The Value of EPDs in Construction

Overseen and administered in Australia and New Zealand by EPD Australasia, a not-for-profit joint venture of the Life Cycle Association of New Zealand (LCANZ) and the Australian Life Cycle Society (ALCAS), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are – “independently verified and registered document that communicate transparent and comparable data and other relevant environmental information about the life-cycle environmental impact of products.”

They demonstrate, in other words, the commitment of manufacturers to environmental sustainability.

Businesses and industry associations have found EPDs very useful for a number of applications, including, explaining aspects of production, distribution, usage or end-of-life options (recycling and disposal) that are commonly misunderstood by the market.

Titled ‘The Value of EPDs in Construction’ this session of CPD Live provides a broad outline of the use Environmental Product Declarations in Australia. Beginning by outlining the processes involved in awarding EPDs, our speakers will go on to explain what they say about the products that carry them and what specifiers stand to gain by seeking out such products.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Explain what Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are
• Outline the relationship between a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and an EPD
• Identify the organisation that administers EPDs in Australia and New Zealand
• Outline the benefits, for specifiers, of seeking out products that carry EPDs

(PROJECT INITIATION AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PC35, DETAILED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION PC39, DETAILED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION PC45)

Speakers

Harry Fine, General Manager, Innovation & Technical, for CSR Building Products

Harry is General Manager, Innovation & Technical, for CSR Building Products, leading the team creating and delivering technical solutions to CSR’s customers.  He also is responsible for driving CSR’s Sustainability agenda in developing innovative sustainable solutions for the market needs of the future, and coordinating the LCA and EPD process across CSR’s brands.  He has extensive experience across a variety of chemical, industrial and manufacturing sectors, combining an engineer’s analytical solution focus with a passion for customer-driven innovation.

Stephanie Lau, Sustainability Communications Manager, Edge Impact

Stephanie is a Sustainability Communications Manager at Edge Impact. For the past 12 years, Stephanie has grown her career in strategic communications and brand marketing across travel & hospitality, technology, fashion and FMCG. Having been a part of PR and creative agencies, as well as start-ups and multinationals based out of Australia, Hong Kong and the Netherlands, she brings a holistic, multi-faceted approach to storytelling.

Pasindu Samarakkody, Managing Consultant, Edge Impact

 Pasindu is a Managing Consultant at Edge Impact, working within the Circular Economy and Lifecycle Thinking team. With a background in engineering and materials science, and diverse experience across many industry sectors, Pasindu brings his technical know-how and industry insights to lifecycle assessments (LCA) and environmental product declarations (EPD). One of his latest engagements has been the development of EPDs across CSR’s brands.