Integrating LCA data and expertise into sustainable product development

Abstract

Environmental consciousness is growing amongst companies in the construction industry. Often these companies are performing Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for their Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to convey impact data of their products to their customers. The LCA studies also reveal insights regarding the distribution of the impacts within the companies, offering a prime opportunity for sustainable product development. Despite the acquired LCA expertise it appears difficult to capitalize this potential. Therefore, this paper will explore the integration of LCA and EPD data and company expertise into company specific guidelines for sustainable product development.The aim of the case study at Aalberts Integrated Piping Systems, a supplier of valve, connection and fastening technology, was to support decision-making by outlining considerations and simplified LCAs for comparing options during product development. Additionally, a more general framework was developed to assist sustainability managers in other companies in tailoring design guidelines to their contexts.By adopting this framework, LCA data and expertise seamlessly integrate into product development, aligning with the existing product development process for easy adoption within the company. The framework’s systematic approach ensures no vital aspects are overlooked. Its adaptability to businesses with varied sustainability knowledge ensures a broad range of potential users.