Other

3.5 Background data
Datasets from /ecoinvent v.2.2/ including all updates
available under www.lcinventories.ch were used as
background data exclusively; these updates include
the update of energy mixes and some process chains,
e.g. for the provision of natural gas. Therefore, the
latest update of the background data took place in
2014.
3.6 Data quality
The requirements on the data quality and the
background data correspond to the provisions in /EN
15804/ and the /IBU PCR part A/ (IBU 2013)
respectively:
 Data are as current as possible. Datasets
used for calculations were updated within the
last 10 years for generic data and within the
last 5 years for producer specific data;
 Datasets are based on 1 year averaged data
as a general rule;
 The time period over which inputs to and
outputs from the system are accounted for is
100 years from the year for which the data set
is deemed representative;
 The technological coverage reflects the
physical reality for the declared products;
 The background datasets comply with the
quality guidelines of /ecoinvent v.2.2/;
deviations from the methodological
prescriptions of /EN 15804/ and the /IBU PCR
part A/ (IBU 2013) respectively are possible
but acceptable according to /IBU PCR part A/
(IBU 2013).
3.7 Period under review
The company data gathered for this EPD represents
the year 2012.
3.8 Allocation
The inventories for the wood inputs were taken from
/ecoinvent v.2.2/. In /ecoinvent/, the forestry and
sawmilling processes are allocated based on revenues
of the different coproducts of a joint coproduction
process (/Werner et al., 2007, based on Schweinle,
2000/). In these datasets, resource corrections are
made for incorporated biogenic carbon and renewable
energy; these flows thus reflect the real physical flows.
In the case of sites where several products were
produced and no product specific information was
available, all inputs and outputs related to production
processes where attributed based on total mass of
production; packaging material was attributed based
on total volume of the production. Inputs and outputs
for coating processes that could not be separated from
the data on plant level were conservatively attributed to
the particleboard production.
Postconsumer secondary wood is used as an input to
produce particleboard; for this input as well as for the
endoflife scenario, the endofwaste status was
defined after the sorting and chipping of the wood
based board in line with /EN 16485/ (see also clause
3.2). In analogy, particleboard leaving the product
system in the endoflife is considered a secondary
fuel; its combustion and the benefits of energy
recovery are declared in module D.
Waste packaging in module A5 was considered not to
reach the endofwaste state as a fuel. Its incineration
is reported in A5, the benefits of energy recovery in
module D. The benefits of the recycling of minor
amounts of packaging materials are disregarded.
Biogenic carbon and primary energy content are
considered material inherent properties and "imported"
and "exported" to/from the system in line with the mass
flows of wood.
No coproduct allocation was made in the modelling of
the life cycle assessment underlying this EPD.
3.9 Comparability
Basically, a comparison or an evaluation of EPD data
is only possible if all the data sets to be compared
were created according to /EN 15804/ and the building
context, respectively the productspecific
characteristics of performance, are taken into account.
4. LCA: Scenarios and additional technical information
The following technical information is a basis for the
declared modules or can be used for developing
specific scenarios in the context of a building
assessment if modules are not declared (MND).
Installation (A5)
Eventual further inputs for the installation of the
products are not considered due to the broad
applicability of the assessed products.
An average transport distance of 30 km was assumed
for packaging waste from the construction site to the
recycling plant or to the municipal waste incineration
plant. The municipal waste incineration plant is
assumed to have an overall energy efficiency of 53 %
related to the lower heating value of the waste input;
92 % of the recovered energy is heat, 8 % is electricity
(according to specifications of MWI plants in /ecoinvent
v.2.2/).
Waste treatment (C3)
10.7 kg of coated particleboard are chipped, of
which 8.74 kg are exported as net flows from the
product life cycle into module D, assuming a moisture
content of 20 %.
Reuse, recycling, recovery potential (D)
10.7 kg of coated particleboard are chipped, of
which 8.74 kg are exported as net flows from the
product life cycle into module D, assuming a moisture
content of 20 %.
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Environmental Product Declaration – Particleboard, coated