Ahec at Ecobuild to promote the Life Cycle Assessment for American hardwoods

The initial findings of what is probably the largest ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the international hardwood sector are expected to be released by Ahec (American Hardwood Export Council) at EcoBuild, to be held in London from 1 to 3 March 2011, on its new modular exhibition stand (Stand S1055). Leading Lca consultants Pe International are currently undertaking the first phase of data collection for the ground breaking Study which will conform to the Iso14000 series of Standards for Lcas. Life Cycle Inventory data is being gathered for American hardwood lumber and veneer covering environmental impacts of every process from point of extraction through to delivery to the importers yard in Europe and East Asia.
The study will allow preparation of Environmental Products Declarations (Epds) for American hardwood species and products. Epss are widely recognised as the most effective method of communicating the full environmental profile of any product and are increasingly used as a basis for materials credits in green building rating systems like BreeamM and Dgnb. The study will also include, as a discrete component, an assessment of the carbon footprint of using American hardwood lumber and veneers in Europe in line with the UK’s Pas 2050 standard and the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
The Lca Study is a massive undertaking for Ahec, with full results not expected until the end of 2011. Says David Venables: “Eco-build is the perfect platform to start to roll out our Lca findings and the aim by the end of the year is to provide enough information to help manufacturers of American hardwood products to be able to prepare their own Epd’s to international standards”.