Kingspan Insulated Panels advises to check the environmental credentials of a product before specification

In October 2006 the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change was published, painting a stark picture of how the continuing increase in greenhouse gas emissions will impact on everybody – not just in environmental terms, but also in economic ones. The review called strongly for proactive measures to be taken on an international scale, citing the carbon market as one of the key tools to achieve the desired result.

At the time the Stern Review was criticised by sceptics as being alarmist, but when the fourth report from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change was published in February this year, the findings of this highly respected and relatively cautious body clearly demonstrated that we are indeed now suffering the ill effects of manmade global warming and that things are likely to get much worse.

Clearly we are at a crucial point where the right action could tip the balance in favour of slowing down the damage and eventually reversing it, and the wrong action spells disaster. It is vital therefore, that when we think that we are specifying and constructing in an environmentally sustainable manner, that we are absolutely certain of the credentials of the products that are being used. So what are the indicators that a company’s claims go beyond mere greenwash?

In the construction industry there are a number of independently verified routes to proving a company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practice: In the first place, ISO 14001:2004 is a recognised international environmental standard designed to aid companies in the identification and assessment of their environmental impacts and legal obligations. This is done by implementing a programme of continuous environmental improvement through a series of objectives, targets and written procedures.

The next thing on the list is to take a look at the whole life cycle of the materials or products on offer. One of the best independent indicators of the environmental impact of a product over the lifetime of a construction is to have an Environmental Profile from the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

BRE utilises an Ecopoints system, which looks at cradle to grave data of the products under scrutiny, covering 12 different environmental impacts. A high score equates to a greater environmental impact, and the product or material is graded accordingly on a scale of A-C. The system is particularly valuable for both its breadth and its length, giving an accurate picture of the effects of a product and its impact insitu over its whole life cycle, from manufacture right through to end of life implications.

The resulting environmental profile then appears in both the Green Guide to Specification and in ENVEST2 – the environmental impact estimation tool which allows designers to assess the life-cycle environmental impact of building materials at the design stage.

The end of life issue is an important one – there are a lot of misconceptions around the idea of recyclability. Just because a product is recyclable does not meant that it will be recycled. Considerations of economic feasibility, transportation, health and safety issues and practicality all play a role in determining how a product will be disposed of at the end of its useful life.

Then there is the ultimate stamp of environmental approval: the distinctive Planet Positive symbol is associated with any product, process, project or company that has undergone the independently verified and rigorous process of carbon footprint assessment, then reduced it by 110%, having an overall positive impact on the planet.

In industrial and commercial situations, the target is ideally achieved through a combination of carbon footprint reduction through in house initiatives, supply chain reductions and as a final resort the purchase of carbon offsets. This demonstrates a strong commitment to physically reducing and managing emissions rather than just buying them off. The whole process is in recognition that carbon neutral, whilst good, is still not good enough to make the necessary cuts in carbon dioxide emissions and reverse the rapid changes affecting our planet.

Manufacturers themselves have a grave responsibility to constantly assess and improve their performance. It is not possible in the world of construction to claim total sustainability– everything has some environmental impact. The important thing is to be aware of the degree of impact and to seek genuine ways of reducing that, not simply to rely on offsetting.

In conclusion, when specifying a green product, make sure that it is the genuine article and that the manufacturers have shown their true colours rather than borrowed ones. Always look for independent verification of the claims that are abounding and don’t be taken in by greenwash.

Mark Harris is divisional building technology director at Kingspan insulated Panels.

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