Environmental Product Declarations for several mortar families

Context and starting point

Arenes Bellpuig is a leading manufacturer of mortars and concretes, with a strong territorial presence and a production model linked to its own resources. In a context marked by tougher regulations, the growing environmental demands of the market and pressure from customers and prescribers, the company identified the need to to have verified and comparable environmental information about their products.

The challenge was not only to comply with an industry trend, but to ahead of time to regulatory changes and strengthen its position as a manufacturer committed to sustainability, without losing competitiveness or technical rigour.

Aim of the project

The main objective of the project was to Environmental Product Declarations (EPD/EPD) for a strategic selection of mortar products for the following purposes:

• To have objective, quantified and verified environmental information.
• Facilitating access to projects with advanced environmental requirements.
• Preparing the organisation for the new European regulatory framework.
• Generate a sound technical basis for future environmental improvement and eco-design strategies.

The products included in the scope were:

• Masonry mortars
• Backfill mortars
• Plastering mortars

Scope and methodological approach

The project was developed following a rigorous approach and aligned with international standards:

• Elaboration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
• Implementation of the Product Category Rules (PCR) specific for mortars.
• Clear definition of the system boundarieswith a focus on the representativeness of the real production process of Arenes Bellpuig.
• Priority use of primary data emissions, integrating energy consumption, raw materials, transport and waste management.
• Independent external verificationThe credibility of the results is guaranteed.

This approach resulted in technically robust EPDs that are comparable and fully aligned with industry standards.

Key project results

The project culminated in the publication of the DAP/EPD verified for the three families of mortars, providing concrete and measurable results:

• Environmental transparencyclear quantification of environmental impacts per unit of product.
• Consistency and comparability between mortar ranges, under the same methodology.
• Verifiable documentationThe project is prepared for use in tenders, sustainable building projects and LCA studies of buildings.

Beyond the final document, the process provided the company with a holistic view of its environmental performance.

Value generated for Arenes Bellpuig

The elaboration of the EPDs generated value in multiple dimensions:

Commercial and market value

• Improved positioning vis-à-vis clients, architects and specifiers.
• Access to projects with high environmental standards.
• Strengthening the brand image as a manufacturer transparent and accountable.

Strategic and regulatory value

• Anticipation of New Construction Products Regulationwhich reinforces life-cycle based environmental information.
• Preparing for future requirements for digital product passport and environmental reporting.

Operational and technical value

• Identification of critical stages of the production process in terms of environmental impact.
• Objective basis for prioritisation improvement and emission reduction actions.
• Generation of internal knowledge transferable to other products and plants.