TY - GEN

T1 - Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of James Latham Accoya® Cladding Finish Line

AU - Roberts, George

AU - Skinner, Campbell

N1 - James Latham’s is one of the UK’ largest wholesalers of timber, wood-based panels and decorative surfaces, supplying to construction merchants and contractors, builders, designers, furniture makers etc. Lathams cladding is manufactured in-house at one of their sites in the UK. Modified Accoya® wood (pine) produced by Accsys is used as the primary material, where the wood is then cut and sanded to the desired shape. The Finish Line Cladding Collection has the additional step of applying a Sansin sealer coating. The wood is coated on either the spray line for large quantities of cladding or put through a vacuum coating line for smaller batches. Once the product is dried it is then packaged and ready for distribution. This cladding is durable, dimensionally stable with the performance characteristics of the most durable tropical hardwoods using a softwood alternative. Initially a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted for two cladding products which entailed a site visit to collect primary data. Working with Lathams and Dresser Mouldings the necessary data was collected and then used to develop the LCA and write up a detailed report of the study. The next stage of the project was to transfer the results from the LCA into an EPD. An EPD is a verified and registered document that summarises the life-cycle environmental impacts associated with the production and use of a product or service. The main objective of an EPD is to communicate standardized LCA information that is meaningful to people who are not familiar with LCA. Along with providing consumers a science-based disclosure of a product’s environmental performance, an EPD can counter ‘green-washing’. EPDs are verified by a third party and follow strict European standards such as EN 15804+A2: 2019, as well as a number of Product Category Rules (PCRs). This step of the process required cooperating with a third party verifier and making sure the EPD met the specific criteria in order for it to be accepted. This stage of the project took some time as it was a new area for the LCA team as well as the European standards and PCRs having updates part way through the process. However, once the report and EPD met the criteria and the EPD verifier was happy, the James Latham Accoya® Cladding Finish Line Sansin coated EPD was verified and publicly published.

PY - 2024/4/30

Y1 - 2024/4/30

N2 - This Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) examines the environmental impact of Lathams Sansin-coated Accoya cladding, assessing the cradle-to-gate lifecycle stages, including material sourcing, transportation, manufacturing, coating application, and packaging. Conducted in compliance with EN 15804: 2012 + A2: 2019 and PCR 2019:14 v1.3.3, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of resource consumption, waste generation, and energy use, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable construction practices.The results indicate that per 1m² of Sansin-coated cladding, 21.00 kg of CO₂e emissions are produced, decreasing to 7.38 kg CO₂e when biogenic carbon uptake is considered. As with the uncoated version, the Accoya wood remains the dominant environmental hotspot, with additional but relatively minor impacts from the Sansin coating process, transportation, and energy consumption. While the application of the Sansin sealer adds an extra step to the manufacturing process, its contribution to overall environmental impact remains small compared to the raw material itself. The study underscores that the most effective strategy for reducing the product’s carbon footprint is minimising wood waste during production. These findings offer key insights for environmentally conscious consumers and industry professionals looking to balance durability with sustainability in cladding materials.

AB - This Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) examines the environmental impact of Lathams Sansin-coated Accoya cladding, assessing the cradle-to-gate lifecycle stages, including material sourcing, transportation, manufacturing, coating application, and packaging. Conducted in compliance with EN 15804: 2012 + A2: 2019 and PCR 2019:14 v1.3.3, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of resource consumption, waste generation, and energy use, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable construction practices.The results indicate that per 1m² of Sansin-coated cladding, 21.00 kg of CO₂e emissions are produced, decreasing to 7.38 kg CO₂e when biogenic carbon uptake is considered. As with the uncoated version, the Accoya wood remains the dominant environmental hotspot, with additional but relatively minor impacts from the Sansin coating process, transportation, and energy consumption. While the application of the Sansin sealer adds an extra step to the manufacturing process, its contribution to overall environmental impact remains small compared to the raw material itself. The study underscores that the most effective strategy for reducing the product’s carbon footprint is minimising wood waste during production. These findings offer key insights for environmentally conscious consumers and industry professionals looking to balance durability with sustainability in cladding materials.

KW - Environmental Product Declaration

KW - life cycle assessment

KW - LCA

KW - EPD

UR - https://environdec.com/library/epd13618

M3 - Other contribution

PB - The International EPD System (IES)

ER -