Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Life Cycle Assessment of Leca products. Summary of results and experiences Cecilia Askham Nyland STØ

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ What have we done (STØ/ LI)?

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Increased understanding and use of LCA methods and approaches

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Teaching and learning processes resulting in real progress! Questions like: - Why is the whole life cycle important? - What is a functional unit? Have moved on to: - How does our product perform in relation to competitors’? - What happens to our product’s environmental profile if a different cement is used? - What happens if we switch from coal to gas in our production?

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ The first set of questions, about LCA methodology, have been answered by working through case studies with STØ and the LCA Basics course in the Applications catalogue. This is a great tool to use to teach other employees and enable them to gain the same understanding of LCA and its uses - just as the project participants have. Simulations and cases in the applications catalogue also illustrate the importance of understanding and using the methodology correctly. LCA methodology

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Product Development The LCA studies performed, whether cradle-to-gate or cradle- to-grave, have highlighted areas of concern and potential areas for improvement. LCA helps us to see what environmental improvements are important and why. Examples shown in the Applications Catalogue ‘Cradle-to-gate’: Fossil fuel use, simulations - potential improvement when different energy carriers are used (e.g. coal  gas). ‘Cradle-to-grave’: Cement substitution. Improvement for application from switching to a slightly less energy intensive cement (CEM I  CEM III).

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ The energy consumption for heating a 90 m 2 basement compared to the energy consumption required to produce building materials for the basement wall.

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Changing to a solution with better insulation properties (Leca Iso-blocks).

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Is it possible as a producer in an early stage in the value chain to effect decisions in the user phase? –EPD methodology makes a clear distinction between production of a product and the use of it - In what way could this be solved? –Too much focus on material choice (very often aspects in the user phase which are most vital)? –How could the information from the user phase be used in product development to improve not only the “building material” itself but the total construction? How to focusing upon the most important environmental aspects regarding complex building constructions? –producers are not always in dialogue with decision makers - need for communication tools with respect to “educate” for utilising the product/system correctly

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Strategy LCA work has provided the ‘Environmental quality’ information needed for strategic decisions. Recycled raw materials example (Simulation)

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Communication, Marketing and Sales LCA methodology and results can be used to document and communicate a product’s environmental performance. The LCA work in the LIEP has enabled us all to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of products examined and use this knowledge for improvement and also to communicate and market the life cycle strengths of LWA products. Environmental Product Declarations!

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ EPD example Can be used in Sales and Marketing to enable the buyer to compare LWA products with competitors’ products. A big head start for Leca International companies.

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Comparison with competitors’ products. Although this is not something that can be published without the participation of competitors within the project (ISO) comparisons were made using knowledge about competitors’ products. (Simulations, Applications Catalogue) These increased understanding of the challenges ahead when EPDs for different products become available. We now know more about weaknesses LWA products can have when compared to others, but also about strengths and how to improve!

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Applications Catalogue - Your Resource!

Institute for Environmental Protection  STØ Conclusions LCA is the basis for a lot of the further work in the LIEP; LCA enables us to see the whole life cycle in perspective and focus on the most important aspects (from problems to solutions); The tools for teaching/use of these methods are now available for use!