Full transparency
As a responsible product developer and manufacturer, we see it as our duty to make a positive contribution to society and minimise our impact on the environment. But how big is this environmental impact and how do you minimise it?
To measure is to know
To map this out, Dataflex has been making the environmental impact of its products transparent by making LCA calculations since 2018. LCA stands for Life Cycle Assessment. To make a good LCA, you need a lot of information. We work closely with our supply chain to provide this information. We then share this data with our partner Ecochain.
A life cycle analysis examines the impact of our products at each stage of their life cycle. Each step in this process requires resources such as water, heat and electricity. The outcome is recorded in an LCA
We calculate with Ecochain according to the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards (the globally embraced standard for LCA calculations) the outcome per supplier, per product. We publish the results of these studies as Ecosheets.
LCA calculations are based on the ‘cradle-to-grave’ principle (i.e. a linear economy), as laid down in the aforementioned ISO 14040 standardisation. We naturally pursue cradle-to-cradle principles (circular economy ). Below, we show all the steps a product takes according to the linear economy, as recorded in our LCAs.
Steel or aluminium is mined as raw ore and taken to a plant for purification.
Raw materials are processed into materials that can be made into products.
Through, casting, rolling, bending and other manufacturing processes, products are created.
The products are then shipped from our warehouse to the end customer.
The products are commissioned and then do their job for many years.
When the products have seen their best days, they are disposed of and sent for recycling.
Our LCAs have shown that the extraction of raw materials (virgin materials) is by far the most environmentally damaging process. From this, our circularity programme was born.
Ecosheets, understandable LCAs
LCAs are tough stuff, even for experts. That is why we have set out the LCA information in Ecosheets in a way that is as easy to interpret as possible. An Ecosheet is a report summarising the results of the LCA and showing the calculated global warming potential or GWP, expressed in kgCO2 equivalent.
Adhering to the principles of the Circular Economy, we encourage reuse rather than recycling in order to keep the material value as high as possible and extend the product's lifetime. In addition, we provide full transparency on the materials used in our products and display this as a material passport to promote even better recycling behaviour.
Third-party EPDs
For more in-depth information, some of our products have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). To create an EPD, you need a PCR. PCR stands for Product Category Rule. Freely translated, rules per product category. This lays down agreements to which every EPD of a product within a category must comply. So if you have a chair from supplier A and from supplier B and both want to make an EPD, they should use the Product Category Rule for that type of product. This way, the methodology is always the same and you can compare apples to apples.
As there was no PCR for monitor arms yet, we were the first in the market to have a Product Category Rule designed for this. With which we produced our first EPD in 2019. An EPD is a detailed document containing the LCA results, a summary of the company, a good description of the product and information on how the calculations were performed and what assumptions were made. EPDs are conducted according to the ISO 14025 standard and are verified by an external party.
Getting ahead by being honest
Through our efforts, we ensure that our commitment to sustainability and transparency is clear in every aspect of our product life cycle, reinforcing our dedication to minimising negative impact on both society and the environment.
"Ecosheets are seen more and more in the industry. It is great to see that there are positive ripple effects happening." - Sunny Chen, Sustainability Coordinator Dataflex
