waste, 22.9% water, to sanitary landfill

(BRE no long term)




Appendix 2. Environmental Profile: Characterised a nd normalised data for 1 tonne of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates




Appendix 3 – Environmental Profile: Characterised a nd normalised data for 1 m 2 of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates as installed




Appendix 4 – Environmental Profile: Characterised a nd normalised data for 1 m 2 of Sandtoft Resin Bonded Slates over a 60-year study P eriod




Annex A: Supporting Information

A1. Life Cycle Thinking

A2. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A2.1. Introduction to LCA

A2.2. BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology (2008)

A2.2.1. Life Cycle Stages

A2.2.2. Impact Categories

A2.3 Glossary

A3. Linking Environmental Profiles to Other BRE Global Sustainable Tools




A1. Life Cycle Thinking

From the Cradle to the Grave: The Life Cycle Diagram below shows the inputs and outputs at each life cycle stage & that all inputs need to be traced back to their cradle: transport also needs to be included for all stages.

The idea behind life cycle thinking is that everyone looks both backwards and forwards to make sure that the products and services we use make as little impact on the environment as possible. This means that when we are choosing products or services, we have to look at the impacts products and services bring with them, what impacts are produced while we are using the product, and what impacts happen when we no longer want the product. If we only look at one part of the life cycle, we could choose a product that causes considerable environmental impacts in one or more parts of its whole life. For example, if we choose a fridge that has a low energy rating during use but uses HCFC as the refrigerant, we will have reduced our contribution to Climate Change during the use phase but will have produced a difficult end-of-life problem because of the high Climate Change and Ozone Depletion impacts that will happen if the HCFC gets into the air. Whole life thinking gives us the opportunity to ask those who supply us to monitor and improve their environmental performance, to understand and improve our own performance, and to influence the routes to disposal (including seeking to increase re-use, recycling, and burning for energy recovery, and to reduce waste, burning with no energy recovery and landfill). Life cycle thinking avoids shifting problems from one life cycle stage to another, from one place to another and from one part of the environment to another. We can use life cycle thinking as a very effective supporting tool for achieving Sustainable Development: Life Cycle Assessment takes forward life cycle thinking to examine a lifetime’s environmental performance.

“Life cycle thinking implies that everyone in the whole chain of a product's life cycle, from cradle to grave, has a responsibility and a role to play, taking into account all the relevant external effects."

Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, UNEP




M a t e r ia l E x t r a c t io n & P r o d u c t i o n

W a te r E n e r g y

M a te r ia ls

M a t e r ia l E x t ra c t io n & P ro d u c t io n

P r o d u c t io n

T o A irT o W a te r

T o L a n d

U s e ( m a in te n a n c e &

r e p a ir )

D is p o s a l ( la n d f i l l , in c in e r a t io n )

T o A ir

T o A ir

T o W a te r

T o W a te r

T o L a n d

T o L a n d

r e c y c l in g

E n e r g y

E n e r g yM a te r ia lsW a te r

M a t e r ia l E x t ra c t io n & P r o d u c t io n

P r o d u c t io n

E n e rg yE n e rg y

P r o d u c t io n

r e - u s e

e n e r g y r e c o v e r y

N e w L if e




A.2 Life Cycle Assessment

A.2.1. An Introduction

Stage 1: Goal & Scope

Stage 2: Inventory Analysis

Stage 3: Impact Assessment

Stage 1 Goal & Scope

What’s done? Answers the questions:

• Why’s the study being done? (Goal) For use within the company?, e.g. to improve products or processes, or to make policy decisions. Or use outside the company to make comparisons between products, processes or services?

• Who is it for? For the company or for publication?

• What’s being looked at? (Scope) Best for looking at the different ways of meeting a need (‘purpose-based’) over a complete lifetime, e.g. 1 m2 of external wall over a 60-year life – the ‘functional unit’. LCA can also be used to look at: products; processes, and services. What is included & what is excluded (e.g. life cycle stages, processes etc): setting the ‘boundaries’.

• What information’s needed to do it? The level of detail needed & the quality of data needed to meet the Goal & Scope.

• How will it be done? Sets out the method to be used, including ‘allocation’ (how impacts will be shared between products from the same process) & which environmental impact categories will be used.

What’s produced? A Goal & Scope document.




Stage 2 Inventory Analysis

What’s done? • Mapping of the processes for each life cycle stage producing the functional unit (or units)

being studied to give a Process Flow Diagram. • Gathering of data on inputs (amounts of energy and materials used) and outputs (products

and measured emissions to air, land and water) for all processes on the Process Flow Diagram.

• Conversion of data into environmental effects, e.g. electricity use becomes fossil fuel consumption and emissions to air (e.g. NOx and SO2), water (e.g. NOx) and land (e.g. fuel ash). The effects are summed over the whole life cycle to give an Inventory Table.

What’s produced? Process Flow Diagram (also called Process Tree) showing all processes involved in the different life cycle stages. Inventory Table giving the summed environmental effects (resources used and emissions caused) over the whole life.

Stage 3 Impact Assessment

What’s done? There are 3 steps:

A. Classification – the results from the Inventory Table (resource use & emission generation) are placed in all the environmental impact categories where they produce an effect.

B. Characterisation – the amount of each substance in an impact category is converted into

the amount of that category’s reference substance needed to cause the same effect. For example, Climate Change uses CO2 as its reference substance, so the amount of methane is converted to the amount of CO2 needed to give the Climate Change effects caused by the recorded amount of methane; the other Green House gases would be converted into CO2 ‘equivalents’ in the same way. The resulting environmental profile shows how much impact is caused in each impact category in terms of the reference substance for each category.

The levels of impact in a characterised profile cannot be compared directly with each other because they are in different units. The impacts of the functional unit under study can be compared to the annual national or global levels of impacts caused in each category. This is called ‘normalisation’. The BRE Global method uses the annual impacts of 1 European citizen to normalise the environmental profile. The categories can now be compared directly with each other since they are all on the same scale (‘per year’).

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral resource depletion

Stratospheric ozone depletion

12.3 tonne CO2 eq. (100yr)

377m3 water extracted 24.4 tonnes mineral extracted

0.217 kg CFC-11 eq.

Human toxicity Ecotoxicity to water Nuclear Waste Ecotoxicity to land 19.7 tonnes 1,4-DB eq. 13.2 tonnes 1,4-DB eq. 123,700 mm3 high level

waste

123 kg 1,4-DB eq.

Waste disposal Fossil fuel depletion Eutrophication Photochemical ozone creation

3.75 tonnes solid waste 6.51 tonnes oil equivalent (toe)2

32.5 kg PO4 eq. 21.5 kg C2H4 eq.

Acidification 71.2 kg SO2 eq.




The profile now answers the question, “What’s the biggest environmental impact of my functional unit?” but it doesn’t answer the question “Is the biggest impact of my functional unit the most environmentally critical one?”

C. Valuation – the normalised profile is weighted to show the relative importance of each

category. The results can be summed to give a single score, often called ‘Ecopoints’.

Through consultation with a cross-section of interested parties, BRE Global has produced the weighting scheme below. These weighting factors are used to produce a UK Ecopoints score.

Climate Change Water Extraction Mineral resource

depletion Stratospheric ozone

depletion 21.6% 11.7% 9.8% 9.1%

Human toxicity Ecotoxicity to water Nuclear Waste Ecotoxicity to land 8.6% 8.6% 8.2% 8.0%

Waste disposal Fossil fuel depletion Eutrophication Photochemical ozone creation

7.7% 3.2% 3.0% 0.20%

Acidification 0.05%

What’s produced?

A. Classification – each environmental impact category contains the amounts of all the resources and emissions (the results of the Inventory Table) that contribute to it.

B. Characterisation – an environmental profile of the levels of impact in each category in terms

of each category’s reference substance. The impacts cannot be directly compared. Normalisation – an environmental profile showing how the impacts of the functional unit relate to the background levels of each category. The impacts are all ‘per year’ and can be compared with each other.

C. Valuation – a weighted, normalised profile or a weighted, single score.




A2.2 BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology (2008)

This section of the report provides a review of the background to the BRE Global Environmental Profiles methodology (2008).

Preparing the Methodology

The updated Life Cycle Assessment methodology used for Environmental Profiles has been peer reviewed and complies with ISO 21930, the forthcoming standard for analysing the environmental impacts of construction products. The peer review process was conducted by a team of experts in LCA and building materials, headed by Wayne Trusty, Director of the Athena Institute in Canada.

BRE Global devised the original methodology in partnership with Government and 24 Trade Associations from the Construction Products sector to provide a single, consistent approach for applying LCA to all types of construction products. The recent update was undertaken under the auspices of the BRE Global’s Sustainability Board and through extensive stakeholder consultation. Within the Construction Products Association, a Construction Products Association Manufacturers Advisory Group (CPA-MAG) was established with the specific remit to contribute to the development of the methodology and the revision of the Green Guide to Specification.

The group comprised of representatives from each of the major sectors. Ieuan Compton of Kingspan Insulation was the Chair and the Secretariat was undertaken by Jane Thornback, Environmental Policy Advisor, Construction Products Association. (Table A1).

Table A1 Original membership of the Construction Pr oducts Association Manufacturers Advisory Group

1. Miles Watkins Aggregate Industries 2. Ian Stares Baxi Potterton 3. Tom de Saulles British Cement Association 4. John Nelson BPB 5. Mercia Gick British Plastics Federation 6. Christopher Stride BPF EPS Construction Group 7. Martin Clarke British Precast Concrete Federation 8. John Garbutt BRUFMA 9. John Hedgecock British Woodworking Federation 10. Andrew Gill Celotex 11. David Westburgh Corus Construction 12. Nick Avery Corus R&DT 13. Justin Ratcliffe Council for Aluminium in Building 14. Denis Higgins CSMA 15. Sophie Read Egger (UK) Ltd 16. Peter Trew/Mark Harris EPIC 17. Carol Houghton Eurisol 18. Adrian Bold Knauf

19. Paul Franklin Flat Roofing Alliance 20. Peter Stuttard Glass & Glazing Federation 21. Peter Hazael H+H Celcon 22. Ray Doughty Hepworth Building Products 23. Martin Althorpe H W Plastics / BPF – Windows 24. Ieuan Compton – Chairman Kingspan Insulation 25. Rebecca White Marley Building Materials 26. Stuart Bell Marshalls 27. Pete Thomas Tarkett-Marley Floors 28. John Hannah Quarry Products Association 29. Nick Ralph Rockwool 30. Andrew Schofield Roof Block 31. Mark Harris Sarnafil 32. Gunther Hentschel Timber Trade Federation 33. David Duke-Evans Wood Panel Industries Federation 34. Rita Singh Construction Products Association 35. Kristian Steele BRE Global 36. Paul Thistlethwaite BRE Global

BRE Global consulted with the CPA-MAG on a range of project related items. Detailed Briefing Notes were issued by BRE Global to inform industry of BRE's intended approach and expected conclusions. This process enabled the industry to consider potential implications and provide the basis for their input to the project.




Separate consultative Briefing Notes were produced for the following topics:

1. Scope of Green Guide Review & Role of CPA-MAG and Project Steering Group

2. Green Guide: Format and content

3. Environmental Profiles: LCA methodology

a. Characterisation

b. Normalisation

c. Weighting

4. Specifications

5. Energy model

6. Whole life performance

7. End-of-life and waste models

8. Existing LCA Data and update requirements

Briefing Notes were disseminated to the following stakeholders:

• CPA-MAG, along with Construction Products Association members

• Trade Associations which are not affiliated to the Construction Products Association

• Industry participants in the BRE Global Environmental Profiles Certification Scheme.

The Briefing notes were re-issued and modified where appropriate following the consultation process. The original Briefing Notes and subsequently agreed texts are available at http://www.bre.co.uk/greenguide.

The new methodology document can also be downloaded from the above web-site.




Changes to the 2008 Methodology

Significant changes have been made to the methodology for the 2008 update:

• Impacts included in a Profile: The 13 parameters of an Environmental Profile have changed: Nuclear Waste has been added. Transport has been removed and the toxicity impact categories have been revised.

• Characterisation Factors: The University of Leiden has issued revised Characterisation factors and these have been adopted. This means that the method for comparing the environmental impact of inputs and outputs has changed and that the impacts ascribed to the use of some resources and emissions have changed. Some will be higher, others are now lower, some impacts remain the same and some are no longer relevant. Briefing Note 3a provides full details.

• Normalisation Factors: Previously, impacts from construction products were compared to the impact of one UK citizen. In the 2008 methodology the impacts are compared to those of one European citizen.

• Weightings: A new weighting study was conducted using the opinions of environmental experts and this resulted in the production of a new set of weightings for the 13 environmental impacts presented in an Environmental Profile. Climate change remained the most important impact but the relative positions of other impacts has altered.

• Energy Model: A new energy model is in place, which offers a comprehensive picture of the impacts associated with energy generation.

• Whole life performance: New replacement rates have been applied.

• End-of-life and waste models: The latest data has been applied to create new models for the proportions of material sent to different routes: landfill, incineration, reuse or recycling.

• LCA Data: New inventory data has been gathered and applied. This means, for example, the impact of using Hydrochloric Acid may now be different because we have identified a better set of data about its’ manufacture.




A2.2.1 Life Cycle Stages

The Life Cycle Assessment methodology used to produce the BRE Global Environmental Profiles is covered in detail in the BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology (2008). However, the steps below provide a brief outline of the procedure followed when creating an Environmental Profile.

For cradle to gate assessments

1. BRE Global processes the data provided by manufacturers in the Environmental Profile Certification Scheme Data Collection Form to produce a list of inputs and outputs to the process for 1 tonne of product. This is a “gate to gate” assessment.

2. This data is then added to the upstream inputs and outputs associated with all the materials brought into the factory. In other words, they trace to the ‘cradle’. For example if a site buys cement, the impact of making cement is included. BRE Global already has data on many materials but if required, specific data is collected from other databases or manufacturers.

3. The environmental impacts associated with all the inputs and outputs are then calculated using standard LCA impact assessment procedures (known as “classification”, “characterisation” and “normalisation”). These are described briefly in the following section of this report and in more detail in the BRE Global Environmental Profiles Methodology.

For cradle to site assessments

In addition to steps 1-3:

4. The Environmental Profile product is assessed together with any other materials needed to produce 1 m2 of element, e.g. if the main product is a roof tile, then felt and battens will be added to make a full roof element.

5. This assessment covers impacts due to transport from the factory to the site and subsequent installation. The mass of the product per m² of element is then used in a typical specification to allow the environmental impact of the product to be reviewed in terms of 1 m² rather than 1 tonne. This allows the product to be compared with other products in a ‘like for like’ manner.




For cradle to grave assessments

In addition to steps 1-5:

BRE Global add data on the maintenance, replacement and end of life scenario of the product and other materials allowing the environmental impacts of the element to be calculated for a 60 year study period.

Table A2: Environmental Profiles Generated for Sand toft Resin Bonded Slates

Profile Type Life Cycle Stages Included Study Units Appendix

Cradle to Gate

Production stage (raw material supply, transport, manufacturing of products and all upstream processes from cradle to gate).

Per tonne 2

Cradle to Grave

As Cradle to Site, plus:

Use Stage: repair, replacement, maintenance and refurbishment including transport if any materials and disposal of waste over sixty year study period.

Demolition: is expected to occur any time at or after the end of the study period and is included within this Environmental Profile. It includes transport and disposal of waste.

Per m2 3 – 4




A2.2.2 Impact Categories

Climate Change CC100

What is it? The earth’s atmosphere absorbs some of the heat (infrared radiation) emitted from the sun, which causes the earth to heat up. This effect occurs naturally but has increased over the past few centuries; the average temperature of the earth’s surface has increased by 0.3 to 0.6 °C since the late 19th century. This is why the issue was called ‘Global Warming’ .The increased warming was put down to the effects of a group of gases (‘greenhouse gases’) that sit in the earth’s atmosphere and prevent the earth losing heat gained from the sun (“radiative forcing”). It has been realised that increases in temperature can result in weather extremes, eg droughts and floods, so the issue has become Climate Change.

Each greenhouse gas lasts for a different amount of time in the atmosphere. This is why Climate Change effects are calculated over a specific timescale. Three timescales are generally used: 20 years (for rapidly occurring effects), 100 years (enough time to address most atmospheric effects) or 500 years (enough time to cover effects on the oceans). 100 years is the most frequently used time period, and has been used to calculate Climate Change in this EPD. The Climate Change timescale is different from the lifetime of the product or function being studied.

Initial emphasis has been placed on the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to human activity, mainly through the burning of carbon containing fuels. The UK Government is committed to a legally binding, international target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. It has also committed to a domestic goal of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to 20% below the 1990 level by 2010. To achieve this, Government established a Climate Change Programme containing measures to ensure that the UK moves towards a more sustainable, lower carbon economy. One of these measures is the setting up of the Climate Change Levy, which is estimated to bring savings of at least 5 million tonnes of Carbon by 2010.

What causes it? (cause) CO2, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), halocarbons (including CFCs and perfluorocarbons, e.g. CF4, and hydrohalocarbons, e.g. HFCs & HCFCs).

Water vapour and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have an indirect effect because they increase the effects of some of the above gases.

The combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal & natural gas) is the biggest source of greenhouse gases.




What does it do? (effect) Raised global temperatures leading to desertification; rising sea levels; climatic disturbance, and spread in disease. Reference substance Carbon dioxide (CO2) eq. expressed over 100 years Equivalence factor kg of CO2 eq. (how much CO2 needed to give same effect over 100 years)

Water Extraction WE

What is it? The abstraction of water from rivers, reservoirs and aquifers can cause the depletion, and disruption or pollution of these water sources. What causes it? (cause) The abstraction of water for human consumption, manufacturing, and agriculture and horticulture. What does it do? (effect) Reduces the amount of resource available and can disrupt or pollute local aquatic ecosystems.

Reference substance m3 of water extracted Equivalence factor None

Minerals Resource Extraction ME

What is it? The extraction of metal ore and quarried materials from the earth. This impact category indicator is related to the extraction of virgin abiotic material e.g. extraction of aggregates, metal ores, minerals, earth etc. The extraction of such substances can mean that the natural carrying capacity of the earth is exceeded and make them unavailable for use by future generations. The indicator is based on the Total Material Requirement (TMR) indicators developed by the Wuppertal Institute, based on earlier work for the World Resources Institute. The indicators covering fossil fuel, biomass (mainly agricultural product) and soil erosion (only covered for agriculture, not forestry) are not included.




The indicator calculates the total resource use associated with any use of any non-energy, abiotic materials within the EU, wherever the resource use occurs. For example, for steel use, it traces back to tonnes of iron ore extraction wherever this occurs. The TMR indicator includes material that is extracted as a result of economic activities, but not used as input for production or consumption activities, for example it will include mining overburden. Excavated and dredged material is also included. What causes it? (cause) The extraction of minerals. What does it do? (effect) It measures the amount of resource used. Other environmental impacts which might be associated with mining or quarrying, or the relative scarcity of resources are not part of this impact category. Reference substance No reference substance is used it is measured in total mass (tonnes) extraction. Equivalence factor tonnes / kg extracted; or tonnes / tonne extracted

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion OD

What is it? The ozone layer is part of Earth’s upper atmosphere (stratosphere). Loss of ozone in this layer creates the ‘ozone hole’ and increases the intensity of the ultra violet (UV) part of sunlight.

Ozone is lost by its reaction with certain gases. The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 to address the production of man-made ozone depleting gases. CFC manufacture has been banned since 2000 and HCFCs will be phased out by 2015. The time table is:

• 1 Jan 2004 banned from new plant • 2010 banned as virgin refrigerant for maintenance use • 2015 banned as recycled refrigerant for maintenance use

What causes it? (cause) All halogenated compounds that last long enough to reach the stratosphere, particularly those containing chlorine and bromine, plus NOx. Major zone depletors include CFCs and HCFCs.

What does it do? (effect) Skin cancer, immune system damage, and damage to plants and crops.




Reference substance CFC-11 eq. Equivalence factor kg CFC-11 eq. (how much CFC11 needed to give same effect)

Human Toxicity (through air, soil and water) HT

What is it? The impact on human health from toxic substances. Toxicity can be either acute or chronic. This is an extremely complex area. The emission of some substances can have impacts on human health. Characterisation factors, expressed as Human Toxicity Potentials (HTP), are calculated using USES-LCA, as with Ecotoxicity, which describes fate, exposure and effects of toxic substances for an infinite time horizon. For both human and eco-toxicity measurements, the models are measured based on total emissions, and do not take into account the location or sensitivity of the ecosystem or organisms affected by the toxic release. Note: The impact of emissions relating to indoor air quality and their effect on human health are not covered by this category. What causes it? (cause) Heavy metals, VOCs, HFCs, CFCs, dioxins, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), PCBs, pesticides, herbicides amongst many other substances. What does it do? (effect) Asthma, cancer, and reduced fertility.

Reference substance 1,4-dichlorobenzene Equivalence factor kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene eq. (1,4-DB eq.)




Ecotoxicity to freshwater and land Ecotox.

What is it? The impact on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems from water-borne toxic substances. Toxicity can be either acute or chronic. This is an extremely complex area, which continues to develop. The emission of some substances can have impacts on ecosystems. Ecotoxicity potentials are calculated with a toxicity model, USES-LCA, which is based on EUSES, the EU’s toxicity model. This provides a method for describing fate, exposure and the effects of toxic substances on the environment. What causes it? (cause) Heavy metals, VOCs, HFCs, CFCs, dioxins, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), PCBs, pesticides, herbicides. What does it do? (effect) Acute and chronic toxicity in ecosystems.

Reference substance Characterisation factors are expressed using the reference unit, kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalents (1,4-DB)/kg emission, and are measured separately for impacts of toxic substances on:

• Fresh-water aquatic ecosystems • Terrestrial ecosystems

Equivalence factor kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene eq. (1,4-DB eq.)




Nuclear Waste NW

What is it? Radioactivity can cause serious damage to human health, and as yet, no treatment or permanently secure storage solution exists for higher level radioactive wastes, such as that generated by the nuclear power industry and from decommissioning nuclear power stations. Such wastes need to be stored for periods of 1,000 years or more before their radioactivity reaches safe levels.

It is measured in spent radioactive fuel of high and intermediate origin all of which:

• are highly radioactive, accounting in total for more than 99% of the radioactivity attributed to the nuclear industry;

• have no agreed form of permanent disposal anywhere in the world;

• require storage for at least 1,000 years before they may be safe.

What causes it? (cause) Energy supply from nuclear sources. What does it do? (effect) Radioactivity can cause serious damage to human health and represents a treatment and security risk.

Reference substance The characterisation factor for the category is measured in mm3 of spent fuel, high and intermediate level radioactive waste.

Equivalence factor None




Solid Waste SW

What is it? This category represents the environmental issues associated with the loss of resource implied by the final disposal of waste. Any waste that is disposed of in landfill or incinerated without energy recovery will be included.

Key points for this impact category are:

• reflects the loss of resource resulting from waste disposal (in contrast to recycling or reuse);

• does not include any other impacts associated with landfill or incineration – emissions from decomposition, burning and associated transport and other machinery are included in the relevant categories;

• the mass of waste is used as a proxy for the loss of resource;

• includes waste sent to incineration and landfill or any other form of final disposal (e.g. dumping on land or in the sea);

• does not differentiate between hazardous, non-hazardous, inert or organic wastes;

• different impacts from hazardous, non-hazardous etc will be;

• included within the waste treatment models (landfill, incineration and composting) for these wastes;

• where heat recovery, energy recovery or other material recovery (e.g. recovery/recycling of ash, metal residues etc) are undertaken as part of incineration or landfill, then value is used to calculate the loss of resource.

What causes it? (cause) The disposal of materials to landfill or incineration. What does it do? (effect) Limits land use opportunities; generates noise, dust and odour; causes emissions of gases (e.g. methane) and leachate, poses risk of underground fires etc.

Reference substance None Equivalence factor tonnes (mass of solid waste)




Fossil Fuel Depletion FFD

What is it? This impact category indicator is related to the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels provide a valuable source of energy and feedstock for materials such as plastics. Although there are alternatives, these are only able to replace a small proportion of our current use. Fossil fuels are a finite resource and their continued consumption will make them unavailable for use by future generations. What causes it? (cause) The consumption of fossil fuels (oil, coal & natural gas). What does it do? (effect) Represents the amount of fossil fuels (oil, coal & natural gas) lost from reserves.

Reference substance MJ LHV / kg Equivalence factor None

Eutrophication Eutroph.

What is it? Plants need nitrates and phosphates to grow. But some ecosystems are very sensitive to the amount of these nutrients (many plants need a low-nutrient environment). If the amount of nutrients becomes too high, eutrophication (over ‘nutrification’) occurs, and the ecosystem collapses. What causes it? (cause) The release of ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), phosphorous, phosphates (PO4) and nitrates (NO3) into air or water supplies. Agriculture is a large source of phosphate and nitrate release but NOx from fossil fuel combustion also contributes nitrates. Phosphorous also comes from sewage treatment plants What does it do? (effect) Causes algal blooms, which remove oxygen from the water and results in the death of aquatic plants and animals.

Reference substance Phosphate (PO4) Equivalence factor kg phosphate eq. (PO4 needed to cause the same effect)




Acidification (Acid Deposition) AD

What is it? An acid is a chemical that can produce hydrogen ions (H+, also called a ‘proton’) when it meets water. Hydrogen ions are highly reactive and can cause other substances to change their composition and their physical properties.

Acid Deposition occurs when acidic gases react with rain (‘acid rain’) or water in the soil.

What causes it? (cause)

Ammonia (NH3); nitrous oxides (NOx); and sulphur oxides (SOx).

Combustion of fossil fuels for electricity, heating, and transport is the major source. The acidification effect is greatest when the fuels contain sulphur. What does it do? (effect) Damage to forests, dead lakes, breakdown of materials, including stone and metals.

Reference substance Sulphur dioxide (SO2) eq. Equivalence factor kg SO2 eq. (how much SO2 needed to give same effect)

Photochemical Ozone Creation (Summer Smog) POCP

What is it? When ozone is created in the Earth’s lower atmosphere (troposphere), it can create smog. The creation of ozone happens when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react to sunlight (photo-oxidation). VOCs include solvents, diesel and petrol. The speed at which low level ozone creation happens is affected by the presence of nitrogen oxides (NOx). What causes it? (cause) VOCs under the influence of sunlight and the presence of NOx. Vehicle exhaust fumes contain VOCs, which react with NOx (both are often present in urban environments) to produce Summer Smog. Other sources include solvents. What does it do? (effect) Crop damage, and aggravates asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Reference substance Ethene (C2H4) Equivalence factor kg ethene eq. (how much C2H4 needed to cause the same impact)




A.2.3 Glossary allocation: sharing the input or output flows of a unit process to the product system under study. This may need to be done where a manufacturing process results in products and co-products, for example, steel and slag. boundary: line between a product system and the environment of other product systems. characterised profile: the amount of impact in each of the environmental impact categories. Many different emissions can contribute to each impact category. The different emissions in each category are converted into the amount of reference substance needed to give the same effect. Each category has its own reference substance, e.g. CO2 is the reference substance for Climate Change, and the amounts of any Green House gases in the Inventory Table are converted to the amount of CO2 needed to cause the same effect. The impact categories are in different units and the values cannot be compared. ecopoints: the normalised profile values are multiplied by weighting factors developed for each impact category and the results summed to give a single figure. embodied energy: the energy used in the production of a material - “total primary energy that has to be sequestered from a stock within the earth to produce a specific good or service”. environmental impact category: environmental issue being examined, e.g. Climate Change, Acidification and Human Toxicity. environmental profile: the level of impact in each environmental impact category for the functional unit or product being studied. functional unit: the materials needed to achieve the desired purpose (function). input: material or energy that enters a unit process (can include raw materials and intermediate products). intermediate products: material that has already been processed before being used to produce a product. inventory data: table of amounts of resources used, and products and emissions produced to achieve the product or function being studied. life cycle : consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system from raw material acquisition or generation of natural resources to the final disposal. life cycle assessment (LCA): compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. normalised profile: The characterised profile is referenced to the environmental impact for each category at the national or global level in one year (usually for 1 citizen), giving a ‘normalised’ profile; the values are directly comparable. primary energy: gross energy in the primary fuels extracted from resource stocks. “Stock within the earth” needs definition and is sometimes used to mean materials used for fuel that cannot be renewed, i.e. ‘fossil fuels’. output: material or energy that leaves a unit process (may include raw materials, intermediate products, products, emissions and waste). raw materials: unprocessed material that is used to produce a product. reference substance: substance that is used to calculate how much of this substance would be needed to give the same environmental impact as each of the many substance contributing to an environmental




impact category. For example, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the reference substance for Climate Change (CC100), so all the other gases contributing to Climate Change are converted into the amount of CO2 that would be needed to give the amount of Climate Change that each different gas would cause, e.g. 1 kg of methane causes 21 times as much Climate Change as CO2 (for the 100-year timeframe), so 1 kg methane is equivalent to 21 kg of CO2.




A.3 Linking Environmental Profiles to other Sustain able Construction Tools

EPDs are an important mechanism for manufactures to demonstrate the environmental performance of their products. They link to other assessment tools as described below.

A.3.1 BREEAM

Construction products are of course only one part of the sustainable construction story. BRE Global2 also manages and promotes the use of the most widely used whole building assessment tool in the UK, which has an international reputation as the leading tool of its type. This is BREEAM.

The BRE Global’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a voluntary scheme for the environmental labelling of buildings, developed by BRE Global with private sector partners and sponsors. The basis of the scheme is a certificate awarded to the individual buildings stating clearly – and in a way that can be made visible to clients and users alike – the performance of the building against a set of defined environmental criteria. BREEAM is now required for all Government office buildings3 – representing over 40% of construction in the UK. One of the aims of BREEAM is to encourage the use of materials that have lower impact on the environment, taking account of the full life cycle of the materials in question. Credits are awarded for selecting high performance specifications for key building elements using the Green Guide to Specification, for walls, floors, roofs and windows.

Manufacturers should actively promote their Ecopoint scores to registered BREEAM assessors and designers working on buildings which are to be assessed.

A.3.2 The Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes was launched in December 2006 by the CLG. The Code introduced a single national standard to be used in the design and construction of new homes in England, and is based on the EcoHomes scheme. Within the Code, credits are awarded for the used of materials with a low environmental impact which is measured using Green Guide ratings. The following five key elements are assessed under the code:

• Roof

• External Wall

• Internal Walls (including separating)

• Upper and Ground Floors (including separating)

• Windows.

2 More information on these tools can be found at www.bre.co.uk/sustainable 3 Office of Government Commerce. Sustainability Action Plan - achieving sustainability in construction procurement. www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/gccp




A.3.3 EcoHomes (For Scotland, Wales, Northern Irela nd and assessments registered in England Pre April 2007)

While the Code for Sustainable Homes has replaced EcoHomes in England, EcoHomes is still assessed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and for dwellings in England and Wales that were registered pre April 2007. EcoHomes is sponsored by the NHBC and is the homes version of BREEAM. It is a voluntary scheme for the environmental labelling of new and renovated homes. It rewards developers who improve environmental performance through good design. The Housing Corporation now requires an EcoHomes rating to award grants for social housing and several developers have committed to achieving the standard. EcoHomes includes credits for selecting high performance specifications for key building elements using the Green Guide to Housing Specification, for walls, floors, roofs and windows.

A.3.4 Summary of Elements applicable to each BREEAM Scheme

Table A3 below summaries the elemental categories which are applicable for credits in each BREEAM Scheme.

Table A3: BREEAM Schemes and Elemental Categories

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