As a minimum requirement for LCA-Modules, the LCA Data behind every material must meet the requirements provided by the German Sustainability Council (DGNB) for "Building life cycle assessment," including the following required modules:
A1-A3
C3
C4
D
Some older valid EPDs may not include information on the End-of-Life Modules C3, C4, and D, necessitating approximated End-of-Life scenarios based on the requirements defined by DGNB. Additionally, composite materials, such as windows, need to be assembled from different EPDs.
Data Accuracy and Selection Process
EPEA tries to supply information for the industry-average of materials within this dataset. The accuracy of this data depends largely on available information. We are generally considering only public EPD information mostly the ones available through Eco-Platform and select the most fitting information based on the following hierarchy:
.1If an industry-average EPD-dataset for the respective material is publicly available, this information is taken as a basis.
.2If no industry-average EPD-dataset is available, we try to find a fitting generic dataset.
.3If also no generic dataset is available, we try to find a dataset for a specific product that best represents the generic material.
.4If also no specific product EPD is available, we take information from a material that is similar in terms of material content, product type, and production process or try to find EPDs that are no longer valid.
Note: Options 3 and 4 are far from ideal, but this procedure represents the closest possible approximation based on the current state of available information.
Regional Context
EPEA is distinguishing material information for 6 different countries: The Netherlands, Germany, UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Belgium. The regional accuracy depends largely on available information. We are considering regional differences mostly based on the availability of public EPD information and selecting the most fitting information based on the following hierarchy:
.1If a fitting country-specific EPD dataset for the respective material is publicly available, this information is taken as a basis.
.2If no country-specific EPD dataset is available, we try to find a fitting EU-wide dataset.
.3If also no EU-wide dataset is available, we try to find a dataset for another country that is close to the respective country.
The same prioritization is taken into account when using other sources than EPDs for the determination of circularity properties.