The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is one of the impact categories for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a scientific method used to analyse the impacts of goods and services through their entire life cycle. In the construction sector, this method is used to develop Environmental Products Declarations (EPDs), the “building blocks” on which full assessments at building and infrastructure level are performed.

To conduct  in-depth independent research into the methodology used to assess the GWP of biobased materials, the consortium hired the consultancy and engineering firms LBP|SIGHT and Royal HaskoningDHV. The research focuses on biobased materials used in the construction sector and will identify differences in methodology and assumptions, compared to other construction products. Results are expected in Q1 of 2022.

Dirk-Jan Simons, senior consultant sustainability and environment at LBP|SIGHT: “It is of great importance for the whole building products industry and the construction sector as a whole, that we perform an independent study based on scientific principles, in order to achieve objective rules for a comparative evaluation at building level.”

About the construction products consortium

The consortium is a collaboration between European and global key players in the field of construction products: the European Concrete Platform (ECP) (composed of the Federation of the European Precast Concrete Industry (BIBM), the European Cement Association (CEMBUREAU), the European Federation of Concrete Admixtures Associations (EFCA) and the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization (ERMCO),  µthe European Ceramic Industry Association (Cerame-Unie), the European Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Association (EAACA), the European Calcium Silicate Unit Producers Association (ECSPA), the European Mortar Industry Organisation (EMO), and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA).

The research is being conducted by LBP|SIGHT | Royal HaskoningDHV