Environmental approach and Environmental Product Declaration
EPD: Measures the environmental impacts of the product life cycle, essential for calculating a building’s performance
What is an EPD?
The EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a declaration drawn up under the responsibility of the manufacturer, and a renowned source of environmental data on building products. It presents the results of the product Life Cycle Analysis (procurement of raw materials, production, transport, installation, service life and end-of-life), to assess the environmental performance of a building for its eco-design. So these data are used for building environmental certification (HQE, BREEAM, LEED).
The EPD is used to communicate the results in a format common to all building products, based on a functional unit*, thereby enabling comparison of products to provide a built environment with minimal impact. The data is surveyed under various criteria: impact on global warming, use of renewable primary energy, net fresh water use, air pollution, water pollution, waste production, etc.).
*In compliance with standards EN ISO 14025, NF EN 15804+A1 and its national supplement EN 15804/CN
Silvadec is the first French manufacturer to produce an individual EPD for wood composite decking/boards.
Silvadec’s EPDs are valid for 5 years. They were produced by EVEA. INIES [Environmental and health reference
data for buildings] checks and validation conducted by the FCBA institute.
All of these data can be viewed at silvadec.com or on the INIES database:
Performance in global warming impact
Silvadec® decking boards were compared to other wood composite decking** or to a ceramic floor tile.
The impact on global warming is one of the most important criteria because it’s a reflection of the environmental quality of the product over the course of its life.
** Wood composite decking (MDEGD [default generic environmental data module], reference service life 20 years), German EPD – Association of the German Wood-based Panel Industry (EPD, ref. service life 30 years), Ceramic external coating (MDEGD, ref. service life 50 years).
Global warming
(carbon footprint measured in kg of CO2 emitted)
Silvadec® decking is 4 times better than Ceramic exterior floor tile and up to 5 times better than other composite wood references.
A volontary transparent approach
The building sector is increasingly taking into account the environmental requirements of construction materials. For this reason, Silvadec wanted to establish an EPD for its decking range, with the aim of providing transparency of the entire life cycle of its products and of their environmental quality.
This approach by Silvadec is in line with its firm environmental commitment, in place since it was founded.
Silvadec is working to promote eco-responsible management and has been ISO 14001 certified since March 2014.
Silvadec® wood composite is manufactured from a mixture of 2/3 PEFC certified wood flour from France and 1/3 high-density polyethylene (HDPE). A significant proportion of HDPE is derived from recycling. Under the ORPLAST programme, Silvadec has received awards from the ADEME and the French Ministry for the Environment, Energy and the Sea, for its involvement in far-reaching projects associated with the integration of recycled polyethylene in its manufacturing process.
Silvadec® wood composite is 100% recyclable on its production site.
Silvadec products are harmless for the environment and users: they do not release any toxic products, are free from heavy metals and enjoy an A+ rating for VOC and formaldehyde emissions***.
*** Test report no. D-101013-08326 Tests as per standard ISO 16000 – available on demand)
