The above picture shows Lisbjerg Genbrugsstation near Aarhus. Here, wherever possible, construction materials have been reused and the users of the recycling station are inspired to reuse more in their everyday lives. The project was nominated for the Betoninnovations Prisen 2023. All photos in this article are taken by photographer Torben Eskerod.
Dansk Beton has put climate and the environment on the agenda for several years. The concrete industry is an industry that leaves a clear climate footprint. LCA.no has collaborated with the development of EPD for Dansk Beton and their members. We have received an interview with Chief Consultant Jesper Ketelsen.
Dansk Beton is a trade organization for producers of concrete and concrete products under Dansk Industri Byggeri. The association aims to expand society’s knowledge of the application possibilities of concrete and create a common platform for the industry’s development.
The industry organization was formed on 15 January 2007 as a collaboration between Betonelement-Foreningen, Dansk Fabriksbetonforening and Dansk Beton Industriforening. The organization has close to 90 members.
How did the need for EPD and environmental documentation arise?
In 2020, Dansk Beton published a number of industry EPDs in order to be at the forefront of the market. At the same time, we developed an EPD tool according to EN 15804+A1. In 2022, we decided that there was a need for a tool that calculated according to the latest standard (EN 15804+A2). We noticed that there was a high demand for the latest standard. The old standard was about to expire.
How did the procurement process take place?
We chose to ask two suppliers of EPD tools for an offer for a tool, which was based on the European standard and PCR. It was important that this was tailored to the concrete industry in Denmark. We then assessed which offer was most beneficial for the association and its members.
Why did Dansk Beton choose LCA.no as a supplier?
The choice fell on LCA.no for several reasons: We examined the experiences of several users of the solution and received positive feedback. LCA.no’s primary performance is the EPD generator and the company’s full focus is on this task. In addition, LCA.no was able to deliver a thoroughly tested solution, which had worked for a number of years. I would also like to point out that we had a good dialogue with LCA.no in connection with the contract negotiations.
The picture shows National Park Center Thy Danmarks. The center fits beautifully into the North Sea’s windy landscape with a light, sand-coloured concrete and formwork system in a clean design. The project won the Insitu Prize 2023.
How has the new EPD tool changed the approach to product development within the concrete industry?
The users of the tool have created a sharper focus on using materials that have a specific EPD, so that generic data is not used which can often have a higher environmental footprint.
We have also experienced increasing competition. It has become a competitive parameter to deliver as “good” an EPD as possible.
Can you tell us more about how this tool was developed in collaboration with LCA.no and EPD Norway?
We chose from Dansk Beton to set up a steering group, which would follow the development of the tool, as well as provide relevant input. This group held meetings with LCA.no every two weeks. In addition, I was appointed as project manager from Dansk Beton with the primary focus of ensuring progress in the project.
We agreed on an ambitious schedule – which was mutually kept – which, among other things, was secured through a close collaboration with Jeroen Graafland and Natasa Balic in LCA.no.
We have not had direct correspondence with EPD Norway. They gave us some challenges during development, as they demanded that the art tool should use a Norwegian PCR, which makes more demands than the European one. After some dialogue via LCA.no, we have now arrived at a solution, so Dansk beton’s tool calculates according to the European PCR.
Fremtidens Gårdhave in Copenhagen combines rainwater solutions with a great, recreational courtyard, where they have used reclaimed concrete with 100 percent coarse recycled aggregate in a combination with reused cobblestones, pavement tiles and slate tiles. The project won the Betoninnovations Award 2023.
How does the EPD tool contribute to promoting the development of more sustainable concrete products?
We have also experienced increased competition, as it has now become a competitive parameter to be able to deliver as “good” an EPD as possible. So members are now optimizing their products using the tool.
There are now many businesses that use the tool as a natural tool to document their work in developing concrete products with a lower CO2 footprint.
How have member businesses reacted to the introduction of the new tool?
There is generally great satisfaction with the new tool. The tool is perceived as more intuitive and easy to use. On the other hand, the old tool had some features that the tool from LCA.no does not have. The old tool could, for example, be used to calculate the CO2 uptake from carbonation in the B1 phase.
How has Dansk Beton worked to increase EPD and LCA competence among its members?
Dansk Beton has been working with EPD since 2012. But what has really increased the competence of the members is the use of the tool and the interdisciplinary cooperation between the members. We have an EPD experience group for Dansk Beton’s members, which currently has 70 members. They meet at regular intervals and discuss challenges in the EPD work.
What future opportunities does Dansk Beton see for using the EPD tool in the concrete industry?
At Dansk Beton, we see the EPD tool as an indispensable tool in the future, where we expect that there will be demands to be able to deliver product- and project-specific EPDs for specific projects.
In addition, the tool provides opportunities to test different product compositions and thereby optimize the environmental footprint.
Do you have any tips for other associations or companies that want to start with EPD and environmental documentation?
Our recommendation is to start working with EPDs and LCA as soon as possible, as demand in the market is increasing.
When working on this, it is necessary to dedicate resources that can focus on the task, as it is extensive. It takes time, but as a bonus you get an insight into your own business and the company’s processes and can optimize with a view to producing more sustainably.
We thank Jesper for the interview and look forward to following Dansk Beton and the member companies in their important work on sustainability.