The abbreviation LCA, or Life Cycle Assessment, is a comprehensive method of life cycle assessment. It evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle. From raw material extraction through production, distribution, use and disposal. Thanks to LCA, various environmental aspects can be identified and quantified. Such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water use and waste generation. This method is an important tool for sustainable development and helps in making decisions about choosing products and technologies with a lower environmental impact.

An EPD, or Environmental Product Declaration, is a detailed document that describes and presents the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle. Thanks to an EPD, consumers, architects, designers and other interested parties can easily compare different products and choose those that have a lower negative impact on the environment. EPDs are prepared by independent experts according to internationally recognized standards and are subject to regular review. This ensures their objectivity and reliability.

PEF, or Product Environmental Footprint, is an indicator that tells us how much impact a product has on the environment throughout its life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal. It’s like an energy label, but for all types of products. PEF helps us compare different products and choose the one that is more environmentally friendly. The PEF calculation takes into account, for example, energy consumption, water consumption, waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to PEF, manufacturers can develop greener products and consumers can make more informed choices.

GRI, or Global Reporting Initiative, is a reporting framework that provides a framework for transparent reporting of the environmental, social and economic impacts of organizations. These standards serve as a guide for companies that want to transparently report on their environmental, social and governance impacts. Reports created according to GRI allow investors, customers and other stakeholders to compare the sustainability performance of different companies and thus support the transition to a more sustainable economy. GRI helps companies define and track their sustainability goals and increases public trust in their businesses.

End of life (EOL). What happens to a product when it can no longer be used for its original purpose? This phase includes activities such as disposal, recycling, reuse or energy recovery. The end of life assessment within the LCA is important because it allows us to evaluate the environmental impact of a product after its end of life. It includes, for example, an analysis of the amount and type of waste that will be generated, the energy requirements for waste treatment and potential emissions of harmful substances. The aim is to identify ways to minimise the negative impacts of this phase and support a circular economy.