Troldtekt’s EPDs show the environmental footprint of the products

Consultants and clients can download new Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the different Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool products. Among other things, they show the carbon footprint from all phases of the acoustic panels’ life cycle. The EPDs are published by the German Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. – and by EPD Denmark.

EPDs now make it easier to get an overview of the total environmental footprint of Troldtekt’s acoustic panels. This is useful when consultants or clients need to a building certified.

The environmental impact of raw materials, transport, production, use, disposal and the potential for recycling are reflected in the life cycle analysis on which the EPDs are based. Accordingly, EPDs are a useful tool for consultants and clients when gathering and assessing documentation about building materials.

“Transparency and thoroughness have been keywords for us in working with our EPDs. The life cycle analyses of our products therefore contain data on more stages than are mandatory for EPDs. We have also chosen to have independent EPDs for our various products rather than just calculating average values.

The life cycle analyses themselves were prepared by Stefan E. Danielsson M.Sc., an independent LCA consultant and authorised verifier for EPD Denmark. All eight EPDs were subsequently verified and published by Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU), which has a mutual recognition agreement with EPD Denmark.

The agreement means that the EPDs are also published by EPD Danmark. In addition, EPDs can be imported directly into the digital tool LCAbyg, which consultants often use to calculate the total environmental footprint of a building’s life cycle.

New technology reduces carbon footprint

The current EPDs replaced Troldtekt’s previous version from 2014. Since then, Troldtekt has invested hundreds of millions of kroner in expanding and modernising its production facilities with more energy-efficient technology and the use of renewable energy. This is evident in a reduced overall carbon footprint (Global Warming Potential).

Troldtekt acoustic panels are manufactured from Danish wood and cement. Cement production emits considerable CO₂, while the wood binds carbon dioxide during growth. In addition, the cement means that an acoustic panel absorbs CO₂ during its use stage as a result of the chemical process of carbonatisation.

For the lowest carbon footprint, choose Troldtekt acoustic panels based on the cement type FUTURECEM™.

This table shows the differences in their total carbon footprint over the entire life cycle of the acoustic panels. For example, a painted panel based on FUTURECEM emits 34 per cent less CO2 over the entire life cycle of the product than a painted panel in natural wood based on traditional white cement.

Circular initiatives represent huge potential

The CO₂ that is stored in the wood is released if Troldtekt panels are incinerated at the end of their service life (typically after 50-80 years). This impacts stage C4 in the EPDs, which covers disposal.

As part of Troldtekt’s work with Cradle to Cradle principles, there are several models for allowing the acoustic panels to be incorporated into new cycles and obtain one or more extra life cycles. When resources are included in several life cycles, it will reduce the carbon footprint during disposal and thus result in lower emissions in the C4 stage.

Separate EPDs for eight products

EDP stands for Environmental Product Declaration and is the tool for professionals in the construction industry who need to know the environmental impact of different building materials. Troldtekt has had eight product-specific EPDs prepared and verified by a third party according to the European standard EN15804+A1.

The different EPDs take into account:

the thickness of the acoustic panels (25 mm or 35 mm)
the type of cement in the panels (traditional white or FUTURECEM)
whether the panels are painted or unpainted

Download Troldtekt’s EPDs

Complete overview of environmental footprint

Troldtekt’s EPDs include stages A1-A3, A4-A5, B1, C1-C2, C4 and D. When comparing several products, it is important to ensure that the assessment is based on the same stages.

During disposal (C4), carbon is released during incineration and the carbon footprint is therefore positive. However, when Troldtekt cement-bonded wood wool is incinerated, it also generates energy that can replace the energy from fossil fuels, while a negative carbon footprint is also registered under recycling potential (D).