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Landmark building lifecycle tool launched in Belgium

By Laura Croze
February 26, 2018

Knauf Insulation has welcomed the launch of a landmark new Building Lifecycle Assessment Tool for Belgium.

Knauf Insulation has welcomed the launch of a landmark new Building Lifecycle Assessment Tool for Belgium — but expressed hopes that it will soon encompass a broader range of environmental data from across Europe.

The new tool known as TOTEM was launched at Batibouw — Belgium’s biggest renovation, construction and interior design fair — which annually attracts more than a thousand exhibitors and 300,000 visitors.

Our Products & Buildings Sustainability Manager, Jean-Pierre Pigeolet, was invited to represent Knauf Insulation at a special Batibouw event to launch TOTEM and discuss the importance of lifecycle assessments along with guests including Belgium’s Environment Minister Joke Schauvliege and Economic Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet.

“For more than a decade, we have insisted on auditing the environmental impact of our products from the cradle to the grave — from sourcing materials for our solutions to their ultimate disposal — using Lifecycle Assessments and providing that information to our customers through Environment Product Declarations (EPDs),” said Jean-Pierre.

“TOTEM is in line with this approach and makes it possible to calculate the environmental impact of construction elements and entire buildings across their lifecycle. However, we hope that this tool will soon allow the use of European EPD results from other countries rather than exclusively using mandatory Belgian EPD data.”

Knauf Insulation along with other members of the European Insulation Manufacturers Association (Eurima) believe that a harmonised approach to EPDs across Europe using a common EN 15804 standard will broaden the appeal of the process and improve customer clarity.

“We welcome any debate between the industry and customers that rewards environmentally responsible products,” said Jean-Pierre. “Tools such as TOTEM can help customers make informed decisions about the products they buy and contribute significantly to a more sustainable future for buildings.”

Understanding the sustainability of building products over their entire lifecycle is at the heart of everything we do at Knauf Insulation. Our ECOSE Glass Mineral Wool, for example, is made from up to 80% recycled glass and features a unique bio-based binder that is free of artificial dyes, acrylics or formaldehyde.

For more information visit www.totem-building.be and www.knaufinsulation.com