Calculating the carbon footprint of materials: What data do you need?

Construction materials footprint is dependent on several factors, and the more precise you are with the value of these factors, the more accurate the carbon calculation will be. In this article, ORIS takes a look at what data is needed to calculate the carbon footprint of construction materials using a life cycle assessment analysis

The first step in tackling today’s climate challenges is to measure a construction product’s environmental footprint, in particular its carbon footprint. Using a life cycle assessment (LCA) offers an in-depth analysis to target the most impactful factors on your construction materials footprint in order to take corrective action to reduce this footprint. 

What data is needed to calculate the carbon footprint of construction materials using an LCA analysis?

The LCA standard for construction products defines 36 environmental impacts, one of which is the global warming potential (GWP), expressed in kg of CO2 equivalent – commonly known as the carbon footprint. 

The LCA takes into account all the stages in the product’s life cycle, such as: 

• Extraction of raw materials
• Transport to the manufacturing site
• Manufacture of the product 
• Transport to the construction site
• Exploitation and maintenance
• End of life 

As a result, your construction materials footprint is dependent on several factors. The more precise you are with the value of these factors, the more accurate the carbon calculation will be. Main factors that are at play here:

• Energy consumption: how much energy do you consume? Do you use renewable energy sources? Do you use explosives?
• Raw materials: Which quantity of materials do you excavate? Share of recycled ones?
• Transportation: How aggregates are transported during your process?
• Manufacturing: What is the impact of your manufacturing process on your different aggregates?

Making carbon calculation of construction materials accessible to all players

Given the complexity and number of data that influence the final result of the carbon footprint calculation, ORIS Materials Intelligence has developed the ORIS CO2-calculator, a tool easy to use and scientifically robust.

Thanks to this tool following the recommendations of CIRAIG, a world leading LCA research center, and MIRO, the German aggregates association, you will receive a certificate within 3 days of submitting your data with the CO2-footprint of your products.

The results follow international norms ISO 14067, EN 15804 and ISO 21930 and are valid for 1 year.

Build in Digital Stakeholder ORIS is a construction materials platform for a smart use of resources and low impact infrastructure.

Image: Dillxr/Shutterstock

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