b'eco wiseandtheirenvironmentalsustainabilitywork.did you know?Whenselectingmaterials,EPDsprovidekey environmentalindicators,includingembodiedResene TechSpec (www.resene.com/techspec) is energy,waterconsumptionandwastedesigned to help you create specifications for your generation. And if you are looking to secureprojects.Its a handy tool to assess what you might green building certifications, many certificationneed, and a Resene representative can assist schemesincluding Green Star and LEED you with a customised specification if desired.recognise EPDs as a valuable source of verified environmental data, Barbara adds.Understanding assumptions importanttonotethatitdoesntnecessarily As Barbara explains, the EPD Programme and ISOtellyouabouttheproductsperformance. standardshaveprescriptivesystemboundaries,AnEPDdoesnotprovideinformationon data quality and calculation methodologies. Thisthe quality of the ingredients nor their ability meansthatsomeassumptionsmustbemadetoperforminitsareaofuse,saysResene when data is not available.Technical Manager Mike Clowes. While it may Some assumptions are related to end-of-lifelook at the carbon footprint of the product from scenarios, as disposal practices can evolve andobtaining raw materials through manufacturing estimates are made based on current industryandtransporttomarket,thisisonlypartof norms. Transport distances are another commonthe story. The longevity of the product once assumption. Since raw materials generally comeapplied is a key driver in determining the benefit frommultiplesuppliers,transportdistancesto the environment. If it fails to perform, then are estimated using weighted averages. Whileremedialtreatmentwillberequired,bringing LCA practitioners select high-quality datasetsfurther environmental impacts.andfollowstrictEPDprogrammerulesto ensureconsistencyandreliability,therecanBalancing sustainabilitybevariabilityintermsofdataselectionsoand performanceassumptions might be made. However, BarbaraChoosing a paint, stain or coating based on its says, all those assumptions and the rationaleenvironmental merits alone is only part of the for them are clearly stated in the EPD. equation. Making the most sustainable choice also hinges on choosing products that are the Comparing EPDs between companies best at meeting the demands of the job at hand.WhencomparingEPDsbetweendifferentThedecisiontoselectproductswith companiesormanufacturers,Barbaraexcellent EPD data is laudable but should not recommendsusingcaution.WhileEPDsbe done in isolation, Mike says. It would besystem and repainting requires more materialsIf you are unsure which product to choose provideastandardisedformat,theyareonlyeasy for a paint formulator to choose pigments,and thus add quickly to the original impact. based on the surface, substrate, how it will be directly comparable if they belong to the sameresins and the other crucial ingredients fromBy contrast, Mike adds, a product that isused or the conditions it will be subjected to, EPD programme. Different programmes maylocalsourcestoprovidelowglobalwarmingspecifically designed to perform in the environmentget in touch with your Resene representative use slightly different rules, which can impactpotential or ozone depletion. However, if thewhere it will be usedalbeit with materials sourcedfor project-specific recommendations or use comparability. Always check the details beforepaint fades quickly or a coating fails, cracks andfrom further afarmay perform for 10 years or morethe online Resene Ask a Paint Expert service making direct comparisons, she says. flakes due to the use of materials unsuitablewithout any further impact on the environment.at www.resene.com/paintexpert and a Resene Although EPDs can tell you what you needfor the environment in which it is applied thenTherefore, it is important to seek performancetechnical expert will assist you with advice. For toknowabouttheenvironmentaldataofathe ramifications are very significant. Removalinformation and avoid making decisions based onmore information on EPDs and to view Resene project over the course of its life cycle, its alsoof the existing system, preparation for the newthe environmental data alone.EPDs, visit www.resene.com/epd.blackwhitemag.com 29'