INSULATION 49
operational life. It also considers end of life disposal, by looking at what happens to the product once it is no longer in use. A key element is evaluating their re-use and recycling potential and assessing their potential for recovery and re-use of materials.
This data is invaluable for architects and builders looking to minimise the carbon footprint of their projects. By selecting materials with lower environmental impacts, they can signifi cantly reduce overall emissions associated with construction. This whole life analysis enables specifi ers to understand the long-term implications of their material choices.
Environmental Product Declarations are therefore becoming increasingly important in the specifi cation of building materials as the construction industry shifts towards greater sustainability.
Standardisation of EPDs EPDs are developed according to international standards, including ISO 14025 and EN 15804. These standards ensure that the data presented in EPDs is reliable, consistent and comparable across different products and manufacturers. By assessing products based on these standards, EPDs provide a level of transparency that is critical for informed decision-making in the construction sector.
There are two main types of EPDs: product specifi c EPDs and industry-wide EPDs. Product specifi c EPDs focus on the environmental impact of a single product or a closely related group of products from one manufacturer. Industry-wide EPDs provide average environmental data for a category of products across multiple manufacturers, refl ecting the collective impact of an industry segment. Each type of EPD is useful in enabling architects and builders to choose the most relevant data for their projects.
Certifi cation schemes Many green building certifi cation systems, such as BREEAM and LEED, require the use of EPDs as part of their assessment criteria. By integrating EPDs into their material selection process, specifi ers can enhance their projects’ chances of achieving certifi cation; this is something which is increasingly important in today’s environmentally conscious market.
ADF JUNE 2025
Meeting carbon reduction targets With global initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, EPDs play a crucial role in helping the construction industry to meet these targets. By providing data on the carbon footprint of building materials, EPDs enable stakeholders to make choices that contribute to a low carbon or zero carbon build.
Sustainable construction When it comes to specifying insulation, EPDs are an excellent source of verifi ed information on environmental credentials. Some natural insulation products such as sustainable grass insulation and wood fi bre insulation have achieved EPDs. In addition, some airtightness and windtightness products including membranes, tapes and glue have recently secured EPD certifi cation for a wide range of its airtightness and windtightness products including membranes, tapes and glue.
As the construction industry moves further towards net zero, the demand for transparency in product sourcing and environmental impact is set to increase – and this is where natural building materials which have secured EPDs offer a compelling choice. With increasing numbers of architects specifying products with EPD certifi cation, there is an important move towards achieving higher sustainability standards.
Neil Turner is technical sales manager for Ecological Building Systems
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
As the construction industry moves further towards net zero, the demand for transparency in product sourcing and environmental impact is set to increase
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