EPD, NATURPIEDRA CERTIFIES ITS ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
The environmental aspect is an increasingly important criterion in the choice of building materials by consumers, both public and private.
In its journey to consolidate itself as a more ecological and sustainable company, Naturpiedra has obtained the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of the Phyllite extracted in its quarries in Bernardos (Segovia); in all marketed formats and finishes:
- Split finish
- Sawn finish and other finishes.
- Quarry products (wallcladding, splits, flagstones).
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document or report that provides quantified and verifiable information about the environmental performance of a material. It makes it possible to assess the environmental impact throughout the product’s life cycle, in accordance with ISO 14025 international standards, information subsequently verified by an authorized external official body. Also in accordance with the European standard EN 15804, which facilitates the recognition of environmental information on construction products in Europe.
The EPD is of great importance in compliance with European regulations for construction products, or in the environmental certification of buildings such as LEED, BREEAM or VERDE.
To carry out the EPD, Naturpiedra and two other external and independent actors intervened, such as the NOTIO technological center and the national standardization company AENOR.
NATURPIEDRA, once its product has been identified, informing of its characteristics, uses, composition and benefits (corroborated by technical tests) analyzed the actual data obtained in the manufacturing process throughout the 2020 year. Detailing the phases of the process of production the respective energy consumption, from the extraction of the quarry to the exit of the finished material, packaged and prepared for distribution. Data that Naturpiedra improves day by day thanks to the optimization of the plant with new machines, the reduction of the consumption of hydrocarbons or explosives, the reuse and the purification in closed circuit of water; and especially the recent installation of photovoltaic panels for self-consumption of electricity.
NOTIO, has prepared and certified the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Naturpiedra Phyllite, in accordance with the specifications of the UNE-EN ISO 14044, UNE-EN 15804 and UNE-EN ISO 14025 standards, which define the requirements and lines guidelines that must be carried out during this type of study. They measure the carbon footprint or environmental impact of the material throughout its use cycle:
Stage of stone production.
Construction phase and installation on site.
Phase of its use, where factors such as maintenance, long life (estimated at 75 years or more) or the capacities of natural stone as thermal and acoustic insulation, which offers great efficiency, are analyzed.
End-of-life phase, in which Phyllite is presented as an inert material, harmless to the environment, as well as reusable and recyclable.
Data that bring many points in favor in the overall calculation of a construction project with low environmental impact.
Finally, AENOR certifies and grants the DEP, in accordance with the International Standard ISO 14025 which defines the requirements that these DEPs must meet, including verification by a third party, and the European Standard EN 15804 (since it is of a product intended for construction) which facilitates the recognition of environmental information on construction products in Europe, by constituting a harmonized reference system recognized by all players in the sector. Provide a reliable, relevant, transparent, comparable and verifiable environmental profile allowing to highlight an environmentally friendly product, based on information on the life cycle (LCA), established in accordance with the rules of product category (RCP); in accordance with international standards and quantified environmental data.
