Abstract

The paper discusses the possible use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in European and Italian Green Public Procurement (GPP) for the building sector, in order to define targets based on objective and reliable building environmental impacts information. The research objective is to define how to set LCA benchmarks towards the improvement of GPP requirements. The study analyses the GPP criteria based on LCA in Europe with a focus on Italy; it proposes LCA benchmarks for selected groups of construction materials and scenarios for the implementation of LCA benchmarks related to buildings elements and whole-buildings. It also illustrates how public administrations can verify the GPP criteria achievement using EPDs.

Highlights

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) practice is increasing in the construction sector to evaluate the environmental sustainability of buildings

  • Considering the lack of a common framework for setting environmental sustainable targets for the construction sector, the present study aims at presenting a new benchmarking approach, fixing LCA-based benchmark “code of practice” for construction materials, building elements and whole-building

  • LCA benchmark values can improve European and Italian Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria required for the construction sector, and it can support stakeholders with sustainable construction strategies and improvement of buildings environmental performances

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Summary

Introduction

LCA benchmark values can improve European and Italian Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria required for the construction sector, and it can support stakeholders with sustainable construction strategies and improvement of buildings environmental performances. It could support the GPP verification process made by public administrations. LCA-based criteria are required in the optional EU-GPP for “Office Building Design, Construction and Management” [6], including the environmental evaluation of impacts during all the stages of the buildings life cycle (production of materials and elements, construction, use stage and end of life), promoting the application of a cradle-to-grave LCA. With the LCA benchmarks insertion in CAMs, the EPDs could become simple verification instruments for public administrations

LCA Benchmarks for Construction Products
LCA Benchmarks for Building Elements and Whole-Building
Findings
Conclusions

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