Life cycle assessment on resilient floorcoverings
ERFMI, in response to questions on the environmental impact of their products, decided to update the previous LCA study carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute. This new study to assess the environmental impact across the whole life cycle of a range of resilient floor coverings was completed in 2008. All of the individual members of ERFMI supplied data on each of the product types they produced to LCA specialists PE International who collated the information into a series of European averages which cover the majority of resilient floorcoverings sold in Europe. The data supplied covered more than 85% of the European production for all categories with the exception of Cushioned Vinyl flooring where a significant minority of the production comes from non ERFMI members who did not wish to contribute to the study

The objectives of the study were:
To provide upto date information on the environmental impacts from cradle to grave for each product type based on the best possible data and interpretation.

To show at which stage in the whole process impacts occur

To identify any areas where improvements could be made to the product or process which, when acted upon, would reduce the environmental impact.

The main output of the LCA study is available as a series of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) online on this web site. Because the overall impact of a flooring over its lifetime it is difficult to produce a single EPD which covers all eventualities, however with the help of the EPD Calculator it is possible to create for all the types of resilient floor coverings investigated in this study, an EPD for a specific use under defined conditions.

All questions regarding this study should be directed to
Constantin Herrmann (Dr.-Ing.)
Project Manager
PE INTERNATIONAL GmbH
Hauptstr. 111 - 113
70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Germany

E-Mail: c.herrmann@pe-international.com
Internet: www.pe-international.com