A guide to understanding the embodied impacts of construction products

Date of the report

March 2012

Author of the report

Construction Products Association

Purpose of the report

This guide aims to improve understanding across the construction industry of the embodied impacts of construction products.

The quest for a more sustainable and more recently a low carbon built environment has increased the demand for information on the impact of construction products. Much attention is being given to new ways of designing and constructing buildings and there is a growing awareness that the embodied impacts of construction products and especially embodied carbon will become increasingly important.

Relevance to the region

This guide outlines the procedures that must be undertaken to implement a life cycle assessment in accordance with international standards. This will help assessors throughout the West Midlands ensure that the impact of construction products on the environment can be managed effectively. This is especially important for built up areas of the West Midlands.

What SWM liked

Environmental impacts include air and water quality, toxicity to human life and to ecosystem functioning and global warming. Since the 1970s the main concern in Europe has shifted from acid rain to climate change. The importance of these issues can change over time as society’s concerns and priorities change. This guide provides a detailed and up-to-date description of the commonly assessed environmental indicators, helping us address today’s most prominent environmental issues.