BRE is about to launch BRE LINA (On-Line LCA Tool) at an event on 23rd June at Watford. There has been a steady growth in the number of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for construction products over the past five years but what industry needs is a quick and simple way to carry out the analysis to a credible system BRE LINA can be the change agent not simply because it is a pre-verified (to EN 15804) tool that can generate LCA results (which can then be verified by BRE) but because it empowers the organisation.
Recent changes to ISO 14001 saw (amongst other things) a stronger emphasis on Life Cycle Perspective. This does not mean that an organisation has to conduct a LCA but the thought process needs to be in place in a way that can be demonstrated. An organisation may have looked at particular aspects of the life cycle in isolation but this tool will present the whole range of impacts over the entire life cycle if specified; thereby allowing hotspots to be identified quicker and improvement made.
One of the unique advantages of BRE LINA is that a business can ‘perform as many ad hoc assessments (unverified) as they need to without additional cost. This not only builds better understanding of the results and the process but it simultaneously strengthens organisational knowledge without the need for external support.
EPD information will also be incorporated into a BIM object (a future blog as we are currently working this through). In order for these mechanisms to generate better value we simply need to increase the proliferation of EPD in the market.
BRE has a significant role and responsibility to support this trajectory for industry. There are ongoing debates relating to datasets and aspects of mutual recognition which should not distract from the huge opportunity for construction products to yet again show leadership in the built environment.
BRE is hosting an event ‘EPD: Leadership and Marketplace Drivers’ on 23rd June. Delegates will hear from EPD advocates including ARUP, Skanska & our headline sponsor Travis Perkins. There will also be an opportunity to see BRE LINA in action and debate the future of EPD. Visit www.bre.co.uk/epdevent to book your place now. As a BRE Buzz reader please use the code EPDVIP to get a free delegate place.