During the last years methods for a better understanding of environmental impacts of products were developed. Knowledge of specific resource and energy consumption and emissions occurring during a product’s life cycle is a first important step towards corporate environmental protection. Two different approaches exist – assessment over a product’s entire life cycle (“from cradle to grave”) or over a product’s life cycle up to the factory gate (“from cradle to gate”). Methods like life cycle assessment or eco-efficiency analysis helps identifying the hot spots of environmental impacts for each life cycle phase. The results can provide an ideal basis for strategic planning, prioritizing and product as well as process development and emphasizes implementation of environmental labelling. The results are critically reviewed and certified in accordance with the international standards DIN EN ISO 14040 and DIN EN ISO 14044 and moreover considering state of the art technology in the field of quantitative analysis for ecological and economic impacts of products.

The requirements of the standards to be addressed in the critical review process are,

• the method chosen for life cycle assessment has to meet the requirements of the standard and has to be science-based and technically valid

• the data have to be sufficient and functional regarding the goal of the study

• the analysis has to take account of perceived limitations and the goal of the study

• the report has to be transparent and coherent

If these criteria are fulfilled the study can, based on the critical review, be certified.

The certificate is valid for two years.

The certification of the following life cycle based components is offered by TÜV Rheinland:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044

• Comparative Life Cycle Assessment according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044

• LCA Method according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044

• Eco-Efficiency Analysis (EEA) according to ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and ISO 14045

• EEA Method according to ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and ISO 14045

• Product Carbon Footprint according to ISO 14040, ISO 14044 as well as ISO 14067

• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) according to ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and ISO 14025

FInd more information here.