Full Transparency in Product Declaration

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Transcript Full Transparency in Product Declaration

Northwest Region CSI

S508

Full Transparency in Product Declarations

#K1307B

Casey Johnson

May 9, 2014

Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

_______________________________________ ____ Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Copyright Materials This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of the speaker is prohibited.

Forbo Flooring Systems • North American Headquarters • 8 Maplewood Drive • Hazleton, PA 18202 • 1-800 842-7839 / 570-459 0771 • Fax: 570-450-0258

Course Description Full transparency in product declaration:

– – –

When selecting and specifying building materials, architects and interior designers need to rely on data from manufacturers regarding the make-up and performance of those materials. In order to verify product claims, independent testing or certification is required so the building owner has some basis to feel comfortable and protected in the selections being made. The emerging use of standardized Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is quickly becoming the tool that can inform those who specify products on a range of environmental issues. This is fundamentally viewed as a good thing but there are still some limitations in the data made available through the criteria behind the EPDs or disclosed by some product manufacturers. Recognizing this, a movement has begun that looks deeper into the impacts of building products not only on the natural environment, but also on human health. This article examines the importance of complete transparency in reporting by industries and individual product manufacturers.

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 4

Learning Objectives

At the end of the this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and differentiate emerging practices involved in quantifying the environmental impacts of building materials and products.

2.

Investigate and distinguish between toxicity to the environment and toxicity to human health. 3. Explore the role of Environmental Product Declarations and other initiatives as part of green building certification programs. 4. Evaluate specific programs that address Health Product Declarations and the relative toxicity of materials.

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Full Transparency in Product Declarations

What you need to know to avoid 20 more years of “Greenwash”!

What does it mean to be “Sustainable”?

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

As defined by The United Nations’ Brundtland Commission Report, 1987 Three dimensions make up the Sustainable Policy: • The Economic Dimension • The Social Dimension • The Environmental Dimension Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 7

Understanding the Acronyms

Consensus Standards Organizations

ISO

– the International Organization for Standardization

ANSI

– American National Standards Institute

The Agreed Upon Science

LCA

– Life Cycle Assessment

Defines the Measurement Criteria

PCR

– Product Category Rule

The Output

EPD

– Environmental Product Declaration

HPD

– Health Product Disclosure

*click on each acronym for the full definition

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What makes a good “industry standard”?

 Consensus-based with all relevant stakeholders having a “seat at the table”.

 If environmental, it should be full LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) based. Preferably “equal weighted”.

 Testing and certification must be 3 rd party and separate from the “standard development body”.

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LCA = Life Cycle Assessment

The LCA analyzes all phases of a product’s life (from raw material extraction to end of life), measuring the effect each element has on each environmental impact category.

Process Elements Field to gate

Raw materials Pre-processing

Gate to gate

Production

Gate to final disposition (field)

Transport Installation Use & maintenance End of life

Environmental Impact Categories

Ecotoxicity Human Toxicity Abiotic Depletion Acidification Potential Eutrophication Potential Global Warming Potential Ozone Layer Depletion Potential Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential Embodied Energy Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 10

PCR = Product Category Rules

A PCR is the standardized method that defines what data is used in a LCA, and how the data is collected and reported in the EPD for a particular category of products.

Who developed the Flooring PCR?

NSF International

collaborated with

flooring trade associations

to develop the Flooring PCR, including: • Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) • Resilient Flooring Covering Institute (RFCI) • National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) • North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) • Tile Council of North America (TCNA) * Information taken from www.nsf.org/info/epds Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 11

What does the Flooring PCR measure?

Impact Categories included in the PCR:

• Abiotic Depletion • Acidification Potential • Eutrophication Potential • Global Warming Potential • Ozone Layer Depletion Potential • Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential • Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste

What does the PCR exclude?

• Ecotoxicity • Human Health

* click impact categories for the full definition

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Failure to meet the criteria of “a standard”

Industry standard:

 Consensus-based  Full LCA-based  Independent, 3 rd party testing and certification

Flooring PCR:

 Consensus-based  Full LCA-based  Independent, 3 rd party testing and certification Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 13

So, what will get us to Full Disclosure and Transparency?

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 14

HPD = Health Product Declaration

The

HPD

is a new standard for product hazard reporting that

INCLUDES

the

ecotoxicity

and

human toxicity

categories.

The HPD was developed by the

Health Product Declaration Collaborative™ (HPDC)

and includes: • Architects • Building owners and developers • Product manufacturers 28/04/2020 15

HPD = a major step forward in transparency

HPDC created the HPD Open Standard to be used free of charge. It facilitates an apples-to-apples comparison and clear discussions about product formulations.

The HPD:

• Incorporates data from the EPD, combined with trustworthy, verifiable measures of ingredients that impact ecotoxicity and human toxicity • Truthfully represents the toxicity impact of a product on the people who live with it and the natural environment it exists within • Uses an open-source approach to deciding which criteria are included • Creates a single standard to compare products based on their ingredients and comparative health hazards 28/04/2020 16

Full Transparency is what we need.

An EPD can report more impact categories than what is required by the PCR.

Forbo’s EPD contains information on all phases of our LCAs, including an addendum that approximates the new HPD standard to include ecotoxicity and human toxicity.

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Excerpt from HPD section of Forbo’s EPD

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 18

Excerpt from HPD section of Forbo’s EPD

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Full transparency certifications

Sustainable Materials Rating Technology © (SMaRT)

The SMaRT Consensus Sustainable Product Standard

©

was developed by the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS), and acts as a PCR to define a category of exemplary certified sustainable products. SMaRT Certification requires environmental excellence in a variety of impact categories, including human toxicity and eco-toxicity. Additionally, this certification considers energy inventory, manufacturer social indicator reporting, and product durability.

• Forbo’s Marmoleum and Bulletin Board products are SMaRT Platinum Certified.

• Marmoleum achieved the SMaRT EPD/HPD.

Products achieving SMaRT EPD/HPD are toxin free in the Use Stage with minimal toxicity in other stages.

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Full transparency tools that include toxicity

The Pharos Project

The Healthy Building Network (HBN) developed Pharos, an on line evaluation tool for building materials that enables users to locate the best building materials to meet their need for transparency in building products. Pharos includes a building product library and chemical and material library. www.pharosproject.net

Declare™

The International Living Future Institute developed Declare, an ingredients label and online database, to provide manufacturers with a platform to disclose the chemical makeup of their products using a label to easily identify chemicals of concern. www.declareproducts.com

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 21

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 22

Presentation title 28/04/2020 23

How is this impacting the Construction Market?

1.

2.

3.

4.

LEED v4 vs. Green Globes The introduction of the PTD – controlled labeling Why toxicity is important to talk about The Introduction of “phthalate free” PVC’s (not bio based)

How this impacts LEED

Challenges with previous versions of LEED

Awarded points for many single attributes, examples include: • Rapidly Renewal • Recycled Content • Indoor Air Quality • Regional Production = 500 miles Equality of points questionable, for example: A million dollar clean-up of a brownfield = same points as a bike rack in a shower

Changes with Version 4

(targeted for late 2013) Multiple Attribute focus (lv4) versus Single Attribute focus (lv3) – Transparency • Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) • Raw Material Ingredients (HPD) • Extracting of Raw Materials - Reporting & Practices • Supply Chain Optimization Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 25

What is lacking in LEED v4?

• True emphasis on Ecotoxicity and Human Toxicity

• Better understanding on Chemicals of Concern*

• Credit given for compliance rather than selecting the appropriate product with the least impact

What is the hysteria about?

• Pilot versions of LEED v4 recognized – with a single credit – the avoidance of the use of

products containing “chemicals of concern”

• This was met with huge resistance and a multi-million dollar PR campaign from industry trade organizations – crippling the process

* Click for definition

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Vested Interests & Controlled Transparency

LEED Green Globes U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

22 member Board of Directors, representing: • Architects • Building owners • Developers • Engineering/Construction • Product Manufacturers • Government • Financial Groups

Green Building Initiative (GBI)

20 member Board of Directors, • Architects • Developers • Engineering/Construction • Trade Organizations • Product Manufacturers Which is consensus based?

Are their standard’s LCA based?

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PTD = Product Transparency Declarations

Recently introduced, the Product Transparency Declaration (PTD) is marketed as a tool to determine if a toxic ingredient in a building product presents an actual danger to the health of building occupants. If a toxic ingredient(s) is present in a product, the manufacturer reviews regulatory requirements to determine if a warning label needs to be added.

Who developed the PTD?

The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) * Information taken from www.nsf.org/info/epds Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 28

What does the PTD measure?

Process Elements included in the PTD:

• Installation and Use

What does the PTD exclude?

• Raw Materials • Pre-processing • Production • Transport • End of Life Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 29

The danger of Controlled Transparency

FloorScore®

The RFCI FloorScore IAQ Certification addresses the same VOC emissions criteria as the California Section 01350 standard, which measures a product’s VOC emissions as tested in a

dark

chamber with a

controlled temperature of 23 o C (75 o F)

.

PVC based products increase with exposure to light and heat. Therefore, in the case of PVC, this test method is only valid if a building has no windows and perfect environmental controls. These studies show a mere 10 o C increase in temperature raises the phthalate emission rate almost 10-fold. In the real world, schools turn off their HVAC systems in the summer and ambient temperatures in buildings increase at least this much. Further, increased use of daylight for illumination can create “hotspots” on the floor, again greatly increasing the rate of emissions. In short,

products that pass the standard may fail in real application

.

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Demanding Transparency Makes a Difference

• From the recently published RFCI category EPD on rubber – please note the amount of natural rubber used in the production of rubber flooring.

Material Content of the Product Component Material Mass % Availability Origin of Renewable Non-renewable Recycled raw materials Fillers

Kaolin 65.6% Mineral abundant Global

Binder

SBR 27.4% Fossil limited US

Additives

Various 4.6% Mineral abundant US / China

Binder

Polybutadiene 1.0% Fossil limited US

Binder

Natural rubber 0.6% Bio-crop based Fossil limited US

Other components

Various 0.8% Fossil limited Global Presentation title 28/04/2020 31

Demanding Transparency Makes a Difference – Excerpt from the end of RFCI product category EPD’s

This EPD follows the specifications of PCR Flooring: Carpet, Resilient, Laminate, Ceramic, and Wood (NSF 2012). Eco-toxicity and human health assessments are not part of this PCR and are not addressed in this EPD. The current available models used to calculate eco-toxicity and human health assessments impact categories have a large amount of uncertainty and variation in their results. Over time, it is expected that research will improve the accuracy of these models making the results meaningful like other impact categories (i.e. greehouse gas, acidification, etc).

• The USEtox model is recognized as the globally preferred model for modeling the human and eco-toxicity impacts according to LCIA United Nations Environmental Program SETAC Life Cycle Initiative Presentation title 28/04/2020 32

“Phthalate Free” PVC – what’s out, what’s in

• “Phthalate Free” PVC refers to the removal of DINP, the traditionally used plasticizer in most PVC flooring production. Considered the least harmful based on 3 rd party testing. • In place of DINP, manufacturers are beginning to use DOTP. DOTP (

Dioctyl terephthalate

(

bis(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1, 4-dicarboxylate

or Di(ethylhexyl) terephthalate), commonly abbreviated

DOTP

) is a plasticizer which lacks 3 rd party testing. It is currently sole sourced from Exxon Mobil and they have provided the health and toxicity related data to this point. (Do NOT confuse this with “Bio-based” plasticizer products.) Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 33

Full Transparency is what we need.

In order to provide FULL TRANSPARENCY, manufacturers

must

disclose

ALL

process elements.

ALL

impact categories and

Why can’t manufacturers give the full picture with EPD’s and PTD’s?

The

Flooring PCR

and resulting

EPD exclude

LCA environmental impact categories that don’t key reflect positively on the trade organization members.

The

RFCI’s PTD excludes

most LCA process elements, skewing the data to reflect positively on the trade organization members.

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 34

Chemical Regulation and Toxicity

Excerpt From “Death By Rubber Duck” – “There are 82,000 chemicals in use in the United States with 700 new ones added each year. Of these 82,000 some odd, only 650 are monitored through TRI*, only 200 have ever been tested for toxicity, and only five** have been banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Not even asbestos is banned, a known carcinogen that has killed nearly 45,000 Americans over the past 30 years – Further Research on the subject shows – *EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program – ** five chemicals (PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxin, asbestos, and hexavalent chromium) in its 35 year history, [4] and the ban on asbestos was overturned in 1991.

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Who supports Full Transparency?

Visit forboflooringna.com/truth for a current list

Source: HBN – Greenbuild

of transparency leaders and toxic supporters.

2012

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Who supports Full Transparency?

28/04/2020 37

Who supports Full Transparency?

28/04/2020 38

Who supports Full Transparency?

Transparency is not raw material dependent. Forbo produces PVC products, but in support of full transparency and disclosure, we have issued EPDs (that include human health and ecotoxicity impacts) for ALL of our products.

Manufacturers who DO

• • • • • •

disclose:

Forbo Flooring Systems Interface Knoll Milliken Shaw Contract Group Tandus

Manufacturers who DO NOT

• • • • •

disclose:

Armstrong Flooring Centiva Johnsonite/Tarkett Nora Roppe Visit forboflooringna.com/truth for the full list of transparency leaders and toxic supporters. Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 39

Our challenge to you

EPDs will eventually form the basis for a product rating system, as we have seen examples developed in Europe. Based on what is in the current EPD (and what is missing), all products will receive a “5-star rating”, essentially validating the status quo.

NOW

is the time to change the course of transparency in product declarations.

• Demand Full Transparency from all of your product manufacturer’s when specifying building materials.

• Ask product representatives if their company supports full disclosure of chemicals of concern to its customers. • Ask if their products emit compounds that might impact human health and the environment.

• Be willing to consider all the ways a product could contribute to a healthy environment.

You can make the difference.

28/04/2020 40

Thank you!

The online CEU course earns: • one AIA/CES HSW Learning Unit – course #K1307B • one GBCI CE Hour for LEED Credential Maintenance – course # 0090009966 Visit

Architectural Record’s

Continuing Education Center to take the quiz and receive the credit http://continuingeducation.construction.com/article.php?L=354&C=1111

Click here to preview QUIZ

28/04/2020 41

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course Forbo Flooring Systems • North American Headquarters • 8 Maplewood Drive • Hazleton, PA 18202 • 1-800-842-7839 / 570-459 0771 • Fax: 570-450 0258

Appendix

ISO – The International Organization for Standardization

The world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective. Developed through global consensus, they help to break down barriers to international trade. The ISO 14044 standards provide guidelines for conducting an LCA.

ANSI – American National Standards Institute

The voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems. Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 43

Appendix

LCA – Life Cycle Assessment

also known as life-cycle analysis, ecobalance, & cradle-to-grave analysis

LCA is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from-cradle-to-grave (i.e. from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling).

LCAs can help avoid a narrow outlook on environmental concerns by: • Compiling an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs and environmental releases;

(also known as LCI – Life Cycle Inventory)

• Evaluating the potential impacts associated with identified inputs and releases; • Interpreting the results to help make a more informed decision.

source: Wikipedia

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Appendix

PCR – Product Category Rules

Product Category Rules are defined in ISO 14025 – Environmental Labels and Declarations – Type III Environmental Declarations. According to ISO 14025, a

PCR is a set of specific rules, requirements and guidelines for developing Type III environmental declarations for one or more product categories

. The PCRs define the type of data that should be collected, measured and reported in a life cycle analysis. PCRs include instructions for gathering data about the consumption of resources, including energy, water and renewable resources, and emissions to air, water and soil.

source: NSF International website

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Appendix

EPD – Environmental Product Declarations

Document created by a manufacturer to show the results of a LCA for a particular product (in accordance with ISO standards) using the PCR for that category. The EPD must be verified and approved by an independent entity such as UL Environmental (ULE) or the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS) Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 46

Appendix

Ecotoxicity

: The potential of biological, chemical, or physical stressors to adversely affect ecosystems

Human Toxicity

: The likelihood of an environmental toxicant to have an adverse effect on human health

Abiotic Depletion:

The consumption of non-renewable resources including those used for energy (oil, gas, coal, metals, etc.)

Acidification potential

: The potential for the product to contribute to acid rain

Eutrophication potential

: The product’s contribution to water or soil nutrients that cause algal blooms

Global warming potential

: The emissions of carbon dioxide or methane that affect the earth’s atmosphere

Ozone layer depletion potential

: The reduction in beneficial environmental ozone caused by chlorofluorocarbon emissions

Photochemical ozone creation potential

: The contributions to smog caused by hydrocarbon emissions Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 47

Appendix

Chemicals of concern

: In December 2009, the US EPA released a list of four chemicals that raise serious concerns for human health and the environment. These “chemicals of concerns” include flame retardants, stain and water repellants, and phthalates (such as softeners in vinyl floor and wall coverings).

source: www.healthybuilding.net

Click here to view the four chemicals being addressed by the EPA.

Full Transparency in Product Declarations 28/04/2020 48

Appendix

The four EPA “chemicals of concern” groups are:

Phthalates

- eight high production volume chemicals used as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride, PVC, products. Adverse effects on the development of the reproductive system in male laboratory animals are the most sensitive health outcomes from phthalate exposure.

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins

- over 200 formulations are in use for industrial applications, such as flame retardants and plasticizers, as additives in metal working fluids, and in sealants, paints and coatings, adhesives and caulks. These chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs

- used as flame retardants in a wide array of products, including building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics, polyurethane foams, and textiles. This listing reinforces a voluntary phaseout of all production, importation, and sales of decaBDE in the United States by the end of 2013. The EPA will require that any new uses of PBDEs are reviewed by the agency before they are allowed on the market. PBDEs are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans and the environment. The EPA is concerned about their effects on the human nervous system and behavior.

Perfluorinated chemicals, including perfluorooctanoate, PFOA

- used in the manufacture of cookware with non-stick coating. Other perfluorinated chemicals are used in everyday items such as food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products. Perfluorinated chemicals are toxic to laboratory animals and wildlife, producing reproductive, developmental, and systemic effects in laboratory tests.

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Comparing Data

• In the following tables we will compare CUMMULATIVE data for each of our products (not by Process Element).

• NO other manufacturer is willing to disclose impacts to the level we do so we are forced to compare to ourselves for illustrative purposes.

• We will use Marmoleum 2.0 mm sheet as the benchmark/baseline.

• The numbers given will be the score in each category relative to Marmoleum 2.0. (i.e 1.07 means it is 1.07 times worse. 2.8 means it is 2.8 times worse, etc.) Presentation title 28/04/2020 50

Comparing Data

• We know from the EFRMI Category EPD’s from 2009 that Eternal is a “better than average” PVC sheet • We know from the ERFMI Category EPD’s that Allura is a “much better than average” LVT • The products compared are: • Marmoleum 2.0mm sheet • Marmoleum 2.5mm sheet • Marmoleum 2.0mm tile • Marmoleum 2.5mm tile • Eternal Project Vinyl (PVC Sheet) • Allura LVT (0.55/20mil) Presentation title 28/04/2020 51

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Global Warming Potential

1.00

1.13

1.72

1.86

2.37

2.70

Ozone Layer Depletion

1.00

1.02

5.17

5.98

5.17

5.98

Presentation title 28/04/2020 52

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Acidification Potential

1.00

1.22

1.45

1.60

0.62

0.65

Eutrophication Potential

1.00

1.24

1.27

1.49

0.36

0.40

Presentation title 28/04/2020 53

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential

1.00

1.16

2.02

2.31

5.66

6.04

Presentation title 28/04/2020 54

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Abiotic Depletion Elements

1.00

1.16

1.08

1.19

11.11

14.70

Abiotic Depletion Fossil

1.0

1.07

2.21

2.32

3.79

3.97

Presentation title 28/04/2020 55

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Ecotoxicity

1.00

1.11

1.38

1.40

622.58

780.65

Presentation title 28/04/2020 56

Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka: Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares People

Marmoleum 2.0 sheet Marmoleum 2.5 sheet Marmoleum 2.0 tile Marmoleum 2.5 tile Eternal Project Vinyl Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)

Human Toxicity Carcinogenic

1.00

1.00

2.61

2.61

66.61

67.27

Human Toxicity Non-Carcinogenic

1.00

1.00

1.08

1.08

12,878.79

16,666.67

Presentation title 28/04/2020 57

QUIZ

1.

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is an analysis of:

a.

the extraction and manufacturing phases of a product.

b.

c.

d.

the construction and use phases of a product.

the end of life phase of a product.

all of the above Answer: d. all of the above

QUIZ

2. The standards that specify requirements and provide guidelines for conducting an LCA come from:

a.

b.

ANSI Standards.

the ISO 14044 family of published standards.

c.

d.

the USGBC.

the Healthy Building Network.

Answer: b. the ISO 14044 family of published standards.

QUIZ

3. A product category rule (PCR) is:

a.

the standardized method for conducting and reporting the results of an LCA for a particular group (category) of products.

b.

c.

d.

a particular environmental impact of a product.

a determination of what products can be tested for environmental impacts.

developed by a manufacturer for their own product.

Answer: a. the standardized method for conducting and reporting the results of an LCA for a particular group (category) of products.

QUIZ

4. Before being published by a manufacturer, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) needs to be:

a.

b.

sent to ISO for certification.

verified and approved by an independent entity such as ULE or MTS.

c.

d.

released for an open comment period.

requested by an architect or engineer.

Answer: b. verified and approved by an independent entity such as ULE or MTS.

QUIZ

5. EPDs can always report more impact categories than required by the PCR.

a.

b.

true false Answer: a. true

QUIZ

6. The potential for biological, chemical, or physical stressors to adversely affect ecosystems is referred to as:

a.

b.

human toxicity Environmental Product Declaration c.

d.

ecotoxicity Health Product Declaration Answer: c. ecotoxicity

QUIZ

7. The specific means by which human health is affected by building products are:

a.

b.

inhaling VOCs.

ingesting toxic dust particles.

c.

d.

absorption through dermal exposure.

any of the above Answer: d. any of the above

QUIZ

8. Health Product Declarations (HPDs) build on and incorporate the data from the EPD but go on to combine it with measures of ingredients that impact ecotoxicity and human toxicity.

a.

b.

true false Answer: a. true

QUIZ

9. The HPD Open Standard was created to be used:

a.

b.

as a way to generate revenue for the creators.

free of charge —no copyright applies for this purpose.

c.

d.

by other not-for-profit organizations.

by architects and engineers.

Answer: b. free of charge —no copyright applies for this purpose.

QUIZ

10. The Pharos Project is a tool for users to locate the best materials to meet their current needs for transparency in building materials and products.

a.

b.

true false Answer: a. true