Aggregate
Industries has partnered with BASF Construction Chemicals to create a suite of
Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to provide clients with detailed
information on the environmental impact of its ready-mixed concrete, and
encourage the implementation of sustainable solutions.
Sustainability and
the reduction of environmental impact are core issues within the construction
industry.
This is seen as
producers and contractors alike are increasingly being expected to preserve
natural resources while continuing to produce quality products, and are
therefore searching for construction methods, practices, and products that will
promote these objectives.
Cementing its
position as a leading provider of sustainable solutions, Aggregate Industries
has launched three EPD for specialist ready-mixed concrete products: Agilia ,
Watertight and Diamondcrete.
The EPD, published
by the Institut Bauen und Umwelt (IBU), are based on life cycle assessment
(LCA) calculations using BASF’s life cycle analysis tool that allows Aggregate
Industries / BASF to quantify the environmental impact of specialist and
conventional concrete mix designs and compare the eco-efficiency of different
concrete mixes.
Called the Life
Cycle Analyzer, the tool was developed by BASF Construction Chemicals to enable
concrete producers and specifiers to demonstrate compliance in line with the
European Standard BS EN 15804:2012
Sustainability of construction works – Environmental product declarations –
Core rules for the product category of construction products. The
standard defines the structure for construction product EPD and outlines how
the data used is verified.
Using this unique
tool enables Aggregate Industries to calculate indicators such as global
warming potential (CO2), renewable energy consumption, acidification potential
and the cost impact of different concrete mix designs. The calculation includes
an assessment of the production stage only (cradle-to-gate) or a full
life-cycle assessment of concrete (cradle-to-grave). The latter includes
production, transportation to site, maintenance (potential painting and
cleaning) and (potential) replacement cycles, end-of-life and (potential)
recycling / recovery options. These stages are demonstrated according to the
system boundaries of EN 15804.
A major advantage
of the Life Cycle Analyzer is that the
tool can be used to assess the environmental parameters for different concretes
in order to optimize processes and mix designs, without compromising on
concrete quality. The development of the tool is significant because
concrete is the most commonly used man-made construction material.
Using the tool,
Aggregate Industries will be able to vary concrete mix designs and
simultaneously compare the impacts of using different constituent materials on
both the environment and costs. The tool also supports Aggregate Industries in
improving process efficiency, energy and resource saving and fulfilling
enhanced quality specifications.
Once the optimum
mix has been selected the tool enables users to produce a and EPD that will
provide the basis for input to green building rating systems such as BREEAM.
Donna Hunt, Head
of Sustainability at Aggregate Industries said: “With our products found in
houses, buildings, roads, railways, ports, power stations and much more we are
committed to making a positive contribution to the built environment now and
for future generations.
"We exhibit
leadership in our sector by developing and launching innovative products and
services, providing our clients with sustainable solutions to a wide range of
issues such as resource consumption and reuse, transportation, water
management, climate change and carbon management.
"Aggregate
Industries was the first construction materials company in the world to achieve
BRE BES 6001, and by also providing third party verified EPD that are specific
to our products we are enabling our clients to make sustainable design and purchasing
decisions.“
