In the quest for more sustainable products, measuring and mitigating the environmental impact of goods or services has emerged as a main priority. In the construction market, it has become a requirement in many tenders and the Global Warming Potential of construction products is expected to become a regulatory requirement in the EU from 2027 in product characteristics.
The use of tools like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) has been a standard method for communicating environmental footprints. EPDs, rooted in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles and adhering to standards like EN 15804, offer a comprehensive view of a product's environmental impact. However, the process involves a meticulous evaluation of 36 impacts* across various categories - including the destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer, the acidification of water and soil, the formation of photochemical oxidants and the depletion of fossil energy resources and mineral resources - making it time-consuming and costly.
In the case of aggregates, as EPD are used as input values to build the EPD of more complex products in which aggregates are incorporated into, producers who don’t want to invest in an EPD are assigned a standard value based on generalized average data from databases. This may not accurately reflect real-world scenarios, and may put the producer at a disadvantage compared with a competitor who knows the exact carbon footprint of its products.
ORIS Materials Intelligence has developed a digital, user-friendly solution that simplifies the calculation of an aggregate product's CO2 footprint. The CO2 calculator uses a scientifically robust approach that considers the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of aggregates. The calculation process employs the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. This approach systematically analyzes the GHG impact across all stages of a product's life cycle, encompassing extraction, manufacturing, transportation, utilization, and disposal or recycling.
Users can input data across various sections, spanning energy consumption, material quantities, transportation phases, among others, to receive a comprehensive certificate within one week. The CO2 calculator offers a smooth and autonomous journey in the data collection process, enabling users to plan and manage their CO2 calculations across the year and their production plants, with quick results. Furthermore, its innovative feature of tailoring the results depending on the aggregate process path and size enables it to have a more precise footprint per product.
The certificate, valid for a year, is supported by an in-depth background calculation report outlining the methodology and values utilized for the assessment. The CO2 calculator ensures reliability and credibility in its measuring process. Moreover, it paves the way for devising effective strategies to mitigate aggregates' carbon footprint.
The CO2 calculator developed by ORIS specifically targets aggregate products like sand, gravel, and rocks. It was developed in collaboration and following the recommendations of CIRAIG, a prominent international LCA research organization, and MIRO, the German aggregates association.
As the focus on sustainability intensifies, the accessibility and efficiency of tools like the ORIS CO2 calculator for aggregates pave the way for more informed decision-making and proactive measures in reducing carbon footprints across the construction industry.
*in EN 15804