In order to communicate reliable environmental data to the building sector, the European Aluminium Association developed its Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) program for aluminium building products in line with the international standards.
“Environmental Product Declaration tools are the most comprehensive and transparent type of environmental information. To ensure quality control both the aluminium industry tool and the life cycle data has been externally verified by Five Winds International.”
(Dr. Christian Leroy, European Aluminium Association)
An EPD is the most comprehensive and transparent type of environmental information, designed for business-to-business communication. It takes into account the whole product life cycle and computes environmental data in a “cradle to grave” approach in order to calculate a set of internationally recognized indicators, such as “use of primary energy”, “greenhouse gas emission” or “water consumption”.
The rules
The EAA EPD program addresses “Products for building applications where Aluminium contributes significantly to the product’s performance characteristics“. This EPD program has been developed in accordance with the following international standards:
- ISO 21930:2007 Sustainability in building construction – Environmental declaration of building products
- ISO 14025:2006 Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations – Principles and procedures
- ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework
- ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines