Cement, concrete, steel, insulation, plastics, packaging, textiles, food, ceramics and glass. Each sector has its own functional unit, its own allocation trap and its own PCR — this is where the general rules get concrete.
18 articles
Aggregate is one of the lowest-carbon construction materials per tonne, yet its volume makes it visible in a building's balance. An aggregate EPD is prepared with a 1 tonne declared unit; diesel, electricity and transport distance set the result.
Read moreAn insulation EPD follows the EN 16783 PCR: the declared unit is the quantity of 1 m² of product that provides 1 m²K/W of thermal resistance. Hotspots of glass wool, stone wool and EPS, the A1–A3 order of magnitude and verifier pitfalls.
Read moreA concrete EPD is prepared under EN 15804+A2 with the complementary PCR EN 16757: a 1 m³ declared unit, a mix per strength class, the cement EPD as an input, B1 carbonation and C/D scenarios.
Read moreIn electronics, impact concentrates in the component with the highest impact per gram. Semiconductor fabrication, critical raw material scarcity and the value of extending life.
Read moreIn chemical products, impact can concentrate in components that are small by mass. Formulation precision, solvent choice and area covered as the functional unit.
Read moreA paper mill is both a large energy consumer and a potential energy producer. Kraft, recovered fibre and the black liquor balance.
Read moreThe claim that timber is 'carbon negative' has to survive proper accounting. When stored carbon may be counted, and what happens at end-of-life.
Read moreAluminium's footprint depends almost entirely on the electricity source. Electrolysis, anode-effect PFCs and what production from scrap changes.
Read moreThe single strongest lever in glass is cullet ratio. Melting energy, soda ash process emissions and what weight costs in transport.
Read moreOne line decides ceramic impact: the kiln. What glazing, drying and thin-body technology actually do to the total.
Read moreMost food impact is created in the field, and it is the hardest part to measure. N₂O emissions, land use change and allocation across joint outputs like milk and meat.
Read moreMost textile impact concentrates in fibre production and wet processing. The use stage, the water footprint and the data obligation the DPP will bring.
Read moreIn packaging the functional unit is not 'one box' but the amount of product protected. The trade-off between light-weighting, recycled content and food waste.
Read moreCement makes up 75-90% of concrete GWP. Mix-design optimisation, strength-class choice, B1 carbonation credit and EN 16757 PCR.
Read moreGWP differs 2-3× between blast-furnace-basic-oxygen and electric-arc-furnace routes. Scrap rate, grid mix and the Module D recycle credit.
Read moreBio-based plastics are not always lower carbon. For PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS, the source choice affects GWP, water and land-use differently.
Read moreClinker accounts for 85-95% of cement GWP. CEM types, SCM (fly ash, slag, limestone) effect, and CCUS scenarios.
Read moreInsulation LCA must tie the functional unit to thermal performance. The relationship between λ, RC, U-value and the B6 benefit debate.
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