Cleaner Technology Projects in Denmark 1997
Environmental Management – Collection of Data from Manufacturers
Miljørigtig projektering – indhentning af data fra producenter
Arbejdsrapport nr. 54, 1997, Miljøstyrelsen
During the project a collection of documents has been developed which the project engineer can use when he approaches manufacturers of construction products to get information about the environmental effects of the product.
The material consists of two parts:
 | Material to be forwarded to the manufacturer/producer |
| Guidelines to the project engineer |
The guideline to the project engineer describes how to use the complete material when he approaches a manufacturer. It is desirable that the initial approach is carried out in a standardised way so that the manufacturer experiences a similar behaviour no matter who makes the approach. An annex explains how supplementary questions about environmental issues can be put to the manufacturer.
Apart from the actual procedure during the dialogue with the manufacturers, the guidelines to the project engineer also explain how he shall treat the answers from the manufacturer in combination with his general knowledge of environmental issues. The guideline also stresses that it is important that all project engineers use a similar approach to the manufacturers.
Some general environmental information can be drawn from the chapter "Environmental data", and normally the answers to the questions are to be related to information from this project in order to obtain optimal information.
Furthermore the guideline includes a list of environmental impacts and effects. The list informs of potential environmental impacts during the life cycle of a building. For each impact the most essential environmental effects are stated.
In case the first approach to a manufacturer does not result in sufficient information, guidelines for the formulation of supplementary questions have been prepared.
The supplementary questions have to be put specifically so that the problems/questions still outstanding are solved/answered and therefore standard formulations cannot be used. Instead the guidelines specify - for different groups of environmental impacts - the limitations and other conditions that must be explained so that the project engineer can compare the information with information about other construction products or manufacturers.
The material to be forwarded to the manufacturer consists of - apart from the letter of approach in the form of a standard letter - questions to the manufacturer about environmental issues regarding the company and the construction products as well as the environmental effects during the life cycle of the product. The questions are of a general character and in most cases they can be answered directly by the manufacturer. Nevertheless the answers will supply sufficient information for a project engineer with a general knowledge of environmental issues to identify possible problematic issues. The questionnaires include instructions for completion as well as supplementary guidelines to assist the manufacturer in case of doubt about definitions.
The questions deal with a specification of the construction product and the company as well as the five stages in the life cycle of a construction product.
| Supplies of constituent materials and semi-products |
| Production of the construction product |
| Installation of the product |
| Maintenance, cleaning, replacement |
| Disposal |
The manufacturer is naturally supposed to answer questions about installation, maintenance and disposal only to the extent of his influence and knowledge.
The supplementary guidelines to the manufacturer include:
| A glossary where a description of the most important terms that the manufacturer will meet during the completion of the questionnaire are explained. |
| A list of material groups where the constituent materials of the product are divided into groups. |
| A list of toxicity classes and environmental labelling where the relevant labelling schemes are given. |
| A list of protective measures with examples of the meaning of the term. |
Author/ institution
DTI, Byggeri, BPS-Centret
Birch & Krogboe
This report is subsidised by the National Council for Recycling and Cleaner Production
ISSN no. 0908-9195
ISBN no. 87-7810-821-7