Tackling recycling aspects in en15804

Author(s): C. Leroy, J.-S. Thomas, N. Avery, J. Bollen and L. Tikana
Paper category: symposium
Book title: International Symposium on Life Cycle Assessment and Construction – Civil engineering and buildings
Editor(s): A. Ventura and C. de la Roche
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-127-8
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-128-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 248 – 255
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: With the current political focus on resource efficiency, the proper consideration of recycling aspects in LCA is becoming increasingly important. In this respect, two contrasting approaches are generally used: the recycled content approach [100:0] and the end of life recycling approach [0:100]. This allocation issue for recycling has been already largely discussed in numerous papers demonstrating the impossibility to make a fully objective and justified choice. Similarly, while ISO standards and ILCD handbook recommend using the end-of-life recycling approach, at least for metal products, the French Standard NFP01 -010 applies a cut-off rule at the end-of-life stage which leads to the recycled content approach. During the development of the EN15804 standard, which defines the core rules for the product category of construction products, it was initially proposed to use this cut-off rule at the end-of-life stage. However, in order to reach consensus and bring EN15804 more into line with ISO standards, a complementary independent module reporting environmental aspects of the net flow of secondary materials and secondary fuels leaving the product system have been added. Whilst this module quantifies the net benefits of the end of life recycling of metal products, it also provides a unique opportunity for acknowledging the “design for recycling” concept, and for selecting environmentally sound end-of-life scenarios and strategies for building products.

Online publication: 2012
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00