national repositories, it was checked that the EPDs were compliant with the
European standard EN 15804:2012 “Sustainability of construction works”, and that
they have mutual recognition between the Product Category Rules (PCRs).
Ten environmental impacts categories were considered: GWP, Ozone Depletion
Potential (ODP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP),
Photochemical Ozone Creation (POCP), Abiotic Depletion Potential for Non-fossil
resources (ADNP), Abiotic Depletion Potential for fossil resources (ADP0), Total
use of Renewable Primary Energy resources (PERT), Total use of Non-Renewable
Primary Energy resources (PENRT), and the consumption of Fresh Water (FW).
The method applied to set LCA-based benchmarks was a statistical analysis and
interpretation of LCA data collected. It allows verification of wrong data (the
outliers) and the assessment of the reliability of final results. For each material
category and for each environmental impact category, three benchmark values have
been set up: the limit value, the reference value and target value. The reference
value represents the median value, which is not sensitive to the outliers in a sample
composed of a small number of data. The target and the limit value are set using the
quartile division of LCA data: the target value is fixed by the 1° quartile, which
indicates a value of 25% lower than the median value (it represents the best
manufacturing practice); the limit value is fixed by the 3° quartile, which represents
a value of 25% higher than the median value (the lowest acceptable value in the
evaluation scale).
In Table 2, the benchmarks fix the limit, the reference and the target values of
GWP, AP, PENRT and FW.
In Table 2, the negative GWP value observed for wooden products is due to the
CO 2 stored in the products, which is released into the atmosphere at the end of use
stage. The LCA benchmarks presented in the study are European benchmark values, the LCA benchmarks could be divided and analysed per country, extrapolating
single threshold values for each Nation (Fig. 1).
The three LCA-based benchmarks (limit, reference and target values) fix a
sustainable range of values for each material group, so the public administration
could decide which is the better sustainable level to apply in the public tender
requirements. They can then check the GPP criteria achievement, verifying if the
LCA data of specific building products (certified with EPD labels) fall into the
LCA-based benchmark range.
The LCA benchmarks are based on a limited number of data due to the lack of
EPDs and LCA-based data available on the market, despite the number of information published is increasing.
508
S. Ganassali et al.
European standard EN 15804:2012 “Sustainability of construction works”, and that
they have mutual recognition between the Product Category Rules (PCRs).
Ten environmental impacts categories were considered: GWP, Ozone Depletion
Potential (ODP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP),
Photochemical Ozone Creation (POCP), Abiotic Depletion Potential for Non-fossil
resources (ADNP), Abiotic Depletion Potential for fossil resources (ADP0), Total
use of Renewable Primary Energy resources (PERT), Total use of Non-Renewable
Primary Energy resources (PENRT), and the consumption of Fresh Water (FW).
The method applied to set LCA-based benchmarks was a statistical analysis and
interpretation of LCA data collected. It allows verification of wrong data (the
outliers) and the assessment of the reliability of final results. For each material
category and for each environmental impact category, three benchmark values have
been set up: the limit value, the reference value and target value. The reference
value represents the median value, which is not sensitive to the outliers in a sample
composed of a small number of data. The target and the limit value are set using the
quartile division of LCA data: the target value is fixed by the 1° quartile, which
indicates a value of 25% lower than the median value (it represents the best
manufacturing practice); the limit value is fixed by the 3° quartile, which represents
a value of 25% higher than the median value (the lowest acceptable value in the
evaluation scale).
In Table 2, the benchmarks fix the limit, the reference and the target values of
GWP, AP, PENRT and FW.
In Table 2, the negative GWP value observed for wooden products is due to the
CO 2 stored in the products, which is released into the atmosphere at the end of use
stage. The LCA benchmarks presented in the study are European benchmark values, the LCA benchmarks could be divided and analysed per country, extrapolating
single threshold values for each Nation (Fig. 1).
The three LCA-based benchmarks (limit, reference and target values) fix a
sustainable range of values for each material group, so the public administration
could decide which is the better sustainable level to apply in the public tender
requirements. They can then check the GPP criteria achievement, verifying if the
LCA data of specific building products (certified with EPD labels) fall into the
LCA-based benchmark range.
The LCA benchmarks are based on a limited number of data due to the lack of
EPDs and LCA-based data available on the market, despite the number of information published is increasing.
508
S. Ganassali et al.