equates to *2.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, excluding direct traffic
emissions (which add 20–25%) [2].
2 Challenges in Using LCAs and EPDs as a Standard
Assessment Method in Green Public Procurement
Even though LCA and EPD data is commonly used to quantify the potential
environmental impact of construction elements or construction works, reality shows
that in GPP, despite environmental considerations being implemented in a variety
of European Member States, this data is not used in order to come to conclusions
and make decisions related to product or supplier selection [3]. The presentations at
the session showed different challenges to different types of stakeholder groups.
2.1 Challenges for Industry
LCA is a time and resource intensive undertaking for industry, which requires
significant effort in gathering data, creating life cycle models in dedicated software
packages, appropriately interpreting the results, and reporting the information in an
understandable format. This means that for small and medium sized enterprises,
cost is often seen as a barrier to starting such studies [1]. As a result, those companies that have limited resources available cannot always justify the cost, and as a
result will not have LCA or EPD data available.
In addition, there are a number of challenges related to communicating LCA and
EPD information: some of the information must be specific to the product application and use, other data is relevant for different types of audiences (general public
versus architects or project developers). Unfortunately, even when only considering
the European Union, means of communication, as well as the different LCA and
EPD elements differ [1]. When publishing LCA and EPD data for a number of
different countries, there may be a need to generate multiple LCA reports or EPDs,
have them verified multiple times (in line with the countries’ requirements), and
often have them registered locally, each of which comes at a cost. Harmonisation of
results can therefore be seen as an absolute must when it comes to promoting the
consistent use of LCAs and EPDs [1].
2.2 Challenges for the Public Sector
No matter how it is approached, LCA is a complex topic that requires a certain skill
set to be able to interpret information generated by the study. So even if LCA and
EPD data was to be available for all products participating in a public tender, there
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K. Jelse and K. Peerens
emissions (which add 20–25%) [2].
2 Challenges in Using LCAs and EPDs as a Standard
Assessment Method in Green Public Procurement
Even though LCA and EPD data is commonly used to quantify the potential
environmental impact of construction elements or construction works, reality shows
that in GPP, despite environmental considerations being implemented in a variety
of European Member States, this data is not used in order to come to conclusions
and make decisions related to product or supplier selection [3]. The presentations at
the session showed different challenges to different types of stakeholder groups.
2.1 Challenges for Industry
LCA is a time and resource intensive undertaking for industry, which requires
significant effort in gathering data, creating life cycle models in dedicated software
packages, appropriately interpreting the results, and reporting the information in an
understandable format. This means that for small and medium sized enterprises,
cost is often seen as a barrier to starting such studies [1]. As a result, those companies that have limited resources available cannot always justify the cost, and as a
result will not have LCA or EPD data available.
In addition, there are a number of challenges related to communicating LCA and
EPD information: some of the information must be specific to the product application and use, other data is relevant for different types of audiences (general public
versus architects or project developers). Unfortunately, even when only considering
the European Union, means of communication, as well as the different LCA and
EPD elements differ [1]. When publishing LCA and EPD data for a number of
different countries, there may be a need to generate multiple LCA reports or EPDs,
have them verified multiple times (in line with the countries’ requirements), and
often have them registered locally, each of which comes at a cost. Harmonisation of
results can therefore be seen as an absolute must when it comes to promoting the
consistent use of LCAs and EPDs [1].
2.2 Challenges for the Public Sector
No matter how it is approached, LCA is a complex topic that requires a certain skill
set to be able to interpret information generated by the study. So even if LCA and
EPD data was to be available for all products participating in a public tender, there
500
K. Jelse and K. Peerens