In brief

As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission is looking at the development of sustainable product and standards.

When it comes to the sustainability assessment of buildings and construction works, CEMBUREAU supports the use of whole-life assessment, at the building or construction work level.

CEMBUREAU is thus an active participant in the standardisation work of CEN/TC 350 “Sustainability of construction works”. The CEN/TC 350 set of standards includes methods for evaluating across the three pillars of sustainability, from the building or construction works level down to the level of construction products. CEMBUREAU believes that material neutrality is key and that policy should be based on a scientific approach by applying a full life cycle analysis based on correct methods and scientific data.

Our view

According to CEMBUREAU, the approach of EN 15804 is particularly adapted to the important peculiarities of the construction sector which sets the product category rules to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) with relevant environmental information for assessment at building level.

CEN/TC 51 “Cement & building limes” has updated the Product Category Rules (PCR) for EPDs for cement and building limes according to the revised EN 15804 +A2.

CEMBUREAU has developed European average Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), for three cement types, in accordance with EN 15804 in order to provide measurable and verifiable input for the environmental assessment of construction works:

• EPD for CEM I
• EPD for CEM II
• EPD for CEM III