An introduction to Environmental Profiles

More and more manufacturers now claim their products have low environmental impact. But with 'low impact' so open to misinterpretation and abuse, how do you differentiate your offering from your competitors? Through environmental profile certification.

Environmental Profiles are a standardised method of identifying and assessing the environmental effects of building materials over their lifecycle – that is their extraction, processing, use, maintenance and eventual disposal. Associated certification schemes provide ongoing independent, third party assessment and certification of materials and products, based on their environmental performance.

Environmental Profiles allow designers to demand – and get – reliable and comparable environmental information about competing building materials, while providing suppliers with the opportunity to present credible environmental information about their products. Designers can have confidence that Environmental Profiles for each material type present a 'level playing field'.

The scheme was launched in 2001 using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). An updated methodology was introduced in 2008. Both BRE and the British Board of Agrément (BBA) offer an ongoing independent assessment and certification service. Certified Environmental Profiles are reviewed and verified on an annual basis to ensure that information is still valid and up to date, and are recalculated every three years.

Today, manufacturers can use Environmental Profiles to obtain a Green Guide rating or add their product to ENVEST2, the software tool that allows designers to gauge the lifetime environmental impact of building materials at the inception stage. The same criteria are used in the compilation of ribaproductselector.com's Green applications, resources; sustainability section. This contains products with relatively low overall low environmental impact or of natural (organic) origin or products which can be assessed against strict criteria to determine their environmental impact.

Environmental Profiles can be created for construction materials, products and building systems and are presented at discrete life cycle stages. Reporting is commonly made on a unit mass (1 tonne of brick) or area (1m² of floor finishing) basis. Manufacturers can publish any or all profile models based on:

• Cradle to factory gate
• Factory gate to factory gate
• Cradle to construction site
• Cradle to end of life.

The certification scheme focuses on materials and construction products with significant environmental impact and those for which credits are available in BREEAM, EcoHomes and the Code for Sustainable Homes. It currently excludes finishes, fittings, services and minor elements e.g. finishes (paints, wallpapers); fittings (shower trays, taps); services (air conditioning units, plumbing and wiring); and minor elements such as doors and stairways.

 

More information on Environmental Profiles is available from BRE.

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