Methods and systems for the ecological evaluation of building products

There is a vast array of products to choose from in the building industry. They fulfil a hugely varied range of technical and aesthetic requirements, but also influence the service life of a building and have an impact on people and the environment. Ratings are necessary for safe decisions on sustainable construction and renovation.

Standardised assessments include lifecycle assessments, ecolabels, environmental product declarations (EPD) and building certifications. Lifecycle assessments describe a “cradle to grave” analysis of a product's environmental impact. Ecolabels are predominantly used to inform end consumers. EPDs are used for B2B communication and, strictly speaking, do not feature ratings. The use of building products is appraised using building certifications.